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2026 Lapeer Stewardship Day

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:40:18 GMT

Join us in Lapeer on Saturday, May 2nd, from 10 am until 12 pm at Cramton Park East Pavilion

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2026 Spring Monitoring Training

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:34:52 GMT

Spring Monitoring Training will be held on Monday, April 13th, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Clio City Park, second pavilion.

To register: https://forms.gle/9rYY3wRvt9rC7vPL7

2026 Stewardship Day

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:27:50 GMT

Join the FRWC and KGCB at one of our 9 sites across Genesee County!

Join us at our offices, located at 630 W. Kearsley Street, for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It’s our way of saying “thank you” to all of our hardworking volunteers.

Celebration and Open House

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 23:59:11 GMT

Stewardship Day 2024

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 23:57:32 GMT

Spring Monitoring Season 2024

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 23:54:41 GMT

Lake Sturgeon Reintroduction

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 03:07:06 GMT

Flint River Chemical Spill upstream of the Utah Dam 6/29/23

chelsea@behindyourdesign.com (Chelsea Mills) — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 21:18:13 GMT

What we know as of 6/30/23

6/30/23

FLINT, MI Yesterday evening, a fisherman reported an oily sheen on the Flint River, near the Utah Dam. The contaminants in question are reaching the river via a storm water drain just upriver of the dam, but exact source of the spill has not yet been determined. The substance has not yet been fully identified, but visual observations and scent seem to indicate a petroleum product.

FRWC staff made contact with responders, who indicated that they believed the overall volume of the spill to be significantly smaller than last year’s Lockhart Chemical spill. Staff observed contaminants floating on the water’s surface as far down as the Utah Dam, where additional booms had been placed.

Visual observation seems to indicate that booms are successfully preventing additional contaminants from running farther downstream. That being said, caution is in order, especially while further assessment is needed regarding the exact nature of the contamination. Some petroleum products can be absorbed transdermally, or through the skin, so this portion of the river, as well as down river areas including Flushing, Montrose, and beyond, should be avoided for now.

Some petroleum products can accumulate also in wildlife, including fish. We encourage anglers to wait for additional information before consuming fish from this stretch or nearby stretches of river. As with many other environmental health and contamination issues, vulnerable communities are disproportionately impacted. We’re aware that some people fish this stretch of river for sustenance, and that these individuals may be especially burdened by this spill. No one should go hungry due to a spill. If you or someone you know is a sustenance fisher and will not have enough food at home, please call 211 for referrals to food distributions, pantries, and other resources.

We expect additional official information releases to come through state and county agencies, including EGLE. Please stay tuned as for more information, and make plans to move any river-related activities upstream.

At this time, we are advising avoiding any contact with this stretch of the river, including activities such as recreating, wading/swimming, or fishing, including consuming fish downstream of the Utah Dam.

Per the latest update from the City of Flint alert system:

FRWC Welcomes New Board Members

director@flintriver.org (Nancy Edwards) — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:12:14 GMT

The Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) welcomes six additional board members from their recently dissolved Corridor Alliance Chapter.

“I am excited about the new energy and perspectives and how we work together with dedicated board members: those new to the role, as well as those who are continuing to serve,” reflected Doug Schultz, FRWC Board of Directors Chair.

The Corridor Alliance Chapter of FRWC , which was founded in 2007 and became a chapter of FRWC in 2018, focused its work exclusively within the city of Flint. The Chapter’s board voted to dissolve last month with a goal of strengthening the overall leadership and focus of its parent organization. Six former board members from the Corridor Alliance Chapter have joined FRWC’s board of directors, bringing significant Flint connections and talent to the organization's leadership team:

Tiffany Bernethy, Commercial Loan Officer with Metro Community Development
Michelle Kachelski, Neighborhood Project Assistant with the Neighborhood Engagement Hub
Paula Nas, Director of the University of Michigan-Flint’s Office of Economic Development
Tom Saxton, Flint resident, President of Mott Park Recreation Association
Juan Zuniga, Executive Director of Flint LISC

Flint River Chemical Spill – What We Know

director@flintriver.org (Nancy Edwards) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 19:06:03 GMT

This post will be updated as information is available. Last updated 12/9/2022.

