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OHM Advisors presents wellhead protection tools and outreach to Planning Commission
Summary
OHM Advisors presented an overview of wellhead protection, shared mapping and educational tools used in the Tri‑County region, and highlighted local partnership and outreach resources including an interactive story map and school‑age lesson plans.
Christine Spitzley of OHM Advisors gave the East Lansing Planning Commission a presentation on wellhead protection, the Saginaw aquifer that supplies local wells, and tools and outreach resources the region uses to protect groundwater.
Spitzley said wellhead protection is intended to protect public water supplies and reduce treatment costs and noted Michigan’s program follows federal EPA guidance but is implemented with state incentives. “Wellhead protection is designed to protect public water supplies. It's a mandate from EPA that is sent down to the states,” she said, adding that Michigan made the program voluntary with incentives.
The presentation covered common program elements: a multi‑stakeholder wellhead protection team (East Lansing and Meridian Township coordinate with Tri‑County partners), delineation of 10‑year time-of‑travel protection areas for wells, land‑use review to identify contamination risks and management approaches (zoning, site review, building codes) and contingency plans for new wells and emergencies. Spitzley described mapping resources — including the Tri‑County Wellhead Protection Viewer and an interactive “story map” the City of Lansing developed — that allow staff to query wells, leaking underground storage tanks, landfills and other environmental datasets for site reviews.
Spitzley also described outreach resources: an adult story map and a children’s lesson set (designed for grades 2–4) that can be used by teachers or in public events, and QR‑code handouts the presenter provided to commissioners. She encouraged the city to use existing regional tools and the Tri‑County mapping viewer in site plan review and emergency planning.
Commissioners thanked the presenter; no formal action was taken. Bartley said the city will continue to coordinate wellhead protection work with the East Lansing Meridian Water and Sewer Authority and Tri‑County partners.
