When we tug at a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world. – John Muir

Because these rivers wind through multiple towns and counties, no one place has complete control of their well-being. Occasional, localized projects can not maintain the watershed restoration accomplishments obtained over the last two decades. What can be done?

The answer is the River Care Program administered by the Conservation Resource Alliance. Here, individuals and businesses can invest in a professional program that plans and implements long term river care that crosses political boundaries. River Care is a pro-active program created to guarantee that natural resource professionals maintain a consistent and prioritized action plan for each river, find and repair physical problems before they become worse, and maintain efficient, coordinated local watershed partnerships. Download a Sample Watershed Partnership Agreement in PDF format here.

The River Care Program is designed to maintain the aesthetic and economic value of northern Michigan streams. How? By connecting people - interest groups, landowners, developers, and government agencies - anyone who can help and who will benefit from clean water and healthy watersheds.