What Happened

On June 15th, 2022, a fisherman alerted authorities to an oily substance contaminating the Flint River just north of Dort Hwy in the city of Flint. Local, state, and federal authorities responded, and testing tied the spill to Lockhart Chemical Co, located on James P Cole Blvd. To date, more than 20,000 gallons of waste has spilled into the Flint River.

The Lockhart property is drained through storm sewer outfall 001 into the Flint River. The spill was a mix of industrial chemical waste from an underground storage system that was not maintained, causing the chemicals to leach into the soil, and then into the storm drain system. Work is still underway to monitor and test the river, and to ensure no further materials enter the water. This process is ongoing and the information we receive changes regularly. As of the EGLE citation sent to Lockhart on August 18th, Lockhart was still allowing discharge of petroleum products and white residuals into the groundwater and/or the Flint River, and had not voluntarily complied with EGLE’s previous orders to prevent further spills.

From the August 19th MLive article : “State records show that concerns about the property date back decades, including a report by the city more than 18 years ago that indicated groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds was infiltrating into a city sewer from the Lockhart property, located at 4302 James P. Cole Boulevard.”

Lockhart Chemical resumed operations at its facility with a modified cease and desist order and updated wastewater discharge permit from the City of Flint, including increased testing requirements. They are not, however, permitted by the state to discharge into the stormwater system, or use their underground waste storage system. EGLE found out Lockhart had in fact resumed using the underground storage system on September 12th.

The EGLE Director, in cooperation with the state Attorney General and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, delivered an order on September 19th to block Lockhart from using the deteriorated waste storage trench and tunnel system to prevent further discharges to the soil and river. According to MLive, this was the first such action by the state in more than 30 years. The order requires Lockhart to pump its waste into above ground storage tanks until it can be transported off site for disposal. Failure to comply can be met with fines of $25,000 per day. EGLE representatives said they chose a Directors' Order because it was the most timely way to prevent what they saw as an imminent threat of further contamination and discharges to the Flint River.

Lockhart Chemical filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in Pennsylvania on Monday, October 10th (see linked documents below). The company ceased operations at the Flint facility immediately, and their assets, including the property, were taken over by a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee, Natalie Lutz-Cardiello. The courts and the trustee will decide how to distribute Lockhart's assets, including money and property, amongst the company's creditors. The State of Michigan, via the Attorney General's Office, is working with the trustee to request the environmental clean-up be prioritized when assets are assigned. Documents filed with the courts, as noted in an MLive article , estimate Lockhart's assets to be between $1 million and $10 million, and their liabilities to more than 60 creditors to be between $10 million and $50 million. From a Flint Beat article , included in the creditor list is the city of Flint’s Department of Public Safety and its Water Pollution Control Division, a Flint-based environmental cleanup company, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the state’s attorney general’s office.

With operations at the Lockhart Chemical site shut-down, there is little risk of any major additional contamination into the Flint River, though the site, and its groundwater, remain contaminated. However, EGLE has confirmed there continues to be a small amount of chemical discharge from Outfall 001 into the Flint River. There are booms remaining around the outfall which are collecting the chemicals. The booms are being monitored and cleaned out as needed. EGLE testing from mid-September confirmed that the chemicals continuing to leak out at the outfall match the chemicals remaining on the Lockhart site.

The Lockhart bankruptcy trustee has filed a request with the bankruptcy court to restart operations at the Lockhart facility temporarily, probably to try to liquidate inventory at the site. On December 2nd, EPA filed an order against the Lockhart bankruptcy trustee, requiring that the trustee perform significant repairs and improvements to the waste storage system, as well as hire an environmental consultant and have EPA oversight, before the trustee would be allowed to resume operations at the site. EPA has jurisdiction in Federal bankruptcy court under the Clean Water Act, and has determined that there would be "substantial threat" of further discharge to the Flint River if operations at the Lockhart facility are restarted without repairs to the storage systems. We will update as this situation develops.

