Protecting What Protects Us: New Legislation Aims to Save Michigan’s Remaining Wetlands
- Nicky Marcot
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
In a place like Wayne County—where roughly 95% of the land has already been developed—it’s easy to overlook what once defined the landscape. Before roads and subdivisions, this region was shaped by wetlands that absorbed stormwater, filtered pollution, and provided rich habitat for wildlife. This week, a new legislative effort led by State Representative Julie Brixie, alongside long-standing work by the Wayne County Conservation District (WCCD), is focused on protecting what remains—and preventing further loss.
Announced on Earth Day, House Bill 5851 seeks to expand Michigan’s list of “rare and imperiled wetlands,” giving these ecosystems stronger protections under state law. “Our special landscape and unique water features define pure Michigan and make this such a great state to live in and visit,” Brixie said. “These are fragile, critical ecosystems that sustain the life of plants and animals… This Earth Day, I want to celebrate these treasured natural resources by ensuring they will still be here for future generations to enjoy.”
In practical terms, wetlands designated as “rare and imperiled” are subject to stricter regulations if development is proposed—such as requiring more robust mitigation. But as many conservationists point out, mitigation has its limits.
“Wetland mitigation can’t replace the biodiversity in decades-old, rare, imperiled wetlands,” said Connie Boris, Executive Director of the Wayne County Conservation District.
The bill is grounded in research from Michigan State University’s Natural Features Inventory, which found that several wetland types now exist in fewer than 100 locations statewide. Some, like wet-mesic flatwoods—a type of forested wetland—have been reduced to just eight known occurrences. The legislation would formally recognize additional wetland types as rare and imperiled, including floodplain forests, tamarack swamps, hardwood-conifer swamps, and wooded dune and swale complexes.
For Wayne County and more broadly Metro Detroit, this effort is especially urgent. Flooding has been a persistent challenge here for decades, as wetlands were drained and filled to make way for development. In recent years storms have become more frequent and intense. Flood events in 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2023 demonstrate the increased frequency of flooding. The results of the two 500-year storm events in August 2014 and June 2021 demonstrate the increased intensity: massive infrastructure damage, freeway closures, and thousands of homes flooded.
Forested wetlands, in particular, play a critical role in reducing flood impacts. They act like natural detention basins, capturing water during heavy storms and releasing it gradually. Without them, stormwater overwhelms drainage systems and floods neighborhoods. Despite this, wetland destruction has continued at a striking pace: between 2000 and 2020, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy approved 98% of all wetland destruction permit applications.
That’s why WCCD—whose mission includes protecting the remaining natural resources of the county, including preserving wetlands, maintaining healthy rivers, preserving habitat for fish and wildlife, and protecting community well-being—has been working on wetland protection efforts. Wayne County residents responding to a WCCD conservation assessment survey identified wetland preservation and climate change as the two top priority conservation concerns in the County. House Bill 5851 represents a significant step forward in the ongoing work to preserve the remaining rare, imperiled wetlands in the State.
“Wetlands have always been Michigan’s rich natural heritage. But we are in serious danger of permanently losing that heritage and losing endangered and threatened species that live in Michigan’s wetlands,” Boris said. “This is not the legacy we want to hand down to our children and grandchildren. We must preserve these remaining rare, imperiled wetlands and this legislation is a vital first step.”
The stakes extend beyond flood prevention. Wetlands support pollinators that protect Michigan’s agricultural systems, improve water quality, and sustain entire ecosystems. As Jeff Vornhagen of the Michigan Botanical Society put it, “Habitat destruction is one of the most critical environmental issues of our time… We cannot afford to lose any more of this precious resource.”
This broader vision connects directly to local conservation efforts like the effort to save the Sibley Prairie in Brownstown Township. Just 20 minutes south of Detroit, these 440 acres represent the largest remaining lakeplain prairie in the region—a globally rare ecosystem that has been reduced by more than 99%. The lakeplain prairie, including its almost 160 acres of wetlands, supports endangered plants, vital pollinators, and provides natural stormwater storage. Yet it remains at risk of development.
The Save Sibley Prairie Coalition is working to raise $9.7 million to protect and restore this last-of-its-kind landscape, ensuring it remains a resource for Southeast Michigan and future generations. Efforts like this underscore what’s at stake: once these ecosystems are gone, they simply cannot be recreated elsewhere.
While House Bill 5851 strengthens protections at the state level, many advocates note that additional tools—like incentives for private landowners—could further support conservation.“We need to do a better job protecting Michigan’s wetlands, and this bill is a step in the right direction,” said Jack Smiley, President of the Michigan Land Conservancy. “However, the state should also provide property tax relief to landowners who voluntarily protect wetlands and other natural lands through conservation easements.”
As climate change brings more intense and unpredictable storms, the role of wetlands as natural infrastructure becomes even more critical. Protecting them isn’t just about preserving nature—it’s about protecting communities.
Wayne County may be largely built out, but it’s not too late to act. With thoughtful policy, sustained local effort, and community support, Michigan still has a chance to protect the wetlands that have long protected us.
