Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Water Resources Division January 2011 Staff Report Biological Assessment of The

MI/DEQ/WRD-11/002

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WATER RESOURCES DIVISION JANUARY 2011

STAFF REPORT

BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BETSIE AND PLATTE RIVERS WATERSHEDS BENZIE, MANISTEE, GRAND TRAVERSE, AND LEELANAU COUNTIES, MICHIGAN JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008

INTRODUCTION

Staff of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Surface Water Assessment Section (SWAS), conducted qualitative biological and habitat surveys in the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds from July to September 2008. This assessment was designed to qualitatively characterize the biotic integrity of macroinvertebrate communities with respect to existing habitat conditions at selected sites throughout the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds. Surveys were performed according to the MDEQ rapid bioassesment protocol, Procedure 51 (MDEQ, 1990; Creal et al., 1996), at 11 stations in wadeable segments of the mainstem, and tributaries to, the Betsie and Platte Rivers, as well as coastal tributaries to Lake Michigan in the Northwest Lower Peninsula (Table 1).

Two site selection methods were used to assess northwest Lower Peninsula streams in 2008: stratified random and targeted. A probabilistic monitoring approach, using stratified random site selection to address statewide and regional questions about water quality, was used to select stations within the northwest Lower Peninsula region (MDEQ, 2006 draft). For the purposes of probabilistic site selection, the northwest Lower Peninsula consists of the Betsie River, Platte River, Boardman River, and Elk River watersheds, and the many small watersheds that flow to Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. The biosurveys east of the Betsie and Platte Rivers (including coastal tributaries north to Mackinaw) were conducted separately from the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds and are addressed in a separate report (Holden, 2009). Nine probabilistic sites are described in this report. In addition to probabilistic monitoring, 2 sites within the watershed group were selected for targeted monitoring to fulfill specific monitoring requests, assess known or potential areas of concern, collect information and assess attainment of water quality standards (WQS) from areas where historic survey information was lacking, or collect information related to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.

OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of this survey were to:

• Assess the current status/condition of individual waters and determine attainment of Michigan WQS. • Support water quality-based effluent limit development for NPDES permits. • Identify potential nonpoint source pollution problems. • Evaluate general water quality trends in the watershed. • Satisfy monitoring requests submitted by external and internal customers.

WATERSHED DESCRIPTIONS

Betsie River

The Betsie River watershed is located in Grand Traverse, Manistee, and Benzie Counties (Figure 1), and drains roughly 155,026 acres (Tonello, 2004). The watershed lies in the North Central Hardwood Forests (NCHF) ecoregion (Omernik and Gallant, 1988). The Betsie River originates at Green Lake in Grand Traverse County and flows for nearly 50 miles to Betsie Lake and Lake Michigan near Elberta and Frankfort in Benzie County. The two largest tributaries to the Betsie River are the Little Betsie River and Dair Creek. These two streams have cold, stable flow and, along with a few smaller cold water tributaries, produce roughly half of the wild salmonid smolts in the watershed (Tonello, 2004). The Betsie River has been a state-designated Natural River since 1973 (Michigan Department of Natural Resources [MDNR], 1973). A Natural Rivers zoning board oversees development and other projects that are proposed within 400 feet of the riverbank on either side (Tonello, 2004).

Platte River

The Platte River watershed is located primarily in Benzie County (Figure 1), and drains roughly 123,200 acres including lakes. The river is a designated cold water system in the NCHF ecoregion (Omernik and Gallant, 1988) and originates from a series of lakes in western Grand Traverse County. The river flows for about 20 miles before it reaches Platte Lake and then another 5 miles to the confluence with Lake Michigan. The river mouth is located in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and much of the river proper lies within in the Pere Marquette State Forest.

The MDNR, Platte River State Fish Hatchery, is located on the river at Platte Creek, Michigan. This facility raises coho and chinook salmon and is the main egg take station for coho salmon in the upper Great Lakes. The area is a very popular destination for paddle sports, fishing, and camping.

HISTORICAL SAMPLING EFFORTS

Platte and Betsie River Watersheds

Recent MDEQ surveys of the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds were conducted in 2003 and 1998. In July 2003, the Platte and Betsie Rivers, and their respective tributaries, were assessed using Procedure 51. The habitat and macroinvertebrate communities of the two watersheds were assessed at 10 stations. All stations were found to have acceptable macroinvertebrate communities (scores ranged from 0 to +4) and good to excellent habitat conditions (scores ranged from 147 to 179). The full results of these assessments can be found in Zbytowski (2007a; 2007b).

