The Clarkston Watershed Group is enlarging its territory by joining the national non-profit group ‘Wild Ones?
‘The national affiliation would give it a little more legitimacy, a little more exposure for the group and activities,? said Jim Brueck, Clarkston Watershed Group member and city councilman. ‘Part of that was maybe to allow us to expand beyond just Clarkston, appeal to a larger demographic area for new members and potential project activity.?
Brueck said the group was just that ‘a group,? but they really didn’t have any official status and ‘weren’t truly a non-profit,? which sometimes caused trouble when applying for various grants.
The new chapter will be called ‘Wild ones Oakland Headwaters Chapter,? but the focus will remain mainly the same as what it’s been since the Clarkston Watershed Group was formed in 2006, which was improving water quality and the watershed through projects like gardens, rain gardens, riparian lakeshore buffers, butterfly gardens, and woodland gardens, all of which can use native plants.
‘Part of the thrust behind the use of native plants is one they’re indigenous at least with the last 300 years approximately and they support the natural biodiversity of the area,? Brueck said. ‘Only certain caterpillars or certain butterflies will eat certain plants. If you plant a non-native plant often times, those that have been hybridized to be pest or bug resistant, they almost become a sterile plant and are not food for anything.”
After retiring as an automotive engineer for General Motors last year, Brueck started his own business, ‘Native Lakescapes LLC,? which focuses on waterfront treatment with lakeside and streamside native plantings and riparian buffers.
‘There are approximately 1,400 lakes in Oakland County. I said ‘wow there is a market and opportunity.? If I just look at myself, look at what my neighbors have or haven’t done,? he said. ‘There is a lot of potential there because most people their vision is still a perfect lawn right down the water’s edge and maybe a seawall or something like that. The idea of having a naturalized waterfront is just starting to catch on.?
Brueck said the ‘non-point water pollution is probably the single biggest problem? in Michigan.
‘It’s not the sewage pipe that directly goes into the stream, but it’s the runoff the ‘non-point.? Runoff from roads, roofs and parking lots that untreated, unfiltered causes the high nutrient buildup, fertilizer runoff, into lakes and schools, along with pet waste and animal waste,? he said. ‘Those things are allowed to go into the water without resistance or infiltration that tends to overtime degrade the quality of the water.?
Brueck said they have some ‘pretty good experts? in the group including Trish Hennig, owner of ‘American Roots,? a native plant nursery in Ortonville, along with Landscape Architect Colleen Schmidt, owner of ‘Land and Garden Design.?
The new chapter will have their first meeting Feb. 3 at St. Dan’s community Center at 7:30. Guest speaker will be Trish Henig.
For more information or interest in joining Oakland Headwaters contact Jim Brueck at (248) 625-7597, e-mail mdbrueck@sbcglobal.net or call membership chairperson Barb Modlin at 248-628-9685, e-mail bmodlin@comcast.net. The Wild Ones national Web site is www.for-wild.org.