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

By Justin Tomei June 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project Lansing, MI — Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), the nation’s largest statewide conservation organization, has submitted formal public comments urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project. In a letter submitted today, MUCC emphasized the need to move this critical infrastructure forward to protect the Great Lakes while maintaining safe, reliable energy transportation. “MUCC supports the tunnel project as the best available alternative to reduce the risk of an environmental disaster in the Straits of Mackinac while continuing to deliver essential energy products to Michigan families and industries,” said Amy Trotter, CEO of MUCC. “We believe the tunnel project strikes a balance between protecting the environment and maintaining energy security.” MUCC’s position is backed by a formal resolution passed by its membership, which includes thousands of hunters, anglers, trappers, and outdoor enthusiasts across Michigan. The resolution supports the tunnel as a long-term solution that replaces the aging and exposed pipeline segment currently crossing the Straits, offering greater environmental safeguards through secondary containment. The organization cited the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which acknowledges the tunnel’s benefits, including reduced spill risk and a controlled, buried environment for transporting light crude oil and natural gas liquids. MUCC also rejected the "no action alternative," which would allow the existing line to remain in operation without any new protective infrastructure. “Other alternatives, like transporting fuel by truck or rail, are inefficient and carry greater environmental and safety risks,” Trotter added. “Allowing the current line to operate exposed on the lakebed indefinitely is simply not acceptable.” MUCC’s comment stresses that the organization is not weighing in on the type of energy transported, but rather on the environmental risks and safety benefits of the tunnel itself. Originally approved by the Michigan legislature and governor in 2018, the Great Lakes Tunnel Project represents a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and environmental protection. MUCC urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue the necessary permits and move forward with construction without further delay. For Media Contact: Justin Tomei jtomei@mucc.org 517-346-6488 #####
By Olivia Triltsch June 26, 2025
Since its inception, MUCC has made great strides in the conservation of natural resources through advocacy, habitat, youth education, and communications.
By Katelyn Helsel June 25, 2025
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, MUCC’s On the Ground program partnered with the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (PCCI) for a native plug planting day in Barry County. Located on 850 acres, the institute offers both environmental education opportunities and serves as a biological field station for conducting research. Many diverse native communities from wetlands to prairies are present at PCCI, and many rare or threatened species in Michigan like the eastern box turtle call the institute home. 
More Posts