Michigan Center for Freshwater Innovation: Tackling Michigan’s Water Challenges
The Michigan Center for Freshwater Innovation (MCFI) was created through a partnership between the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University to address diverse freshwater challenges in Southeast Michigan and across the state. Recent initiatives include developing nature-based solutions, promoting regional water planning, and improving stormwater infrastructure in Southeast Michigan, aiming to position the state as a leader in freshwater innovation and economic growth. SBND spoke with Curt Wolf, managing director at the University of Michigan Urban Collaboratory and managing director of MCFI about its projects, challenges, and vision. Q: What inspired the creation of the Michigan Center for Freshwater Innovation, and how did it come about? A: The Michigan Center for Freshwater Innovation was conceived through a collaborative effort led by the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. This initiative aims to tackle Michigan’s freshwater challenges, which vary widely across the state—from excessive water and flooding in some areas to contamination threats and inadequate supplies in others. The MCFI was established to address these complex and diverse issues through a coordinated approach involving multiple stakeholders, including water utilities, community groups, NGOs, practitioners, and state agencies. It is also a way for these institutions to work together to give something back to the great State of Michigan. Q: Is this collaborative approach among institutions unique? A: It is somewhat unique. While there have been various attempts to address water issues in Michigan, the MCFI represents a significant step forward by bringing together an inclusive group of leading academic institutions and regional water stakeholders who can collectively implement real change and bring new and innovative solutions forward. The MCFI’s focus is the entire state of Michigan which has very rural areas but also a number of large cities. The three universities complement each other well as a team. UM is an internationally recognized research institution with often a global focus, MSU is a land grant university with incredible reach throughout the state through its extension network. Wayne State has more of an urban focus with important community ties. All three universities have amazing water research capabilities. The MCFI is much greater than just an academic collaboration, however. Creating an open table where all stakeholders have a voice is critical to solving the types of water problems we’re facing as a region. Q: What are some current projects the MCFI is working on? A: The MCFI is actively involved in several projects. One major focus is climate adaptation and regional resiliency, particularly addressing the impacts of catastrophic flooding, such as the 2021 events that affected thousands of homes in SE Michigan. The center is working on near-term solutions and leveraging regional cooperation to look at how we might enhance infrastructure, think outside the box, and address water stressors. One such project, funded by the Erb Family Foundation, is a groundbreaking project that aims to revolutionize stormwater management in Southeast Michigan. The team will identify barriers to regional stormwater cooperation and develop innovative solutions to better manage the impacts of extreme rain events and climate variability. By focusing on the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) wastewater service area in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, the project seeks to optimize existing water infrastructure assets through regional coordination. This approach could potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investment and operational costs while improving flood control and water quality in major watersheds. The project involves extensive collaboration with local authorities, community engagement, and the exploration of successful regional stormwater cooperation models from other areas. The findings could pave the way for more efficient and cost-effective stormwater management strategies, benefiting both the environment and residents of SE Michigan. Another project, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), seeks to integrate large-scale Nature-Based (green) Solutions (NBS) with existing infrastructure (gray) to mitigate flooding and enhance ecological resilience. This project will develop a comprehensive strategy for the adaption of NBS on a regional scale leveraging land assets for water storage, restoring habitats, and promoting climate justice. By engaging local stakeholders and employing advanced modeling techniques, the project aims to develop a scalable and transferable framework for sustainable stormwater management. This effort is expected to improve community resilience, protect critical infrastructure, and provide significant benefits to fish and wildlife habitats, while also fostering socio-economic growth through enhanced property values and reduced flood insurance costs. Additionally, MCFI completed a project for the State of Michigan providing recommendations for promoting regional planning of water infrastructure throughout the state. The study, commissioned by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), identified opportunities for shared services, incentives for cooperation, and barriers that prevent public water supplies from serving areas outside their current boundaries. The research team conducted interviews, roundtable discussions, and technical analyses to gather insights from water system managers, local officials, and other stakeholders across the state. Findings and recommendations provided informed EGLE’s efforts to ensure equitable water infrastructure investments that provide high-quality drinking water at the lowest cost, in line with Governor Whitmer’s 2021 executive directive on safe drinking water. Q: What are the main water stressors facing the region? A: The region faces multiple water stressors, including aging infrastructure, climate change impacts, legacy industrial contamination, emerging contaminants (PFAS, microplastics, etc.), and regional growth impacts. Climate change is impacting Michigan in different ways than other parts of the country such as the Southwest. We are experiencing increased precipitation with more intense and sometimes highly localized storms. We have more water to manage than ever before. The region’s water systems, some of which are nearly 150 years old, were developed incrementally over time, adding to the complexity of addressing modern challenges. At the same time, there are portions of the state where groundwater resources are stressed, particularly in central areas of the state. Michiganders sometimes feel that we have unlimited water sources and that isn’t always the case. Q: What are the barriers to improving water management, and how can they be overcome? A: There are a