FRWC Response

At this time, FRWC does not have a full understanding of the impact of this spill on humans or wildlife. Our staff examined the river just after the official no-contact order was lifted, and saw continuing visual evidence of chemical contamination from Grand Traverse St to Mitson Blvd. Because of this, FRWC recommends the public AVOID contact with the Flint River downstream of Stepping Stone Falls in Genesee County, including through the city of Flint, Flushing, and Montrose. Do not kayak, fish, or play in this part of the river until further notice. Do not eat any fish caught on the Flint River downstream of Stepping Stone Falls.

FRWC has convened a Crisis Response Committee to guide our work, including representatives from the University of Michigan-Flint, Kettering University, Michigan State University Extension, the Environmental Transformation Movement of Flint, Sierra Club of Michigan, Flint residents, and FRWC board and staff. We are partnering with independent experts to evaluate the chemical testing results obtained from the state. All FRWC activities on the Flint River downstream of Stepping Stone Falls are suspended until further notice. FRWC is also working on an ongoing monitoring plan to continue testing the river for effects of the chemicals. We will update when we have more information.

Impacts on the Flint River Ecosystem

Look and you will find rich biodiversity along the Flint River. Many of these species help inform us that the Flint River supports a healthy ecosystem.

River otters in Lapeer County
Eagles, heron, and osprey all along the river, including in downtown Flint
Muskrat, beaver, turtle, and deer at every turn

Contamination like the Lockhart spill is a direct threat to the wildlife and people that rely on the river for home, food, and play. We are still unsure how this spill has or will affect wildlife. We reiterate – Please DO NOT eat fish caught in the Flint River downstream of Stepping Stone Falls until further notice.

We must work to ensure that our environmental laws are enforced. If you see something wrong with the river (or any body of water), say something immediately by calling the Pollution Environmental Alert System (PEAS) at 1-800-292-4706.

FRWC Weekly River Update Videos (via Facebook)

Media Coverage & Resources

(oldest to newest)

10/6/2021 MLive: Past Lockhart Discharge

6/15/2022 MLive: Thousands of Gallons of Oil-based Material Spilled

6/16/2022 MLive: Lockhart Likely Source

6/16-7/6/2022 EPA Site Profile & Updates

6/17/2022 MLive: Search Continues for Location of Breach

6/18/2022 MLive: No Contact Order Remains in Place

6/24/2022 MLive: Promising Lead on Breach

6/27/2022 MLive: Health Order Narrowed

7/7/2022 WNEM 5: Main Breach Identified

7/8/2022 MLive: Chemical Spill Cancels Flotilla

7/28/2022 NBC 25: Lockhart Had Previous Violations

8/19/2022 MLive: Lockhart Cited Again, State Says Operations Have Not Improved

9/12/2022: Flint Beat: Clean Up, Investigation Efforts Ongoing

9/19/2022 ABC 12: State Takes Action After Lockhart Chemical Spill

9/19/2022: EGLE: Order to Lockhart Chemical

10/12/2022: MLive: Lockhart files for bankruptcy

10/12/2022: Flint Beat: Company responsible for Flint River chemical spill files for bankruptcy

10/26/2022: Flint Beat: Trustee takes over Lockhart’s Flint facility after company filed bankruptcy

Lockhart Chemical Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Filings

10/13/2022 - Lockhart Chemical Proof of Claim Deadline & Creditor List

10/19/2022 - Lockhart Chemical Company Motion to Operate Business

10/25/2022 - Lockhart Chemical Company Order for Authority to Operate Business

10/28/2022 - Lockhart Chemical Company Response to Trustee's Motion to Operate Business

12/2/2022 - EPA Order Against Lockhart Bankruptcy Trustee

FRWC Leadership Transition

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 14:35:49 GMT

FRWC current executive director, Patrick Scanlon, has submitted his resignation effective Friday, August 26th, 2022. FRWC board of directors has appointed Sarah Scheitler, former Corridor Alliance manager, as interim executive director effective Monday, August 22nd, 2022.

FRWC thanks Patrick for his efforts, and welcomes Sarah into her new role leading the organization forward for the next few months.

