Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

Benefits of the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Strategic Implementation Plan

A Tool for Coordinating Implementation

September 27, 2013

• Approved by the Army Corps in July 2013• 71 projects/$71 million• St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair Comprehensive Management Plan

A requirement of federal law• WRDA of 2007• Linked to authorized funding• Establishment of a partnership

Strategic Implementation Plan

Lake St. Clair/St. Clair River Protection and Restoration Partnership

• 38 members• Implement the Management Plan• Developed the SIP to identify the priorities• Team approach• Alignment

Strategic Implementation Plan

Percent of Projects by Watershed

• Clinton Watershed: 75 %• Lake St. Clair:15%• St. Clair River: 10%

Lots of projects over a big area!

It’s a Large Watershed

• Watershed size: 1500 sq mi• Landscapes and environments• Different restoration techniques

Strategic Implementation Plan

Benefits of the SIP

• Regional coordination• Adds legitimacy to the a partnership• Adds credibility to funding proposals• Flexible implementation process• We identify our priorities to congress• Creates a watershed first mentality

Results of this Team Approach

Strategic Implementation PlanCurrent Projects Tracking

Local, state and federal partners aligning priorities

Strategic Implementation PlanCurrent Projects Tracking

Partnership tracking 30 projects

Strategic Implementation PlanCurrent Projects Tracking

Multiple state/federal funding Programs

Strategic Implementation PlanCurrent Projects Tracking

Approximately $24 Million in Investment

Time to update the Strategic Implementation Plan

Updating the SIP

• Agreed: SIP updated once a year• Iterative document• Discussion at November Partnership Mtg• The level of SIP Update

Start Looking for Projects

• RAP/BUI Delisting documents• Subwatershed plans• Local recreation and master plans• Regional/Statewide Initiatives

Potential Project Types

• Habitat protection• Habitat restoration• Land acquisition• Invasive species management• Bacteria reduction• Stormwater management

• Technology• Pollution prevention• Planning assessment• Recreation• Public education/outreach• Toxics