On July 2, 2013 the Governor signed Senate Bill 163 with immediate effect into Public Act 98 of 2013. This new law is a dramatic policy change concerning the regulation of all privately owned drains and wetlands in the State of Michigan which has existed from October 1, 1980.
“This new law has imposed a substantial number of new regulations on Michigan landowners, “said Scott Everett, Director of Legislative Affairs at Fraser Consulting in Lansing. “The bottom line is that all landowners will need to consult with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality regarding any work performed within a private upland drain or a private drain within a wetland.”