University of Research Corridor Sustainability
BRITANY AFFOLTER-CAINE, IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MICHIGAN’S UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORRIDOR Students and young adults see climate change and the preservation of our planet not as an impending challenge, but one with grave consequences that are impacting humanity today. Generation Z is more likely than older generations to act on their climate concerns through their purchasing power and in career choices. A majority of Gen Z are willing to spend 10% more money for sustainable brands according to a 2019 McKinsey report, and 42% of Gen Z respondents have already changed or plan to change their job or industry due to climate concerns according to a 2023 Deloitte survey. For these future leaders and doers, the greatest priority is to develop sustainable solutions to mitigate these impacts and the forces causing further environmental harm. Gen Z is not alone. Many university researchers, staff and administrators across Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) share their climate concerns and have made sustainability a priority area of research, education, innovation and service. An alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for its region while advancing knowledge at a global level, the URC is committed to bringing all its resources to tackling climate change and mitigating its impacts today and in the future. Sustainability is an imperative we define as efforts to discover ways to meet the economic and health needs of people today while meeting the needs of future generations to thrive in ways that are effective, just and equitable. Sustainability includes decarbonization, clean energy innovation, reducing waste and pollution and managing limited resources, such as water. The sustainability work of URC researchers and students stretches across dozens of academic fields and within dedicated schools and colleges, such as U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability, and includes partners in our communities, government and industry. Development of sustainable technologies, knowledge and practices is critical for addressing climate change and is good for our economy. For example, Michigan’s mobility sector is accelerating its transition to a more sustainable and eco-friendly industry. It is reshaping the way people think about transportation, pushing automakers to innovate, and encouraging governments and businesses to invest in a cleaner future. The URC universities play a key role in developing new technologies to support the mobility industry’s transition. Over the past five years, Michigan’s URC universities conducted more than $565 million in mobility-related R&D, which included sustainability-focused research, such as light weighting vehicles through advanced materials, energy storage to extend battery range for vehicles and alternative fuels that are more sustainable, such as hydrogen. The contributions our universities are making to support sustainability in the market can be seen in our strategic innovation partnerships with industry, like at MSU’s top-ranked School of Packaging, where researchers are working alongside industry leaders to reduce the amount of plastic waste in landfills and water systems by streamlining the different types of plastics that are used in manufacturing. MSU is also a leader in mass timber research, studying everything from structural performance and cost savings to fire resistance and sustainability. Made from a renewable resource, mass timber stores carbon and is less carbon-intensive to produce than other common building materials. U-M’s BioMatters team has developed their own sustainable solution for construction using upcycled sawdust. This fully biodegradable, reusable and recyclable material is formed into molds using 3D printing and can replace concrete formwork traditionally used across the construction industry. These molds are like giant LEGO pieces that can be used again and again. At a time when the consequences of climate change are increasingly evident and devastating, the need for sustainable solutions across all sectors has never been more urgent. This starts on our own campuses, where we all have implemented comprehensive sustainability initiatives that encompass various aspects of campus life. We’ve invested in energy-efficient infrastructure, adopted renewable energy sources, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions through innovative technologies and conservation efforts, showing that the URC is not only contributing to a greener Michigan but also setting an example for institutions nationwide. From lead in drinking water and intergenerational impacts of pollutants to mitigating development of fatbergs in our wastewater systems to storm water management, Wayne State has been studying the impacts of climate change and environmental threats to human health on residents and communities in Michigan’s largest city, Detroit. Old pollutants left behind by factories and other industries in the past are causing problems for people and the environment today. Supported by an $11.5-million National Institutes of Health grant, Wayne State University’s Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research is studying these old pollutants in cities, identifying how they move around and their impact on the health of mothers and babies. Our commitment extends to our work in sustainable action in communities across Michigan and the world. Michigan is renowned for its abundant freshwater resources, including the Great Lakes, which contain about 20% of the world’s surface freshwater supply. The presence of these vast water bodies makes our institutions leaders in research on water-related issues and solutions. The United Nations tapped Wayne State University and the University of Windsor to head its Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development in the Detroit-Windsor region. The partnership will address community health, equitable city-building practices, public transportation, clean water, sustainable urban planning and housing policy, to better our two communities that share an international border. U-M recently received a $5 million grant to study how climate change is affecting water resources in different areas, especially when those areas share borders. This research will help us understand how rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are impacting our water supply, like rivers and lakes, and lead to better ways to manage and protect these vital sources of water. Sustainability is already becoming the heart of academic and industry research. Not only are environmental and economic pressures mounting, but our next generation of thinkers and leaders are dedicating their lives to addressing these
