On The Water Comes to Southeast Michigan!

Americorps • March 10, 2021

Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) is excited to announce two upcoming field events in the month of April for the On The Water(OTW) program. For those unfamiliar, OTW is MUCC”s watershed improvement program. It has been around since 2019, and has hosted 20 trash clean-ups and invasive species pulls across the state. Both volunteer events will take place in MUCC’s Region 8 and are fantastic ways to get outside and practice good stewardship principles on the public land and waterways of Southeast Michigan. To register to volunteer, review the event descriptions below and follow their respective registration page links. 

Brighton Recreation Area Clean-Up on April 10th 

MUCC is partnering with the National Wildlife Federation’s Artemis program for a public-land clean-up at the Brighton Recreation Area. Currently, there are four identified Adopt-A-Forest clean-up sites near the Chenango Lake Boat launch. We are very excited to collaborate with Artemis and get out in the field to improve this public land.

On Saturday, April 10, we will meet at the  Chenango Lake Boat launch  at 9 AM. Due to a lack of parking, volunteer registration is capped at 20 individuals. All necessary equipment will be provided, such as work gloves, trash bags and trash grabbers. Volunteers are asked to bring a facial covering to be worn during the event when social distancing of six feet or more is not possible. Please register using this link and join us in the effort to improve public land in Southeast Michigan.

Clinton River Clean-Up at Yates Park on April 17th

Join MUCC’s On The Water program on Saturday, April 17, as we partner with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council for a Clinton River Clean-Up at Yates Park in Rochester Hills. Volunteers are needed to help  remove trash from the river and surrounding trails.  

Volunteers came out in record numbers last year to help us remove over 600 lbs of trash from the Clinton River Watershed, please consider joining us on April 17th as we get back out in the field to continue this important work. 

Volunteers will meet at the parking lot at Yates Park, 1990 E Avon Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48307 at 9 AM, and the event will run until 1 PM with a break for lunch provided by MUCC around 11:30. Volunteers are asked to bring their own work gloves, but waders, trash grabbers, trash bags and all other necessary equipment will be provided. Volunteers will receive a free lunch and a swag bag for participating. 

All volunteers are asked to bring a face covering that can be worn when social distancing of six feet or more is not possible. Register with this link to join our effort and help improve the Clinton River watershed.

Recent Posts

On the Ground: Brush Piles and Invasive Species at Denmark Township Mini State Game Area

By Olivia Triltsch • May 21, 2026
On Friday, May 15, 2026, high school students who are part of the Reese High Outdoors Club joined MUCC’s On the Ground Junior program and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Denmark Township Mini State Game Area. Students completed a wildlife habitat improvement project by clearing a grassland habitat of invasive woody growth maintained for pheasants. Using the cut vegetation from the area, students constructed several large brush piles throughout the site to benefit small mammals and other wildlife in the area. Maintaining open grassland habitat is important for supporting species that rely on early successional cover for cover or feeding. Due to suppression of natural disturbances, active management helps to control woody vegetation from gradually overtaking the areas and reducing habitat quality for species that rely on the grassland. The project area is near fields planted by the DNR to provide both habitat and food sources for wildlife, making these improvements part of a larger habitat management effort on the property. In total, students directly improved 10 acres of wildlife habitat through this project. Beyond the on-the-ground impact, the event also allowed students to try a hands-on conservation experience and the ability to contribute to habitat management and public land stewardship in Michigan. Projects like this continue to demonstrate the value of engaging the next generation in Michigan's outdoor heritage and wildlife conservation efforts.

On the Ground: Jack Pine Planting Day 2026

By Olivia Triltsch • May 7, 2026
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, a group of dedicated volunteers joined Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, Huron Pines, Saginaw Children’s Zoo, and MUCC's OTG program in planting approximately 4,800 jack pine saplings within the Grayling Forest Management Unit in Crawford County. Jack pines are a critical nesting habitat feature for the once-threatened Kirtland’s warbler. In total, volunteers directly impacted about 7 acres of land were prepared by the Michigan DNR for this planting to allow volunteers to maximize their efforts across the land. This is one of our annual events that is perfect for helpers of all ages and interests.

MUCC Announces Dissolution After Nearly 90 Years of Conservation Advocacy

May 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.
More Posts