The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program

(MGSP) provides educational, technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and residents to identify and reduce groundwater contamination risks. The program encourages individuals to take voluntary, proactive steps to protect Michigan’s water quality.  

The program features several risk assessment tools like the Farm*A*Syst and the Crop*A*Syst Environmental Risk Assessment

The farmstead assessment system (Farm*A*Syst) is an environmental risk assessment of management practices, structures and site conditions at the farm headquarters. The assessment helps producers identify and reduce risks to both groundwater and surface water supplies. More than 15,000 Farm*A*Systs have been completed to help farmers with environmentally sound management practices.

The cropping assessment system (Crop*A*Syst) helps producers develop and implement a management plan to prevent contamination of groundwater and surface water in production fields, orchards and nurseries

Agricultural producers who participate in the program can become environmentally assured through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).  Environmental assurance indicates the farm is in conformance with state and federal environmental laws and guidelines, and that it is protecting Michigan’s important natural resources for the use of future generations.

More than $3 million dollars are distributed annually to local stewardship teams that set local groundwater protection priorities on the basis of local needs.  Cost share applications will be available at the Clinton Conservation District office or on the web site  The deadline for completed applications is March 7th.

To learn more about the Groundwater Stewardship Program contact Joe Woodruff Groundwater   Technician, at the Clinton Conservation District Office (989) 224-3720 ext. 3

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