Unnamed Tributary to Platte Lake

In 2003, staff from the SWAS and Cadillac District Office conducted a chemical and biological survey of an unnamed tributary to Platte Lake in response to a water quality complaint. The complainant reported strong odors and a change in the color of the stream. It was determined that one branch of this groundwater-fed stream was being impacted by contaminated groundwater venting from an illicit fruit waste disposal to an upgradient gravel pit. Macroinvertebrate and habitat conditions were determined to be degraded in comparison to other nearby streams and subsequently, not meeting Michigan’s WQS. Chemical analyses revealed elevated conductivity, total phosphorus and metals concentrations, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and total organic carbon. Two reports were produced as a result of this investigation: Walker (2003) and Smith (2003).

2 METHODS

The habitat, fish community, and macroinvertebrate community were evaluated qualitatively using Procedure 51 at 11 sites. The macroinvertebrate community was evaluated based on the total of 9 individual metric scores. Cumulative macroinvertebrate scores can range from -9 to +9. Community ratings are based on the cumulative score as follows: poor (-9 to -5), acceptable (-4 to +4), and excellent (+5 to +9). Habitat evaluations are based on 10 individual metrics, with a possible maximum total score of 200. Individual habitat metrics include both instream and surrounding riparian habitat conditions in determining cumulative scores and ratings. Habitat is rated as excellent with a cumulative habitat score >154, good with a score between 105 and 154, marginal with a score between 56-104, and poor with a score <56.

SAMPLING RESULTS

Table 1 lists all sites visited and the type of work done at each site. Survey and site visit locations are presented in Figure 1. Macroinvertebrate community ratings and habitat evaluations are given in Tables 2a and 2b, and Table 3, respectively.

Betsie River

• The most downstream site in the Betsie River watershed was at River Road (Station 1). The site is a popular canoe and kayak access point with an unimproved launch and gravel parking lot on the upstream side of River Road. The river is relatively wide (170 feet) at this location and nearly 100 percent of the substrate is loose sand. Other than limited wood and fringing emergent vegetation, there is very little instream habitat available for macroinvertebrate colonization. Despite these limitations, the macroinvertebrate community scored acceptable (+1) and habitat rated good (141).

• The Betsie River at Old Grade Road (Station 2) in Manistee County was found to have excellent instream and riparian habitat conditions (171). The macroinvertebrate community was well represented by mayfly, caddisfly, and dipteran families. The overall macroinvertebrate community was rated acceptable with a score of +1.

• Station 3 at King Road was found to have excellent habitat (174) and an acceptable macroinvertebrate community (+2). Instream habitat features included submerged logs and snags, cobble, and undercut banks. Pool habitats were somewhat variable in size and were found to have slight sand and sediment deposition. One family of stonefly (Perlidae) was collected as well as 6 families of mayfly and 8 families of caddisfly. Other dominant taxa include beetles in the family Elmidae and 6 families of mollusks.

• The most upstream site in the Betsie River was at Reynolds Road (Station 4). This station, which is 2.5 miles downstream of the Grass Lake Flooding, had two distinct habitat types present. A few yards downstream of the Reynolds Road Bridge there is a dramatic gradient change creating an abrupt transition from a low gradient, glide/pool stream to a high gradient, riffle/run stream. Habitat features upstream of the bridge are typical of lake outlets having abundant macrophytes and wetland vegetation in the riparian zone. Substrate was composed of sand and gravel overlain with some organic silts and attached algae. Habitat features downstream of the gradient break transition to more course particles of gravel and cobble. Riffles and fast, deep pools were prevalent in this section of the stream. Our macroinvertebrate survey included all habitats above and below the bridge. The macroinvertebrate community scored acceptable (+1) at Reynolds Road. The macroinvertebrate score was slightly depressed due, primarily, to the lack of stonefly taxa and the abundance of isopods, snails, and leeches. This station had the highest number of taxa (37) among all sites sampled, which is not surprising

3 given the diversity of habitats available above and below the bridge. Habitat at this site scored excellent (183), which can be attributed to the wide variety of instream habitat features available as well as a relatively undisturbed riparian upstream. Fish were not surveyed at this site but spawning salmon were observed at the time of our macroinvertebrate and habitat survey.

Little Betsie River

The Little Betsie River is a cold water designated tributary to the Betsie River in Benzie County. One station was assessed on the Little Betsie River at Nessen Road (Station 5). This station was found to have excellent habitat (170) and an acceptable macroinvertebrate community (+1). This site was typical of cold headwater streams in this region, having a complex mix of large woody debris, deep pools, undercut banks, and overhanging riparian alders. The surrounding forest is composed primarily of cedar and maple. Sand is the dominant substrate in both the glide and pool habitats. The macroinvertebrate community was dominated by caddisfly families (primarily Brachycentridae) and the dipteran, Chironomidae.

