The Macomb County Health Department initiated the Surface Water Improvement and Monitoring Program (SWIM Team) in 1996 in order to better monitor and improve the surface waters in Macomb County, including all inland lakes, streams, and rivers, as well as the 12 miles of Lake St. Clair coastline in the county.  The ultimate goal of the program is to attain compliance of all surface waters in the county with full body contact standards.

The program also seeks to increase public consciousness about and concern for water quality in the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair watersheds, which are located in part in Macomb County.