The
St. Clair River is a 40-mile watery conduit that connects Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. It is a vital part of the Great Lakes and provides not only transportation for commerce, but habitat for wildlife, a recreational shoreline for human use, a supply of drinking water, and a place to boat and fish.
One of the people and organizations trying to protect the river and ensure its environment is Sheri Faust, executive director of the
Friends of the St. Clair River.
“I wasn’t exposed to the St. Clair River and the Great Lakes until I moved to the area in high school. For me, conserving the St. Clair River wasn’t a tipping point or an ah-ha moment. It was a gradual realization that modern consumerism is not sustainable or healthy,” says Faust.
History of the River
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Linde Air Separation Factory in Ontario, Canada.
Since the 18
th century, the river has faced continuous development. On the United States and Canadian sides, urbanization and industrialization have encroached on the river’s shorelines and agriculture has created soil erosion throughout its watershed. Few pre-settlement trees remain.
Humans are not the only ones who use the river. Minnows to sport fish such as walleye and smallmouth bass swim in its waters while multiple waterfowl float above, including ducks and geese. The St. Clair Flats, located at the bottom of the river where it spills into Lake St. Clair, provide nesting grounds for vulnerable species including
black terns and American bitterns. Mammals that inhabit the watershed include mink and beavers.
In 1987, the
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement stated the St. Clair River’s health was concerning. The agreement highlighted ten environmental issues that should be focused on, including contamination due to nearby factories and golf courses, increased sediment, and destruction of wildlife habitat. In 2011,
Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan was crafted and slowly wildlife has returned to the watershed.
Monitoring the St. Clair River
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The Blue Water Bridge.
Canada and the United States monitor the river’s health, though in slightly different ways. Both monitor E. coli bacteria, a product of sewage runoff, and contaminants in fish tissue while Canada has looked closer at their wildlife and fish populations.
“On the Canadian side of the St. Clair River, Ontario has done more studies on their fish and wildlife populations compared to Michigan. They felt they had not collected and analyzed enough data to make an accurate assessment of fish and wildlife deformities, tumors, and reproductive problems,” Faust explains.
Public perception of the river has improved over the years. More people are using the trails along its waterfront in once inaccessible areas. Recreational fishing is growing with the softening of the river’s shoreline which promotes fish spawning. In 2021, Faust launched the
St. Clair River Drinking Water Survey, where 67% of the participants rated their drinking water four out of five in quality. Many people are still concerned about pollution.
To ensure the river’s health, the Friends of the St. Clair River work with stakeholders from the
St. Clair River Binational Public Advisory Council (BPAC), a group that implements solutions for environmental problems.
A few of the solutions are continuing to monitor fish contaminants, improving spill prevention, better water quality monitoring, maintenance of restored habitats, and strengthening an early spill warning system with new state funding. Meanwhile, Canada is capping the remaining small spots of sediment contamination.
“We’ve spearheaded projects to repair environmental degradation rooted in the deep scars of industrial abuse,” Faust says.
This is a vast improvement from the past when economic development was more important than a clean, healthy river. The watershed is now a focal point for preservation and conservation.
“Studies show that environmental restoration produces economic benefits with a $3-dollar economic return for every $1 dollar spent on restoration. This highlights the importance of continued investment in our waterways,” states Sheri.
Looking Ahead
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The Black River into the St. Clair River.
Collaboration is imperative for the health of the river. For over 30 years, Canada and the United States have strived to improve water quality and wildlife habitat.
The Community Foundation of St. Clair County,
St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Friends of the St. Clair River have strived to maintain Port Huron’s Blue Water River Walk.
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) monitors spills at the drinking water intake sites.
Friends of the St. Clair River work with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to educate the public about lake sturgeon. These are just some of the many stakeholders working together.
“Recently we have partnered with the North American Indigenous Council to raise awareness of their history of caring for our lands and water for thousands of years,” Faust says.
The future of the St. Clair River also depends on funding.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has injected federal funding to restore the Great Lakes over the past 14 years and provides scaffolding through various projects. None of these issues will be resolved rapidly.
“It’s helpful to remember that restoration work is a long game and not often the quick fix we think it should be. Ten years is just a drop in the timeline bucket compared to the century of industrial abuse, but now people can get into the river for swimming, fishing, and other activities,” says Sheri.
Involving the public is also critical. Public education helps strengthen awareness of river health and creates concern for the watershed’s future. This also leads to increases in interactions with nature and fosters a desire for people to help and become stewards of their environment.
“It’s been my dream to help build wonder of our world’s wilderness, water, and wildlife so that it will be protected, valued and accessible. I never conceived of any other path for my life,” Faust says.