Unnamed Tributary to Platte Lake

Station 6 was located just upstream of US-131 on an unnamed cold water tributary to Platte Lake. This water body was assessed more thoroughly in 2003 (Walker, 2003) in response to contamination due to illicit fruit waste disposal (see Historical Sampling Efforts section above). Since the initial survey in 2003, the disposal pit was remediated and, in response to a Consent Judgment, a groundwater and surface water monitoring program was initiated by the responsible party. In 2008, the stream was found to be in the same condition as it was in 2003. Biochemical oxygen demand was about 30 times higher than would be expected in a similar stream. A thick layer of ferric iron bacterial slime still covers the anoxic stream bottom, inhibiting organic matter processing. The macroinvertebrate survey conducted in 2008 revealed a poor community (-6) with both low abundance and diversity. Intolerant macroinvertebrate taxa, including Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera families, were not present in 2008. The community was dominated by Chironomidae and Oligochaeta. Since the surrounding riparian area is relatively undisturbed, the overall habitat at this site was rated good (149). The instream metrics (e.g., epifaunal substrate, available cover, and embeddedness) scored the lowest of all metrics due to the bacterial slimes and accumulated organic matter. An additional site visit was made in 2009 to this site. A formal Procedure 51 macroinvertebrate survey was not conducted due to the persistence of thick bacterial slimes, accumulated unprocessed leaf litter, and anoxic conditions observed previously in 2008.

Cobble from Station 6 demonstrates presence of anoxic sediments (black layer) beneath bacterial slime (orange layer).

Orange ferric-iron bacterial slime covered substrate of small cascade in unnamed tributary to Platte Lake upstream of US-31.

5 Platte River

The Platte River was assessed at Goose Road (Station 7) in Benzie County. The river at this point is classified as a medium-sized cold water stream. There is extensive plant growth at this site, both in abundance and diversity of plant taxa, represented primarily by several Potamogeton species, Chara sp., Elodea sp., Sparganium sp., Ludwigia sp., and Scirpus sp. Attached algae were also present (Cladophora sp.). The habitat at this station scored excellent (169) with only two individual habitat metrics scoring less than excellent (pool variability and channel sinuosity). The substrate was dominated by sand and cobble. Other stable habitat included aquatic vegetation, snags, and submerged logs. The macroinvertebrate community, dominated by the mayfly family Leptohyphidae (formerly Trichorythidae) and the Isopoda, scored acceptable (+1). This station was revisited in 2009 for trend analysis and similar macroinvertebrate community and habitat conditions were found.

North Branch Platte River

The habitat and macroinvertebrate community of the North Branch Platte River was assessed at Indian Hill Road (Station 8) in Benzie County. The North Branch Platte River is a small, cold water tributary to the Platte River. The stream at this location is less than a foot deep and is about 10 feet wide. The substrate is wholly composed of loose sand with undercut banks, overhanging vegetation, and sparse woody debris and macrophytes being the primary sources of stable habitat. Despite the lack of cobble or gravel, habitat scored good (150). The macroinvertebrate community scored acceptable (+3) and was dominated by blackfly (Simuliidae) and midge (Chironomidae) larvae. Two families of stonefly (Nemouridae and Perlodidae) were collected in addition to several taxa of intolerant organisms in the orders Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera. Fish were not actively targeted for collection in this survey; however, sculpin and trout were observed during the assessment.

Crystal River

The fish community of the Crystal River was assessed to determine if it is meeting its cold water fishery designated use. The river at Crystal View Road is about 70 feet wide and about 1.5 feet deep on average. The river drains three large inland lakes (Glen Lake, Fisher Lake, and Tucker Lake) and winds its way through coastal sand dunes on its way to Lake Michigan. The fish community is dominated by Centrarchidae (smallmouth bass, rock bass, green sunfish, and pumpkinseed) and Cyprinid minnows (emerald and common shiners); taxa commonly found in warmwater lake outlets. While no resident salmonids were collected in the 30 minutes of backpack shocking, several potamodromous king and coho salmon were collected.

Weaver Creek

Weaver Creek (Station 10) is a small, coastal tributary to Omena Bay (West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay) located in Leelanau County on the Leelanau peninsula. The stream was found to have an acceptable (0) macroinvertebrate community with families of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera present. Habitat scored excellent (179) with the lowest individual metric scores relating to the low water conditions and slight sediment deposition. The riparian area was composed of beech, maple, and hemlock. Young-of-the-year trout and small sculpin were collected during the macroinvertebrate survey.

