Two Rivers Coalition Annual Meeting

Two Rivers Coalition (TRC) will hold its 4th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30 pm in Lawrence at the Van Buren Conference Center. This free event is open to the public and attendees will be rewarded with a one year membership to TRC.

The highlight of the evening will be two presentations relating to water quality in Southwest Michigan. Most people are not aware of the serious consequences of wetland loss such as increased flooding, impaired water quality and degraded habitat. Rivers, lakes and streams in our area require wetlands to maintain clean water and wildlife populations. Over half of our historic wetlands have already been drained or filled for agriculture and development. Protecting existing wetlands is critical for preventing degradation and restoring lost wetlands can improve the health of the land and water upon which we depend. Communities must balance the desire to protect and restore wetlands with the demands of other land uses.

Presentations Include:

• A Wetland for Every Occasion: Matt Meersman, Watershed Coordinator for the Van Buren Conservation District, will highlight a project identifying high priority wetlands based on a variety of water quality and habitat related functions.
  
• Why Swamp Gas Should Make us Happy: Tom Springer, author and journalist, will discuss what it takes to make wetlands less creepy, more lovable and thus more worthy of protection.
  

For more information visit: http://tworiverscoalition.org/

The Two Rivers Coalition is a citizen-based group working to protect the health of the Black River and Paw Paw River watersheds through conservation, education, and advocacy.