muskegon lake restoration: a success story
TRANSCRIPT
Kathy Evans, Program Manager
West Michigan Shoreline Regional
Development Commission
Great Lakes Conference, October 2011
Brian MajkaSenior Restoration
EcologistCardno JFNew
Muskegon Lake Restoration: A Success Story
Overview
•Historic Impacts•Public Involvement and Grass Roots Efforts•Turning Ideas into Project•Long Term Maintenance and Stewardship•Upcoming Projects
Muskegon Lake—A History
Muskegon Lake Shoreline during the Lumber EraMuskegon Lake Shoreline during the Lumber Era
Muskegon Lake - a History of Impacts
Post World War II Industrial EraPost World War II Industrial Era
Muskegon Lake – a History of Impacts
Muskegon Lake Area of Concern
Muskegon Lake is a 4,232-acre drowned river-mouth lake, connected to Lake Michigan by a navigational channel. It was designated an AOC in 1985, and is one of 14 AOCs in Michigan.
Beneficial Use Impairments
•Beach Closings•Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption •Eutrophication or undesirable algae •Restrictions on drinking water consumption, or taste and odor •Degradation of fish and wildlife populations •Degradation of aesthetics •Degradation of benthos •Restriction on dredging activities •Loss of fish and wildlife habitat
Public Involvement and Grassroots Efforts
Community Stakeholders Community Stakeholders - - Seeking Federal Cleanup Partners Seeking Federal Cleanup Partners
- Setting Goals and Priorities - Setting Goals and Priorities
Public Involvement in Public Involvement in Great Lakes Legacy Act CleanupsGreat Lakes Legacy Act Cleanups
State of the Lake Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) Award presented to City of Muskegon and Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership for the Ruddiman Creek GLLA Project in 2006.
204,000 lbs of chromium, 126,000 lbs of lead, 2,800 lbs of cadmium, 320 lbs of PCBs and 260 lbs of benzo (a) pyrene.
$10.6 ml – Great Lakes Legacy Act & Clean Michigan Initiative
Muskegon Lake Division Street Outfall Muskegon Lake Division Street Outfall CleanupCleanup
Great Lakes Legacy Act/Great Lakes Restoration InitiativeGreat Lakes Legacy Act/Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Muskegon Lake lost approximately 27% of its open water natural resources due to filling from the disposal of sawmill and foundry waste and land development. Broken concrete was commonly used to fill and stabilize the shoreline. Approximately 74% of the shoreline was hardened
Marine Debris – Sawmill and Marine Debris – Sawmill and Foundry Waste, Broken ConcreteFoundry Waste, Broken Concrete
Marine Debris – Sawmill and Marine Debris – Sawmill and Foundry Waste, Broken ConcreteFoundry Waste, Broken Concrete
A Community Vision Leads to aA Community Vision Leads to aFish and Wildlife Restoration Plan Fish and Wildlife Restoration Plan
The Plan Guides Local Planning for The Plan Guides Local Planning for On-the-Ground Restoration Projects On-the-Ground Restoration Projects
Community Involvement Community Involvement Setting AOC Restoration Setting AOC Restoration
TargetsTargets
Shovel ReadyShovel Ready MLWP Set Targets and Developed the Fish and Wildlife MLWP Set Targets and Developed the Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Plan in 2008Restoration Plan in 2008
WMSRDC held a Community Forum in 2008 and identified 3 WMSRDC held a Community Forum in 2008 and identified 3 public and 7 private landowners, willing to restore habitatpublic and 7 private landowners, willing to restore habitat
Great Lakes Commission partnered with WMSRDC to apply Great Lakes Commission partnered with WMSRDC to apply for the NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program for the NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program (GLHRP) and NOAA expanded restoration in the Great (GLHRP) and NOAA expanded restoration in the Great Lakes Region with the Great Lakes Habitat and Coastal and Lakes Region with the Great Lakes Habitat and Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration and ARRA ProgramsMarine Habitat Restoration and ARRA Programs
Over 50% of the restoration needed to restore habitat in the Over 50% of the restoration needed to restore habitat in the AOC will be complete in 2012AOC will be complete in 2012
NOAA Coastal & Marine NOAA Coastal & Marine Habitat Restoration & ARRA Program Habitat Restoration & ARRA Program and Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program and Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program Project Goals: Ecological benefits for fish and wildlife Progress on the restoration of beneficial uses and removal of BUIs
