By Dave Dempsey, Flow Senior Advisor
My first memory of my nephew Michael comes from playing peekaboo. Using a toy with a see-through panel, I ducked in and out of view to his appreciative baby laughter. Pretty soon he was pulling the same trick on me. He was a quick learner.
I would think of that simple joy over 20 years later. With his parents, his sister, and my younger brother, I watched Michael’s powerful oration at the graduation ceremony for the School of Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, where he obtained his master’s degree.
The infant with the delighted laugh had grown up to be a leader, a man respected by all of those with whom he had contact, a man determined to make a difference for good in the world. And although his life was tragically far shorter than my family envisioned and desired, Michael did make a difference – a vast one. And he is still making one.
Most recently, the fund, endowed largely by Michael’s estate, generously granted $20,000 to Flow Water Advocates to support a project challenging a talented team of college students to research and propose a strategy to protect Michigan’s groundwater — the source of drinking water for over 4 million Michiganders. Fittingly, the students engaged in the project attend the University of Michigan — specifically, the School of the Environment and Sustainability (SEAS).
The work of the SEAS team is just another example of how Michael’s life continues to benefit the state that cradled him and was his home for the majority of his 33 years. It is also another way in which he is benefiting both the natural environment and the built environment of the pleasant peninsulas.
The Mike Dempsey Memorial Preserve is a 40-acre area adjacent to the West Branch of the Ontonagon River, which flows into the main branch of the Ontonagon River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. [PHOTO: Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy]
Michael also wanted to put his mind and skills to work in other nations. He assisted with planning for change in the metropolis of Abu Dhabi and worked through U.S. AID to facilitate electrification of rural Afghanistan. In each of these and other endeavors, he sought to improve the lives of those he served. His idealism was expressed in deeds, not words alone, and improved many lives.
Michael’s affinity for healthful environments embraced green space, too. He enjoyed the outdoors for recreation and reflection. To express that, the Michael Cameron Dempsey Fund has supported two land conservation projects, including the Mike Dempsey Memorial Preserve, a spectacular 40-acre parcel along the North Country Scenic Trail south of Ontonagon. The Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy is steward of the preserve, which offers scenic vistas and a diversity of flora and fauna.
As the Fund’s website says, “Michael was passionate about conservation, about making the world a better place and helping those no matter where they dwell in it. He sought to extend the grace of God to all. Michael could not stand to pass someone in need without lending a helping, gentle hand.”
“We are honored and humbled by this gift from Michael’s memorial fund,” said Flow executive director Liz Kirkwood. “His life and values inspire us to expand his legacy to include protection of our drinking water.”
Michael’s life has sent, and continues to send out ripples of hope. Flow Water Advocates will make sure his fund’s gift will carry on his work.
I wish more people knew how connected surface water and groundwater are. When we think about protecting water in Michigan, a lot of people think about mitigating pollution in the Great Lakes. But groundwater is susceptible to pollution from many activities – from residential septic systems to farms and factories – and all our water in the Great Lakes basin is connected. Groundwater is especially tricky because contamination moves, eventually ending up in surface water bodies like lakes, and we don’t track that in Michigan. If you care about protecting the Great Lakes, or even if you just love to swim once the water gets warm enough in July, you should be thinking about protecting groundwater, too!
have been regulated by local governments and local health department codes. Currently, only 11 out of 83 Michigan counties have established septic codes that require inspections at the point of property sale; other counties do not have regulations for regular inspection. Without consistent inspections or maintenance requirements, failing septic systems can go unnoticed for years, potentially contaminating groundwater that rural communities depend on for drinking. As someone from rural Michigan, where we rely on well water and septic systems, I feel as though it’s important to establish a statewide code to help ensure that all systems are functioning properly, regardless of where you live.
I hope that our team is able to positively contribute to the ongoing and complex conversation regarding groundwater resources in Michigan. A lot of great work has already been done in this field and we hope that our research and findings will help to synthesize existing knowledge and data. We intend to research and gather guidance from Michigan community members, state regulators, and examples set by other states, in order to create a statewide strategy that integrates groundwater quantity, quality, interconnected surface waters, and justice challenges. Through doing so, it is our goal to advance Michigan’s approach to groundwater management through proposing a comprehensive, strategic, and effective plan for the state. Overall, our hope is that this work will inform advocacy organizations and provide tangible recommendations to state agencies in a manner that is both actionable and uplifting for all impacted parties.
Council (WUAC). This council opens a crucial avenue for dialogue between community members, the private sector, and the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. By bringing together these parties to discuss the current policy and management landscape, the State is proactive in addressing emerging concerns with its groundwater policies and programming. Members identify gaps in resource monitoring and potential areas of growth for water withdrawals. The biennial reports released by Michigan’s WUAC are great resources to inform next steps for groundwater in the state, and have been important references for our team as we begin to build out our strategy report. Our work aims to build on past WUAC reports through community engagement, case studies, and action steps that engage not just policymakers, but also advocacy groups and the private sector.
My long-term goal is to work at the intersection of environmental policy and sustainable systems, and community-driven resource management, and this project provides me the opportunity to support my goals. As someone experienced with corporate sustainability initiatives, I have seen how policy, data, and stakeholder engagement can be integrated to drive a meaningful impact. Through this capstone with FLOW, I’m deepening my skills in groundwater governance, spatial analysis, and strategic planning, the tools I aim to carry forward into my career in environmental consulting or policy making. I’m gaining skills by contributing to real-world solutions, while aligning my passion for equitable and science-based environmental management.
The background research we have done so far has led me to learn a lot of interesting facts about groundwater. Many complex and interrelated threats to groundwater affect both quality and quantity. When thinking about water in Michigan, quantity concerns may not be top of mind, however, as I have learned in some places throughout Michigan, this is a real threat. Although Michigan’s groundwater is roughly equivalent to that of Lake Huron, aquifers are being depleted faster than they can be replenished, which can further amplify quality issues. The competition for groundwater is growing, and this challenge, along with many others, must be adequately addressed if we hope to have sustainable water practices for generations to come.