Leo Creek

Leo Creek (Station 11) is classified as a coastal stream and flows for a short distance before reaching Sutton’s Bay just south of the town of Sutton’s Bay located on the Leelanau peninsula. The stream was accessed upstream of M-22 and was found to have good habitat (152) and a

6 poor macroinvertebrate community (-5). The substrate was almost entirely sand with some small areas of gravel. Woody debris was available for colonization, cover habitat, and creating pool habitat. It was apparent that this stream receives a substantial spring melt pulse but has stable, groundwater-fed flow the rest of the year. Banks were found to be stable despite the sand-dominated local soil and proximity to homes and a major road. The macroinvertebrate community reflects the small, groundwater-fed nature of the stream in its sparse taxa richness and low taxa diversity. Thus, the poor rating likely has more to do with the fact Procedure 51 metrics were not developed using small, groundwater-fed coastal streams. Additional monitoring of the macroinvertebrate community of this stream should occur before it is determined that it is not attaining the ‘other indigenous wildlife and aquatic life’ designated use.

DISCUSSION

Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment

Macroinvertebrate communities rated acceptable at 8 stations in the lower portion of the watershed and poor at 2 stations. Total number of taxa for all stations ranged from 12 to 37 (Table 2a). Overall macroinvertebrate community scores for these sites ranged from -6 to +3 (Table 2b).

Habitat Assessment

Overall stream habitat scores, which consider in-stream habitat as well as the adjacent stream banks and riparian habitat at the 10 sites in the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds ranged from 141 (good) to 183 (excellent) (Table 3). Glide/pool metrics were used to evaluate habitat at eight of the sites and riffle/run metrics were used at the remaining two sites. Overall, stream habitat at 6 of the sites was rated as excellent and 4 were rated as good. The sites where habitat scores were better tended to have higher riparian and bank structure scores. Also notable is that the good sites tended to score much lower than excellent sites on the flashiness, sediment deposition, and pool variability metrics (Table 3).

Habitat conditions throughout these watersheds are highly influenced by past land use. Virgin timber was logged from much of northern lower Michigan in the late 1800s and has contributed to much of the sand bedload and bank scour in the lower watershed reducing available habitat and habitat complexity. Poorly constructed road/stream crossings and undersized culverts are additional stressors to these rivers.

Stratified Random Sample Results

Beyond determining the designated use support of streams in the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds (HUC 4060104), sites were selected in a manor to determine the general status of streams in the greater Northwest Lower Peninsula region. Nine of the 11 stations sampled during this survey are considered status stations, which were chosen with a randomized design. These 9 stations, along with 25 additional stations in the Boardman, Elk, and Boyne Rivers watersheds (HUC 4060105), were analyzed to answer questions about the regional water quality of both HUC regions. In the Northwest Lower Peninsula, all but two sites (Bear River at Evergreen Trail [as described in Holden (2009) and Leo Creek at M-22 [Station 11]) were found to have acceptable or excellent macroinvertebrate communities.

In 2008, 94 + 9 percent (using a 95 percent confidence interval) of Northwest Lower Peninsula streams were estimated to be supporting the “other indigenous wildlife and aquatic life” designated use component of R 323.1100(1)(e) of the Michigan WQS. This estimate is based on 34 stratified random sites selected within the region. The 34 sampling locations were stratified by the percentage of the total wadeable stream miles each respective classification

7 represented (e.g., 45 percent of the streams were classified as small warm, 45 percent of the total sampling effort would be used for small warm streams, 45 percent of 40 total sampling locations equals about 18 locations in small, warm streams).

The Northwest Lower Peninsula classification percentages, followed by an estimate of the number of sampling stations to proportionately represent the entire region, are presented below.

Classification River Miles Percent of Total Number of Sites Percent Attaining Coastal 105 23.2 7 86 Small Cold 187 41.4 15 100 Medium Cold 91 20.1 7 86 Medium Warm 33 7.3 3 100 Large Cold 18 4 1 100 Large Warm 18 4 1 100

TOTAL 452 100 34

Summary statistics were calculated from the probabilistic monitoring results (N=34) to address regional attainment status for Northwest Lower Peninsula streams. The probabilistic monitoring results can be extrapolated to the entire region. The average Procedure 51 macroinvertebrate score for the Northwest Lower Peninsula streams was 2.0, with a 95 percent confidence level of +/- 1.0.

CONCLUSION

Results of the macroinvertebrate community and habitat assessments indicate that, overall, Michigan WQS are being met in the Northwest Lower Peninsula and specific to this report, the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds. However, two small streams, the unnamed tributary to Platte Lake (Station 6) and Leo Creek (Station 11), were surveyed and found to be not attaining WQS for the ‘other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife’ designated use. In spite of this overall good or attaining condition, considerable potential remains for protection and enhancement of biological communities in the watershed. Poor historic and current land use practices in the watershed have, and will continue to cause habitat degradation in the form of bank erosion, stream morphology changes (widening, aggradation of sediments, loss of habitat diversity, etc.), increased embededness, and will reduce indigenous aquatic life metric scores. While habitat is generally good throughout the Northwest Lower Peninsula, biological communities will benefit from continued protection and rehabilitation of instream habitats and riparian zones.

