The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
Ask MDEQ MiWaters makes getting your ducks in a row a whole lot easier
Being efficient and effective means embracing technology of the 21st Century. MiWaters is the new comprehensive water programs database developed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and launched in August 2015. MDEQ says the benefits of the new system for county road agencies are: 1. ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS. Makes it easier for county road agencies to apply for permits and see status updates. 2. IMPROVED SECURITY. Allows county road agencies flexibility in giving someone full access or read-only access to an application. Also provides a record of who has made changes to the application.
“Now people can easily submit applications and see applications submitted. County road commissions can apply for a bridge or culvert replacement directly through MiWaters,” he said. County road commissions that have employed the database have seen the benefits. “The intent is certainly noble. To have access to see where things are progressing along is great,” said Gladwin County Road Commission county highway engineer James M. Wyniemko, PE. “I submitted three or four permits. There is a learning curve, no doubt about it. But once you get over the learning curve it’s not too bad.”
“Yes, we anticipated there would be some ‘bugs’ and there have been. But we are continuously improving it,” Silagy said. “I like to think a year from now it will be a lot better to use. We are all learning.” MDEQ encourages county road agency employees to give the database a try. MiWaters is available online at https:// miwaters.deq.state.mi.us/miwaters/#/ external/home.
QUESTIONS? If you have questions on the new MiWaters database, contact Jeff Silagy, transportation review specialist for MDEQ Water Resources Division at 989.370.1569; silagyj@ michigan.gov.
MDEQ acknowledges some glitches, but is working to fine-tune the program.
3. ONLINE COMMENT SUBMISSION. MiWaters is a great way for county road agencies to give feedback to MDEQ. And the public can view and comment about proposed projects. 4. STREAMLINING APPROVALS WITH THIRD-PARTY TOOL INTEGRATIONS. Allows MDEQ staff to access lists such as threatened/endangered species and third-party resources (e.g., Google Earth) all in one platform. Reduces application processing time. MiWaters replaced the Coastal and Inland Waters Permitting Information System (CIWPIS), which held 30 years of files. These older files are now part of MiWaters and can be viewed by the public. “As a regulatory agency with several water programs, we combined these databases into one,” said Jeff Silagy, transportation review specialist for MDEQ Water Resources Division.
18
Winter 2016
Jeff Silagy from MDEQ hopes county road agency employees will try the new MiWaters program, which simplifies and speeds up the application process.
Crossroads