FRWC Response to June Chemical Spill in Flint River

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 18:05:47 GMT

Kayak Flint and other FRWC programs suspended downstream of Stepping Stone Falls

Flint, MI. July 14, 2022 – Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) has indefinitely suspended all programs in the Flint River downstream of Stepping Stone Falls due to continuing concerns related to the June 15th chemical spill. FRWC Executive Director Patrick Scanlon has issued the following statement:

“The decision to suspend all programs downstream of Stepping Stone Falls does not come lightly as promoting the Flint River and its use is a core part of our mission. However, protecting the health and safety of the community is paramount to our work. Until we have a better understanding of how the chemical nature of this spill impacts human health, we cannot confidently provide safe programming on this stretch of the river. FRWC is adapting our work accordingly, and invites the community to join us as we shift programming upstream of Stepping Stone Falls and on the many other beautiful lakes and streams throughout Genesee and Lapeer counties.

“ FRWC recommends residents avoid contact with the Flint River downstream of Stepping Stone Falls. Contact includes swimming, kayaking, fishing, and other activities which would cause exposure to the water. The community is also reminded to refrain from consuming fish caught in this stretch.

“This environmental emergency has highlighted that watershed residents are vital in keeping a watchful eye on our environment. Reports made by observant and concerned individuals are critical in the swift response by local, state, and federal agencies to ensure that our river is taken care of and allowed to heal. FRWC will continue to monitor the resolution of this spill, engage in conversations that support water quality improvements, and provide guidance on how our community can safely enjoy our beautiful natural resource.

This is our watershed. It is up to us to ensure that it is respected, maintained, and cared for for generations to come.”

To learn more about the June chemical spill into the Flint River from Lockhart Chemical Company, visit these links:

Flint River is closed from Stepping Stone Falls to Willard Road in Genesee County

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 13:51:09 GMT

Flint River Chemical Spill Emergency Orders

The Flint River is closed from Stepping Stone Falls to Willard Road in Genesee County. Avoid physical contact or eating fish from the Flint River in these areas until an all-clear is issued. Response to the chemical spill is in progress.

We are closely following the news of the environmental emergency on our beloved Flint River. While there have been varying reports of the source, size, and containment of the reported chemical spill, we understand that the situation is still evolving. The health and safety of watershed residents are always at the forefront of our minds , and we strongly encourage our community to heed the Genesee County Health Department’s order to avoid all contact with the river until further notice.

FRWC has also made the difficult yet necessary decision to suspend Kayak Flint operations for the weekend of June 17-19, and reevaluate once it can be determined that spilled substance response activities do not pose a hazard of physical harm and that the potential for any danger from this spill is resolved.

Be safe, stay well, and hope for a quick yet thorough resolution for our mighty river and its watershed.

To read the Genesee County Health Department’s full order, click here:

https://www.gchd.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Amended-Medical-Health-Officer-Emergency-Orders-regarding-Oil-Spill-6.15.22.pdf

FRWC to host Annual Flint River Stewardship Day 4.30.2022

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 13:52:04 GMT

April 25, 2022 – Community members are invited to join Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) and their partners as they clean-up sites along the Flint River across Genesee and Lapeer Counties on Saturday, April 30th, 2022.

FRWC’s Stewardship Day brings the community together to make a big impact on the Flint River and its watershed. This cleanup event has been an April staple for over twenty years, originating with Friends of the Flint River Trail, now an FRWC chapter. Over the years, Flint River Watershed Coalition has joined forces with Genesee County Parks, the City of Flint, Kettering University and many others, to create one of the area’s largest cleanup efforts.