Fieldwork by: Sarah LeSage, Senior Aquatic Biologist Matthew Wesener, Aquatic Biologist Surface Water Assessment Section Water Resources Division

Report by: Matthew Wesener, Aquatic Biologist Surface Water Assessment Section Water Resources Division

8 LITERATURE CITED

Creal, W., S. Hanshue, S. Kosek, M. Oemke, and M. Walterhouse. 1996. Update of GLEAS Procedure 51 Metric Scoring and Interpretation. MDEQ Staff Report No. MI/DEQ/SWQ-96/068. Revised May 1998.

Holden, S. 2009. Biological Surveys of Selected Stations in Northwest Lower Peninsula Streams. MDEQ Staff Report No. MI/DEQ/WB-09/028. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau, Lansing, Michigan.

MDEQ. 1990. SWAS Procedure 51 - Qualitative Biological and Habitat Survey Protocols for Wadable Streams and Rivers, April 24, 1990. Revised June 1991, August 1996, January 1997, May 2002, and December 2008.

MDEQ. 2006 draft. Water Bureau, Surface Water Assessment Section. Biological Trend Monitoring Procedure for Wadeable Streams.

MDNR. 1973. Betsie River Natural River Plan. Benzie and Manistee Counties. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Lansing, Michigan. Revised March 2002.

Omernik, J. and A. Gallant. 1988. Ecoregions of the Upper Midwest States. USEPA, Environmental Research Laboratory. EPA/600/3-88/037.

Smith, J. 2003. A Conventional Pollutant Survey of an Unnamed Tributary of Platte Lake, Benzie County. February 26, 2003. MDEQ Staff Report No. MI/DEQ/WB-03/053. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau, Lansing, Michigan.

Tonello, M. 2004. Betsie River. Status of the Fishery Resource Report. Report No. 2004-3. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Lansing, Michigan.

Walker, B. 2003. A Biological and Chemical Survey of an Unnamed Tributary of Platte Lake. Benzie County. February 26, 2003. MDEQ Staff Report No. MI/DEQ/WB-03/048. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau, Lansing, Michigan.

Zbytowski, J. 2007a. A Biological Survey of the Betsie and Little Betsie Rivers and Dair Creek. MDEQ Staff Report No. MI/DEQ/WB-07/107. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau, Lansing, Michigan.

Zbytowski, J. 2007b. A Biological Survey of Platte River System. MDEQ Staff Report No. MI/DEQ/WB-07/111. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau, Lansing, Michigan.

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Figure 1. Site locations in the Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds, July-September 2008. 10 Table 1. Betsie and Platte Rivers watersheds station locations and Procedure 51 macroinvertebrate and habitat scores and ratings.

P51 Bug Bug P51 Habitat Habitat P51 Fish Fish Station Waterbody Name Location County Latitude Longitude Bugs Score Rating Habitat Score Rating Fish Score Rating 1 Betsie River River Rd Benzie 44.6180 -86.1670 X 1 Accept. X 141 Good 2 Betsie River off Old Grade Rd Manistee 44.4920 -86.0090 X 1 Accept. X 171 Excellent 3 Betsie River King Rd Benzie 44.5420 -85.9420 X 2 Accept. X 174 Excellent 4 Betsie River Reynolds Rd Benzie 44.5770 -85.8720 X 1 Accept. X 183 Excellent 5 Little Betsie River Nessen Rd Benzie 44.5330 -85.8780 X 0 Accept. X 170 Excellent 6 Unnamed Trib to Platte LkUS-131 Benzie 44.6750 -86.0649 X -6 Poor X 149 Good 7 Platte River 2-track off Goose Rd Benzie 44.6500 -85.9690 X 1 Accept. X 169 Excellent 8 N B Platte River Indian Hill Rd Benzie 44.7040 -86.0420 X 3 Accept. X 150 Good 9 Crystal River Lk. MI to Fisher Lk Leelanau 44.9180 -85.9710 X* * 10 Weaver Creek M-22 Leelanau 44.9470 -85.8850 X 0 Accept. X 179 Excellent 11 Leo Creek M-22 Leelanau 44.9670 -85.6440 X -5 Poor X 152 Good

Bold/Italic = Targeted Sites * Metrics not developed for this ecoregion

11 Table 2A. Qualitative macroinvertebrate sampling results for Betsie River Betsie River Betsie River Betsie River River Road Old Grade Road King Road Reynolds Road 7/17/2008 7/17/2008 9/10/2008 9/10/2008 TAXA STATION 1 STATION 2 STATION 3 STATION 4

