Bloomfield Township Watersheds
A watershed is made up of the land area that drains to a
specific body of water, such as a tributary, stream or river.
The topography of our local hills and valleys define the
watershed boundary (catchment area) and the watershed outlet
is the mouth of a pond, river or lake.
Rouge River
Watershed
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view!
 Bloomfield
Township makes up the headwaters of the Rouge River Watershed.
The Rouge River is 126 miles long and is comprised of four
major subwatershed branches: the Main, Upper, Middle, and
Lower meandering through 48 communities. The watershed is
approximately 438 square miles.
Bloomfield Township, along with 17 other communities and
the Office of the Oakland County Drain Commission, is an
active participant in the Main 1-2 Subwatershed of the Rouge
River. Bloomfield Township contributes to the Main 1-2
branches of the Rouge River. The Main 1 and 2 Subwatershed
Advisory Group (SWAG) consists of representatives from each of
these communities, which has developed a watershed management
plan for this region. Effective watershed planning includes
public involvement as well as public education to better
manage our waterways.
Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC)
 In January 2005, the Governor signed into law
Public Act No. 517 of 2004, which allows for the establishment
of watershed alliances for the purpose of studying, planning,
and implementing activities to address surface water quality.
The Township, along with several communities and counties in
the Rouge River Watershed, has adopted the Bylaws for the
creation to establish the Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC).
The ARC is an organization made up of public entities to
cooperatively manage mandatory programs such as public
education, water quality monitoring and facilitation of the
watershed management plans that are required with all members'
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit coverage.
Dave Payne, Township Supervisor, is the Co-Chair of the
Organizational Committee that was instrumental in passing this
legislation; Meghan Bonfiglio, Public Works Manager, is a
member of the Public Involvement & Education (PIE) Committee,
and is the Township's representative to the ARC; and Wayne
Domine, Director of Engineering and Environmental Services, is
a member of the Finance Committee and is presently the Vice
Chair of the ARC.
At this time, there is federal grant funding (Wayne County
is the grantee) available to be used in part to formally
establish this Alliance through the year 2006. Although the
Alliance is voluntary, the Federal Court as well as the MDEQ
endorses such a venture to maintain compliance with the
federal storm water regulations and allow the opportunity to
have local control on management strategies in the watershed.
One potential benefit of the Alliance will be the efforts to
establish one watershed permit in lieu of multiple permits in
the watershed, as well as, providing a means for future grant
funding.
Clinton River Watershed
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view!
 Less
than half a square mile of the Township lies within the
Clinton-Main Subwatershed of the Clinton River Watershed.
Although Bloomfield Township only makes up a small portion,
the entire watershed covers approximately 760 square miles in
4 Southeast Michigan counties - about 40% of eastern Oakland
County, most of Macomb County, and small portions of southern
Lapeer and St. Clair counties.
The Clinton River and its tributaries flow through 60
rural, suburban, and urban communities with a total population
of more than 1.6 million. Beautiful inland lakes can be found
in the western portion of the watershed, and the river basin
is home to a variety of wetland and other ecosystem types,
from open marshes rich with waterfowl to hardwood forests
sheltering rare wildflowers.
 FAQ's
1. Why should I be concerned with watershed management?
Everyone has the potential to pollute the water or help
restore its health. Less than 2% of today’s water pollution is
caused by industry. Storm water runoff can pick up bacteria,
heavy metals, nutrients, oil, grease, pesticides, and soil
particles. The actions of residential landowners have a direct
effect on our area lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands.
2. What does watershed management accomplish?
Provides an organized framework to asses the status of
the watershed #9; ecosystem
Creates a forum to determine goals and objectives
Inform local residents regarding pollution hazards and
preventative measures
3. What are the consequences of water pollution?
Alters the sediments and nutrients of the water which
effect aquatic life
Aesthetics are degraded by cloudiness, solid wastes, and
oil, which can lead to loss of recreational uses
If you observe any suspicious discharge into a storm drain
or waterway, please contact the Department of Public Works
24-hour emergency line at 248.433.7730 or contact the
Oakland County Drain Commissioners hotline at 248.858.0931 or
click here to
report an environmental concern.
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Charter Township of Bloomfield
4200 Telegraph Road
P.O. Box 489
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-0489
248.433.7700
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