FRWC is hosting clean-ups at the following sites from 9AM – 11AM on Saturday, April 30th:

Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Park - 2000 James P. Cole Blvd, Flint 48503
Carriagetown/Atwood Stadium - 701 University Ave, Flint, MI 48503
Thread Lake @ McKinley Park Vista Center Area - 2999 Orville St, Flint 48503
Glenwood Cemetery - 2500 W Court St, Flint, MI 48503
Flint Park Lake - 1100 Block of Stewart (off Dupont), Flint, MI 48505
Flushing Riverview Park - 299 S Cherry St, Flushing, MI 48433

FRWC’s Lapeer chapter is hosting a clean-up from 10AM – 12 NOON on Saturday, April 30th:

Cramton Park Pavillion - 130 S. Monroe St., Lapeer, MI 48446

Participants are strongly encouraged to pre-register online, but may also register on-site the day of the event. All participants should wear long sleeves, long pants, closed-toed shoes and be prepared to be outdoors; additional equipment and supplies will be provided. Families are welcome at all sites; children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and minors under the age of 18 must have a liability waiver signed by a parent/guardian. Coffee and donuts will be available at the start of the event in Flint and Flushing (while supplies last); refreshments provided after the event in Lapeer. Participants will each receive a seedling to take home with them while supplies last.

To learn more or to register for the event, please visit our Facebook event page at bit.ly/Stew2022 or our registration form at bit.ly/FRWC2022 .

Founded in 1998, Flint River Watershed Coalition represents individuals, businesses, community organizations, and local units of government partnering to protect, promote, and improve the Flint River and its watershed. These partnerships, paired with public education, scientific projects, and community involvement, seek to ensure a healthy, vibrant, and active Flint River watershed for all. To learn more, please visit our website at FlintRiver.org or follow us on social media at Facebook.com/flintriverwatershed .

NOAA Funds Spark Flint River Environmental Leaders Program for Youth and Educators

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 13:35:07 GMT

April 15, 2022 — Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $79,525 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET). These funds will expand FRWC’s youth programs to bring together middle and high school students, community partners, and educators who are eager to solve problems facing local streams. The inclusive Flint River Environmental Leaders program will bring together after-school and in-school educators and students across the Flint River watershed. They will decide which issues to explore in their own communities and share ideas with others for how to protect and improve the Flint River and their communities.

FRWC will work with the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) and Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) on this project. Fifteen teachers and community program educators and fourteen youth will be chosen from diverse regions of the watershed.

FRWC seeks applicants from youth organizations and schools from Genesee, Lapeer, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, and Tuscola counties within the watershed. Priority will be given to youth and adult participants from the same school or organization. Educators will choose from a menu of topics to learn strategies for sharing meaningful watershed experiences with their students. Youth will meet monthly to explore current issues and learn how to make their voices heard. The two groups will work together on community projects to build youth-adult partnerships throughout the watershed.

“This work is the result of years of collaboration among organizations eager to elevate youth voices in our community,” says Autumn Mitchell, FRWC Education Programs Manager. “We are thrilled to begin this project and empower more people to protect, promote, and improve the Flint River watershed and its interwoven systems.”

Participants will receive continuing education credits and monetary stipends of up to $650 for completed efforts. The program will launch in July 2022 and run through August 2023. Information sessions are scheduled for June 6th and 7th at 6pm. More

information can be found at www.flintrivergreen.org .

The NOAA B-WET program is a competitive grant program that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences: activities driven by rigorous academic learning standards that aim to increase participants’ understanding and stewardship of watersheds and related ecosystems. To read more about the NOAA B-WET program, please visit http://www.noaa.gov/office-education/bwet .

education, scientific projects, and community involvement, seek to ensure a healthy, vibrant, and active Flint River watershed for all. To learn more, please visit their website at FlintRiver.org or follow them on social media at Facebook.com/flintriverwatershed .

Greening of Great Lakes

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:17:42 GMT

Was Flint River Water Good Enough to Drink?

Sat, 30 Jan 2016 15:17:41 GMT

Inside Flint: Don't Blame the River

Sat, 30 Jan 2016 15:17:40 GMT

Flint River GREEN Student Summit - 2015

Wed, 13 May 2015 15:32:16 GMT

“Our future is in good hands.”

More than 300 area middle and high school students will gather to share their scientific findings and recommendations on water quality at the Flint River GREEN Student Summit at Kettering University on Friday, May 13th 2015.

The Flint River Isn't What You Think It Is

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:17:40 GMT

Flint River Assessment

Sun, 01 Jul 2001 14:17:35 GMT