CHARLEVOIX -- The Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, along with other environmental agencies, is hosting several forums around Northern Michigan to help businesses and homeowners achieve their goals of going green.  Patty O'Donnell with the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments says,"in almost all master plans in local governments, land use plans and future land use plans, they want to protect what we have.  It's about protecting our natural resources and the rural character."

The forums are taking place in a 10 county area through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  O'Donnell says, " We're meeting with county governments, townships, and local industries to teach them about green infrastructure, but then also to get information back from them about natural areas in their jurisdictions they'd like to protect.  It's also to teach them to work with natural systems of drainage ways and wetlands to protect our water quality." 

Valerie Olinik-Damstra of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council took part in Wednesday's forum in Charlevoix, showcasing local green infrastructure projects that have already been implemented. "In the Lake Charlevoix watershed, we've installed a couple of rain gardens," says Olinik-Damstra.  "One of them is at the Charlevoix Public Library.  At our office in Petoskey, we've done some projects to treat and reduce storm water runoff from our land." 

Olinik-Damstra says there are many simple projects like this that any homeowner can do, while other, more complex projects are better suited for businesses. "Things like rain gardens and rain barrels are certainly easy things people can do in their own backyards," she says.   On the other end of the spectrum, Ford Motor Company has added a new green roof to their Dearborn plant.

Green Infrastructure forums so far have been held in Traverse City, Charlevoix, and Manistee.  The next is in Cadillac on January 29. 

For more information on the forums:  http://www.nwm.org/planning.asp