PORIFERA (sponges) 1 1 1 PLATYHELMINTHES (flatworms) Turbellaria 3 3 ANNELIDA (segmented worms) Oligochaeta (worms) 1 1 3 2 ARTHROPODA Crustacea Amphipoda (scuds) 52 5 6 24 Decapoda (crayfish) 1 3 2 1 Isopoda (sowbugs) 11 1 15 Arachnoidea Hydracarina 4 5 Insecta Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Baetiscidae 3 Baetidae 21 2 12 5 Caenidae 1 Ephemerellidae 1 7 1 1 Ephemeridae 7 1 Heptageniidae 10 4 16 20 Isonychiidae 3 3 7 Leptophlebiidae 6 Tricorythidae 2 17 1 Odonata Anisoptera (dragonflies) Aeshnidae 1 1 Gomphidae 1 2 16 Macromiidae 1 Zygoptera (damselflies) Calopterygidae 5 7 2 Coenagrionidae 2 Plecoptera (stoneflies) Perlidae 1 1 Pteronarcyidae 1 Hemiptera (true bugs) Corixidae 9 Gerridae 1 1 1 1 Naucoridae 1 Pleidae 1 Veliidae 11 Megaloptera Corydalidae (dobson flies) 1 Sialidae (alder flies) 1 Neuroptera (spongilla flies) Sisyridae 1 Trichoptera (caddisflies) Brachycentridae 3 1 2 Glossosomatidae 3 Helicopsychidae 1 18 5 Hydropsychidae 10 75 7 65 Hydroptilidae 3 Leptoceridae 6 11 2 5 Limnephilidae 3 1 2 Philopotamidae 121 Polycentropodidae 1 Uenoidae 1 Coleoptera (beetles) Gyrinidae (adults) 1 1 Haliplidae (adults) 1 Elmidae 1 13 62 9 Diptera (flies) Athericidae 43 21 Chironomidae 7 18 26 39 Empididae 1 Simuliidae 19 20 3 1 Tipulidae 3 1 MOLLUSCA Gastropoda (snails) Ancylidae (limpets) 6 5 Hydrobiidae 12 Physidae 65 3 2 Planorbidae 1 1 Pleuroceridae 11 1 45 22 Viviparidae 11 Pelecypoda (bivalves) Sphaeriidae (clams) 1 8 10 3

TOTAL INDIVIDUALS 258 243 294 289 12

Table 2B. Macroinvertebrate metric evaluation of Betsie River Betsie River Betsie River Betsie River River Road Old Grade Road King Road Reynolds Road 7/17/2008 7/17/2008 9/10/2008 9/10/2008 STATION 1 STATION 2 STATION 3 STATION 4 METRIC Value Score Value Score Value Score Value Score

TOTAL NUMBER OF TAXA 31 1 28 1 36 1 37 1 NUMBER OF MAYFLY TAXA 5 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 NUMBER OF CADDISFLY TAXA 6 1 4 0 8 1 5 0 NUMBER OF STONEFLY TAXA 2 1 0 -1 1 0 0 -1 PERCENT MAYFLY COMP. 16.28 0 7.41 -1 19.05 0 12.11 0 PERCENT CADDISFLY COMP. 9.30 -1 37.04 0 11.90 -1 33.91 0 PERCENT DOMINANT TAXON 25.19 0 30.86 0 21.09 1 22.49 1 PERCENT ISOPOD, SNAIL, LEECH 36.43 -1 1.65 0 18.71 -1 14.19 -1 PERCENT SURF. AIR BREATHERS 5.04 -1 0.41 1 1.02 0 1.04 0

TOTAL SCORE 1 1 2 1

MACROINV. COMMUNITY RATING ACCEPT. ACCEPT. ACCEPT. ACCEPT.

13 Table 2A. Qualitative macroinvertebrate sampling results for Little Betsie River Unnamed Trib to Platte Lake Platte River N. Br. Platte River Nessen Road US 31 2 Track Off Goose Road Indian Hill Road 9/10/2008 9/9/2008 7/16/2008 9/9/2008 TAXA STATION 5 STATION 6 STATION 7 STATION 8

