Michigan's environment is defined by its relationship to water and extensive forested lands.
* **Water Quality:** Bordering four of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie), the state holds immense freshwater reserves. The **Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)** oversees water quality, addressing historic industrial pollution and modern challenges like PFAS contamination. * **Air Quality:** Generally good, though the Metro Detroit area sometimes experiences air quality alerts during hot summer days due to ozone and industrial emissions. * **Protected Areas:** * *National Parks/Lakeshores:* Isle Royale National Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. * *State Parks:* Over 100 state parks managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). * *Forests:* The state manages the largest state forest system in the Eastern United States. * **Sustainability & Recycling:** Michigan is famous for its 10-cent bottle deposit law (the "Bottle Bill"), which has led to one of the highest beverage container recycling rates in the country. The state is actively investing in expanding general curbside recycling access.