through restoration and scientific monitoring JJob creation and retention Improvement of short- and long-term economic conditions Public involvement and community outreach
Grant Project Team:
Grant Administrator Input Economic Public Project Management Oversight & Scientific OutreachContracts, Reporting Guidance Monitoring
Involvement
Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact
NOAA Project Restoration Goals:NOAA Project Restoration Goals: Percent of BUI Target Met:Percent of BUI Target Met: Soften 10,007 feet of Hardened Shoreline - 42% Soften 10,007 feet of Hardened Shoreline - 42% Restore 11.6 acres of Emergent Wetland - 16% Restore 11.6 acres of Emergent Wetland - 16% Restore 15.6 acres of Open Water Wetland - 82%Restore 15.6 acres of Open Water Wetland - 82% Remove/Improve 23.6 acres of Unnatural Lake Fill - 19%Remove/Improve 23.6 acres of Unnatural Lake Fill - 19%
Muskegon Lake Today- Toward Recovery
Turning Ideas and Partnerships into ProjectsTurning Ideas and Partnerships into Projects
PeoplePeople Technical analysisTechnical analysis BudgetsBudgets GoalsGoals Successful projects Successful projects
must hit on social must hit on social AND AND environmental environmental aspectsaspects
Education, Education, Education, Education, EducationEducation
Site Analysis•Fetch/Depth Across Fetch•Run-up•Orientation•Vegetation•Adjacent Structures•Boats•Ice•Multiple property owners/sites around lake•Anecdotal knowledge is key
D’Alcorn Site--Shoreline
D’Alcorn Site--Shoreline
Grand Trunk--Wetlands
•7 Acres Restored7 Acres Restored•Unnatural Fill Removed. Unnatural Fill Removed. •Emergent and Open Water Emergent and Open Water Wetland Restored. Wetland Restored.
Grand Trunk--Wetlands
Grand Trunk--Wetlands
Ruddiman Creek Mouth
Ruddiman Creek Mouth
Ruddiman/Amoco RestorationRuddiman/Amoco Restoration
Lakeshore Trail between Lakeshore Trail between Ruddiman Mouth and AmocoRuddiman Mouth and Amoco
Heritage Landing--Shoreline
Construction
Challenges•Achieving balanceAchieving balance•Balancing Balancing technical, social, technical, social, and environmentaland environmental•Philosophical—to Philosophical—to restore or to restore or to create?create?•You can’t please You can’t please everyoneeveryone
Long Term Maintenance, Long Term Maintenance, Monitoring, and StewardshipMonitoring, and Stewardship
Volunteers Monitor HabitatVolunteers Monitor Habitat Bird Studies Bird Studies Canada’s Volunteer Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP)Canada’s Volunteer Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) Local Student Monitoring ProgramsLocal Student Monitoring Programs
Landowner Management PlansLandowner Management Plans
AWRI Pre-Post Restoration AWRI Pre-Post Restoration Monitoring – Fish and MacrophytesMonitoring – Fish and Macrophytes
Typha angustifolia* (0) Lythrum salicaria* (0) Utricularia vulgaris (6)
Ceratophyllum demersum (1)Myriophyllum spicatum* (0)
Nymphaea sp.Potamogeton pusillus (4)
Potamogeton crispus* (0)
Potamogeton perfoliatus (6)Elodea canadensis (1)
Vallisneria americana (7)
250-400 m Vallisneria americana (7)
Grand TrunkTransect Length: 0-400 m
0-20 m
40-225 m
Volunteers and Students Volunteers and Students Monitor Wetland Restoration Monitor Wetland Restoration
SitesSites
Stewardship Maintenance Stewardship Maintenance Spotted Knapweed & White CloverSpotted Knapweed & White Clover
BeforeBefore VolunteersVolunteers After VolunteersAfter Volunteers
Grand Trunk Restoration Grand Trunk Restoration Partners Annual Stewardship Partners Annual Stewardship
Day Day - May 13, 2011- May 13, 2011
Future ProjectsFuture Projects
Muskegon Lake Watershed Muskegon Lake Watershed PlanPlan
Muskegon River 319Muskegon River 319 Bear Creek 319Bear Creek 319 Muskegon Lake Phase Muskegon Lake Phase
II StormwaterII Stormwater Ruddiman Creek Ruddiman Creek
TMDLTMDL What’s left?What’s left? Ryerson, Green Ryerson, Green
Creek, Four Mile Creek, Four Mile Creek, DSO sub-basinCreek, DSO sub-basin
Historic Zephyr Photo Historic Zephyr Photo Located between Muskegon River and Bear Creek Located between Muskegon River and Bear Creek
in Muskegon Lake AOC in Muskegon Lake AOC
Muskegon River and Bear Creek Muskegon River and Bear Creek Contaminated Soils and Surface WatersContaminated Soils and Surface Waters
Muskegon Lake - A History and a Future of Muskegon Lake - A History and a Future of Public Involvement and Public Involvement and
Volunteer StewardshipVolunteer Stewardship