PLATYHELMINTHES (flatworms) Turbellaria 2 3 NEMATOMORPHA (roundworms) 1 ANNELIDA (segmented worms) Hirudinea (leeches) 41 Oligochaeta (worms) 4 20 20 30 ARTHROPODA Crustacea Amphipoda (scuds) 29 4 1 23 Decapoda (crayfish) 1 Isopoda (sowbugs) 2 68 1 Arachnoidea Hydracarina 2 1 Insecta Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Baetidae 24 9 32 Ephemerellidae 2 7 1 Heptageniidae 3 Isonychiidae 1 Leptophlebiidae 4 7 Tricorythidae 89 Odonata Zygoptera (damselflies) Calopterygidae 4 Plecoptera (stoneflies) Nemouridae 4 Perlidae 2 Hemiptera (true bugs) Belostomatidae 1 Gerridae 2 1 1 Veliidae 2 6 Megaloptera Corydalidae (dobson flies) 1 1 Sialidae (alder flies) 1 1 1 Trichoptera (caddisflies) Brachycentridae 44 22 9 Glossosomatidae 91 Helicopsychidae 18 5 Hydropsychidae 15 3 3 Lepidostomatidae 61 Leptoceridae 1 Limnephilidae 3 2 1 Molannidae 9 Philopotamidae 1 Phryganeidae 1 Coleoptera (beetles) Dytiscidae (total) 1 1 Gyrinidae (adults) 1 Hydrophilidae (total) 1 Elmidae 2 Diptera (flies) Athericidae 2 1 Ceratopogonidae 1 6 Chironomidae 48 245 25 59 Dixidae 2 Empididae 4 Psychodidae 1 Simuliidae 8 29 103 Tabanidae 2 3 Tipulidae 84 MOLLUSCA Gastropoda (snails) Ancylidae (limpets) 1 Hydrobiidae 2 Physidae 11 3 2 Planorbidae 1 2 Pelecypoda (bivalves) Sphaeriidae (clams) 10 8 5

TOTAL INDIVIDUALS 256 291 330 303

14 Table 2B. Macroinvertebrate metric evaluation of Little Betsie River Unnamed Trib to Platte Lake Platte River N. Br. Platte River Nessen Road US 31 2 Track Off Goose Road Indian Hill Road 9/10/2008 9/9/2008 7/16/2008 9/9/2008 STATION 5 STATION 6 STATION 7 STATION 8 METRIC Value Score Value Score Value Score Value Score

TOTAL NUMBER OF TAXA 31 1 12 1 28 1 25 1 NUMBER OF MAYFLY TAXA 4 0 0 -1 4 0 3 0 NUMBER OF CADDISFLY TAXA 7 1 0 -1 6 1 6 1 NUMBER OF STONEFLY TAXA 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 2 1 PERCENT MAYFLY COMP. 12.11 0 0.00 -1 32.73 1 13.20 0 PERCENT CADDISFLY COMP. 35.55 0 0.00 -1 14.24 -1 5.28 -1 PERCENT DOMINANT TAXON 18.75 1 84.19 -1 26.97 0 33.99 0 PERCENT ISOPOD, SNAIL, LEECH 4.30 -1 1.03 0 24.24 -1 1.32 0 PERCENT SURF. AIR BREATHERS 3.13 -1 2.75 -1 0.30 1 0.00 1

TOTAL SCORE 0-613

MACROINV. COMMUNITY RATING ACCEPT. POOR ACCEPT. ACCEPT.

15 Table 2A. Qualitative macroinvertebrate sampling results for Weaver Creek Leo Creek M22 Upstream M22 9/8/2008 9/8/2008 TAXA STATION 10 STATION 11

PLATYHELMINTHES (flatworms) Turbellaria 4 ANNELIDA (segmented worms) Oligochaeta (worms) 20 7 ARTHROPODA Crustacea Amphipoda (scuds) 98 1 Isopoda (sowbugs) 2 50 Arachnoidea Hydracarina 1 Insecta Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Baetidae 1 16 Odonata Anisoptera (dragonflies) Aeshnidae 1 Cordulegastridae 7 Plecoptera (stoneflies) Nemouridae 7 Perlidae 1 Hemiptera (true bugs) Gerridae 1 1 Megaloptera Sialidae (alder flies) 1 Trichoptera (caddisflies) Glossosomatidae 17 Hydropsychidae 15 40 Limnephilidae 2 Philopotamidae 32 Phryganeidae 4 Coleoptera (beetles) Hydrophilidae (total) 1 Dryopidae 1 Elmidae 6 1 Diptera (flies) Ceratopogonidae 2 3 Chironomidae 19 70 Ptychopteridae 1 Simuliidae 7 26 Tabanidae 5 5 Tipulidae 6 4 MOLLUSCA Pelecypoda (bivalves) Sphaeriidae (clams) 1 35

TOTAL INDIVIDUALS 256 266

Table 2B. Macroinvertebrate metric evaluation of Weaver Creek Leo Creek M22 Upstream M22 9/8/2008 9/8/2008 STATION 10 STATION 11 METRIC Value Score Value Score

