Editorial: Huron River Watershed Council listens to Belleville

In its latest report online, the Huron River Watershed Council reports on two listening sessions it had with Belleville residents in January about their perspectives on the Huron River and local water. Since spring 2023 they have been reaching out to residents in three Huron River Watershed communities to hear their concerns about clean water. They also listened to residents of Ypsilanti and Flat Rock.
The report said Belleville Lake is thought of as the crown jewel of the Belleville community, but the water quality of the lake has degraded over time. Upstream pollution is seen as a primary driver of declining water quality.
Boating is one of most common water-related activities in the Belleville area, but many residents avoid swimming due to concerns about water quality and health impacts.
Algal blooms impede recreation and water-related activity in the Belleville area, the report said. Industrial pollutants from upstream, nearby businesses, landfills, and airports are of high concern, including PFAS as a primary concern resulting in a decline in fishing and swimming on the lake.
The Huron River Watershed Council is seeking ways to help Belleville Lake return to being the jewel of the community. See its report on www. hrwc.org and tell them what you think.