Healthy lakes, rivers and streams are vital to Michigan tourism.
Dozens of northern Michigan government authorities and residents recently attended the “Local Government and Watershed Protection Forum” held in Central Lake.
The issues discussed included the Three Lakes Association Fish Shelter Project and the Grass River Sedimentation Project. Future watershed projects in the area were also discussed.
Those attending the program included representatives from lake associations, county and local governments, and non-profit organizations.
Click here to read about the first half of the watershed presentation, including talks about Watershed 101, invasive species, and natural shorelines.
Fish Shelter Project
A project providing natural fish habitats in 80 locations was discussed by Fred Sittel of the Three Lakes Association/Friends of Clam Lake.
Summer student interns worked on this project. Each fish shelter is created by durable hardwood and placed in water which allows to ten feet of water above the shelter. The shelters are placed where there are drop-offs.
The fish habitats have been placed in five lakes: Intermediate, Bellaire, Clam, Torch and Elk. The GPS coordinates of each shelter are located on the Three Lakes Association Fish Shelter Project website.
Larger fish go to the hardwood trees, while the smaller fish prefer stumps and crates. The habitats which provide large blades and shade attract fish such as smallmouth bass and rock bass.
A local resident spoke about how his young grandchildren recently had quick and easy success while fishing near the shelters. Another resident talked about how there was a loon looking for fish the day after the shelter was put in near her house.
Grass River Sedimentation Project
The Grass River Sedimentation Project, was next discussed by Anthony Kendall of Michigan State University.
The project’s goal is to improve the navigation of the Grass River.
Rivers have always “moved sand” naturally. However, human activities worsen the problem. This includes the damming of Elk Lake, land use in watersheds, climate change, etc.
Water depth and water flow are two of the factors that the study is measuring, since the rivers and streams become shallower as sediment builds up.
Shanty Creek, Finch Creek and Cold Creek are tributaries which deposit extensive sediment into the Grass River. This sediment is created by practices at Shanty Creek Resort, as well as farms and housing developments in the area.
Areas of the Grass River, Torch River and the Rapid River have widened over the past years. The natural shorelines are the most susceptible to erosion.
The engineered armored seawall has kept areas of the Torch River narrow and deep, and free of sediment. The Grass River shoreline tends to be more natural, which has some ecological benefits but does not always prevent erosion.
Recently, bank armoring with large woody debris has been used to protect water banks. These special logs have been used in the Au Sable River for years to improve the shoreline and fishing.
Future watershed projects in the area
There are many exciting watershed projects planned for the future of the area.
Grenetta Thomassey from the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council discussed an in-depth review of water-related ordinances in four area counties of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmett and Cheboygan.
The purpose of the project is to give government officials a view of what currently exists in their jurisdiction, as well as what could be done to improve water quality.
Andy Knott of the Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay talked about two projects his group is managing. Both projects are funded by state grants.
The first project relates to Stormwater Action Plans in Bellaire, Ellsworth, Elk Rapids, Central Lake and Alden. The Center is assessing inputs, identifying entry points of runoff, and suggesting improvements.
The second project Knott discussed is the Small Dam Inventory. Most dams have a 50 year life span, and by 2020 will be much older than that. If these dams are not strategically managed, they may begin to fail, which creates many issues.
Dean Branson of the Three Lakes Association talked about the success of the government forum and the association’s intention to continue it.
Bob Kingon of Elk-Skegemog Lake Association (ESLA) discussed his group’s Stormwater Runoff Project, which aims to rate, rank and improve the 138 public access sites in the area. The main goal is to reduce erosion and sediment, mainly from stormwater runoff.
Christy Roman of the Antrim Conservation District talked about a future link on their website which will provide a list of active permits in the county. She also discussed a Cooperative Weed Management Area that includes the counties of Kalkaska, Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmett.
Terry Smith, Supervisor of Forest Home Township, talked about the partnerships Forest Home has forged in order to improve its watershed. Forest Home has been a leader in this area, and Smith realizes the importance of government working together with area groups.
Which projects do people want in the future?
Joe Meyers concluded the program by asking participants to vote on future issues using the clickers that were distributed.
Those in attendance voted that the following issues would be of interest in a future seminar: invasive species, river sedimentation, fracking and fish shelters.
Click here to read about the first half of the watershed presentation, including talks about Watershed 101, invasive species, and natural shorelines.
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