Wayne State University Moves Ahead As a United Nations Regional Center of Expertise
In April 2022, Wayne State University and the University of Windsor were designated as the United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development in the Detroit-Windsor region. RCEs are networks of educational institutions, communities, governments, businesses, and other organizations that work together to advance and implement sustainability education within a region. SBN Detroit talked with Donna Kashian, Wayne State University professor and director of Environmental Sciences, who is leading the efforts at the university. Q: Tell us about regional centers of expertise. A: The RCE is a global program. Our designation is somewhat unique in that we are binational. In our case, the US and Canada focus on the shared legacy of the region. The waterway is deeply linked to industry and economics in our area, and the two nations face similar challenges. We’ll work toward enhancing the economy to meet the sustainable era. This involves a large set of goals with a foundation in education. Part of our work is to bring together community partners and address activities related to sustainable development challenges. So, we are connecting entities such as the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, key individuals within schools and universities, the government, municipalities, and nonprofits to work on collaborative projects toward our goals. Ultimately, we will utilize these partnerships and networks to support research, training, and participation to move sustainable education forward. Q: How is this set up? A: Wayne State University has been very supportive of this effort and has contributed several resources, including support for two graduate students who will serve as sustainability ambassadors to help move things forward. Through the UN RCE, we are in the process of forming a sustainability council. We are appointing an individual from every unit within the university to report back to this council. Additionally, we will also have an external advisory board to help identify sustainability challenges in the Southeast Michigan region and the Essex region. The fellows will start tackling research and projects that are identified. Q: I understand that the goal of the UN RCE is to identify actions that address climate change, economic and health disparities, and social inequity to create a more sustainable future. How will you approach this? A: This is incredibly broad-sweeping and each university will tackle projects differently. WSU just launched a new five-year sustainability plan, and environmental justice and social inequity are addressed throughout. Many universities don’t include these front and center in their plans, so in this way, I think we can work as an example to advance university sustainability planning as a whole. Regarding climate change, we recently submitted a $3 million project to tackle climate resilience and flooding – that involves infrastructure and design – in addition to many projects in the community and education around that, which include talking to local middle and high school children. Two of my students and I have an upcoming visit to 6th-grade classes to educate young people on climate change. So our work involves projects, traditional research plus community education. Q: What are the benefits to students? A: Approximately six years ago WSU applied for and received a training grant in urban sustainability which initiated our T-Rust (Transformative Research Urban Sustainability Training) program. This program is wrapping up and has transitioned into the UN RCE. This program supported 33 graduate students and, to date, ten have graduated with seven master’s degrees and three doctorate degrees. Two of these students have been chosen to work on research and science policy on Capitol Hill. We are training future leaders, and they are walking into really great positions. The UN RCE designation will help us step into undergraduate opportunities as well, so we can reach more students and start training at an earlier stage. When the students hear the United Nations designation their ears perk up and are anxious to get involved. Watching the grad students go on to succeed and being able to extend more opportunities to undergrads is huge. Q: How will this work potentially impact Southeast Michigan businesses? A: This is one of our big agenda items. Typically, the environmental side of the university, where most of my connections are, has not been as connected as it could be to the business side. We’ve been working in silos. So we are working to form partnerships and do a better job at this. Q: What other things are you involved in around sustainability? A: I serve as a US representative for the International Joint Commission’s science advisory board, and next year will serve as president of the International Association of Great Lakes Research (IAGLR). I also am on the Conservation and Environmental Issues Committee – Society of Fresh Water Science, and the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility+ Committee (IDEA+) committee for IAGLR. Q: How do these things help drive and shape your work overall? A: I think it all ties together. People say I’ve taken so much on, but it’s all interconnected and I think it’s about centralizing the work, not creating more. It’s all focused on the health of the Great Lakes and environmental justice. I hope to use and bring my shared resources to the UN RCE. Q: Where does your passion come from? A: Growing up, I lived in a Portuguese community in Massachusetts that has a long history of pollution from the textile industry. My family has an extraordinarily high cancer rate. I’ve always loved being outside, and I’ve always been passionate about improving health. I think my drive started there. And then five years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer myself. That has pushed me. The drive was there, but I now have an even stronger desire to push forward. Q: What is the end game? A: To live in a society that is just from a sustainable perspective, and to live within a healthy climate and environment. We clearly cannot accomplish this through the UN RCE alone, but we can move the dial. Training our youth to continue the quest and vote
