Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail
Operation
Operation
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[thumb\|HeadWatersTrails Inc. members clearing the Shiawassee River in July 2008 near Bush Park in Fenton, Michigan](/wiki/File:HeadWatersTrails_Inc_Shiawassee_River.JPG "HeadWatersTrails Inc Shiawassee River.JPG")
The City of Linden, City of Fenton, Hope Lutheran Church, the Keepers of the Shiawassee, Headwaters Trails, and the Friends of the Shiawassee are all active in maintaining the river. Headwaters Trails has had crews each year go as far as [Byron, Michigan](/wiki/Byron%2C_Michigan "Byron, Michigan"), removing large blockages. The maintenance of the river is done using "Best Practices", only cutting what is necessary and anchoring the logs along the banks of the river. The anchoring protects the banks of the river and maintains fish habitat. In addition, tons of garbage, ranging from tires, oil tanks, bicycles, traffic barricades, drink containers, food wrappers and other discarded material have been removed from the river.

The City of Linden, Argentine Township and Hope Lutheran Church have a river cleanup the third Saturday in June. Fenton sponsors a river cleanup the last Saturday in June, every year. They have been working on a footpath along the river that they hope to extend over time to Torrey Road. The City of Linden actively promotes events on and along the river, including a [flotilla](/wiki/Flotilla "Flotilla") of paddle crafts on Lake Ponemah, each year.

Headwaters Trails has several cleanups of the river, with the first ones in May to prepare for its Adventure Paddle along the river in June. The last one is to prepare for the Fall Color Paddle the first Saturday in October. There are cleanups starting in July and going till September.

Many conservation groups, including the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, the [Michigan Nature Association](/wiki/Michigan_Nature_Association "Michigan Nature Association"), and [The Nature Conservancy](/wiki/The_Nature_Conservancy "The Nature Conservancy") have acquired easements along the river to keep development away from the shores.

The [wastewater treatment plant](/wiki/Wastewater_treatment_plant "Wastewater treatment plant") in Holly is a modern facility that releases clean water into the river. Testing of invertebrates in the river has shown that the water below the waste water treatment plant is no different from water above the waste water treatment plant.


What are the goals of the conservation groups that have acquired easements along the river?