• Sumbal Natural Area in Ferguson Park

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Michigan has had the luxury of regulating their wetland areas through the state. Now, some friction exists between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and how Michigan handles the Clean Water Act.

This includes agricultural operations that want some degree of deregulation specifically focusing on replacing wetlands. Currently, if a person wanted to develop an acre of wetland, regulations make it so two more acres of wetland must also be developed.

Rick Brown, Associate Planner for Meridian Township believes Michigan's wetlands, especially with the townships 5,000 acres worth, are important to the environment's stature.

"Setbacks are meant to help protect the feature from encroachment, from construction, from pollution, you name it," said Brown.

If Michigan loses its regulatory powers over their wetlands it is unclear right now how it would affect Meridian Township.