Our Mission

We seek to inspire the residents and communities of Washtenaw County to protect surface water and the environment while maintaining necessary drainage. Within the authority granted to our office, we provide resources to reduce flooding, dispose of home toxics, and improve water quality.

The Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner is responsible for:

• Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
• Public Works programs
• Emergency flood response
• Maintenance of court-set lake levels
• Financing drain projects through sale of notes and bonds
• Managing Drain financial accounts
• Design, construction, and operation and maintenance of over 500 stormwater management and flood control systems (County Drains)
• Recovering costs of operation by levying special assessments on private property, local government, and others who benefit from drainage and stormwater management improvement projects.
• Implementation of the federally-mandated Phase II NPDES Stormwater Permit Program
• Review and issue approval to plans for private stormwater systems in new developments and redevelopments.
• Watershed plan development and implementation
• Public education and involvement programs, including the Environmental Excellence Partnership Program (E2P2), Community Partners for Clean Streams Program (CPCS), RiverSafe Homes Program, and Rain Garden Program.