TOTAL NUMBER OF TAXA 24 1 16 0 NUMBER OF MAYFLY TAXA 1 -1 1 -1 NUMBER OF CADDISFLY TAXA 4 0 2 -1 NUMBER OF STONEFLY TAXA 2 1 0 -1 PERCENT MAYFLY COMP. 0.39 -1 6.02 -1 PERCENT CADDISFLY COMP. 26.56 0 15.79 -1 PERCENT DOMINANT TAXON 38.28 -1 26.32 0 PERCENT ISOPOD, SNAIL, LEECH 0.78 1 18.80 -1 PERCENT SURF. AIR BREATHERS 1.17 0 0.38 1

TOTAL SCORE 0 -5

MACROINV. COMMUNITY RATING ACCEPT. POOR

17 Table 3. Habitat evaluation for Betsie River Betsie River Betsie River Betsie River Little Betsie River River Road Old Grade Road King Road Reynolds Road Nessen Road GLIDE/POOL GLIDE/POOL GLIDE/POOL RIFFLE/RUN GLIDE/POOL STATION 1 STATION 2 STATION 3 STATION 4 STATION 5 HABITAT METRIC Substrate and Instream Cover Epifaunal Substrate/ Avail Cover (20) 3 16 18 17 15 Embeddedness (20)* 16 Velocity/Depth Regime (20)* 14 Pool Substrate Characterization (20)** 7 15 14 10 Pool Variability (20)** 13 15 16 18 Channel Morphology Sediment Deposition (20) 11 15 15 16 15 Flow Status - Maint. Flow Volume (10) 10 10 10 10 10 Flow Status - Flashiness (10) 10 9 10 10 10 Channel Alteration (20) 20 20 20 20 20 Frequency of Riffles/Bends (20)* 20 Channel Sinuosity (20)** 7 14 11 12 Riparian and Bank Structure Bank Stability (L) (10) 10 10 10 10 10 Bank Stability (R) (10) 10 9 10 10 10 Vegetative Protection (L) (10) 10 10 10 10 10 Vegetative Protection (R) (10) 10 10 10 10 10 Riparian Veg. Zone Width (L) (10) 10 8 10 10 10 Riparian Veg. Zone Width (R) (10) 10 10 10 10 10

TOTAL SCORE (200): 141 171 174 183 170

HABITAT RATING: GOOD EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT (SLIGHTLY (NON- (NON- (NON- (NON- IMPAIRED) IMPAIRED) IMPAIRED) IMPAIRED) IMPAIRED)

Note: Individual metrics may better describe conditions directly affecting the biological community while the Habitat Rating describes the general riverine environment at the site(s).

Date: 7/17/2008 7/17/2008 9/10/2008 9/10/2008 9/10/2008 Weather: Sunny Cloudy Sunny Sunny Sunny Air Temperature: 75 Deg. F. 75 Deg. F. 50 Deg. F. 60 Deg. F. 50 Deg. F. Water Temperature: 72 Deg. F. 71 Deg. F. 54 Deg. F. 60 Deg. F. 49 Deg. F. Ave. Stream Width: 170 Feet 45 Feet 55 Feet 75 Feet 15 Feet Ave. Stream Depth: 2 Feet 2 Feet 1 Feet 1.5 Feet 0.5 Feet Surface Velocity: 1.5 Ft./Sec. 2 Ft./Sec. 1 Ft./Sec. 0.75 Ft./Sec 0.75 Ft./Sec. Estimated Flow: 510 CFS 180 CFS 55 CFS 84.375 CFS 5.625 CFS Stream Modifications: None None None None None Nuisance Plants (Y/N): N N N N N Report Number:

STORET No.: 100239 510255 100243 100244 100242 Stream Name: Betsie River Betsie Betsie River Betsie River Little Betsie River Road Crossing/Location: River Road Off Old Grade Road (PrivKing Road Reynolds Road Nessen Road County Code: 1051101010 TRS: 26N16W31 24N14W09 25N14W24 25N13W10 25N13W27

Latitude (dd): 44.618 44.492 44.5424 44.5745 44.5331 Longitude (dd): -86.167 -86.009 -85.9425 -85.8777 -85.8782 Ecoregion: NCHF NCHF NCHF NCHF NCHF Stream Type: Coldwater Coldwater Coldwater Coldwater Coldwater

USGS Basin Code: 4060104 4060104 4060104 4060104 4060104

* Applies only to Riffle/Run stream Surveys ** Applies only to Glide/Pool stream Surveys

18 Table 3. Habitat evaluation for Unnamed Trib to Platte Lake Platte River N. Br. Platte River US 31 2 Track Off Goose Road Indian Hill Road RIFFLE/RUN GLIDE/POOL GLIDE/POOL STATION 6 STATION 7 STATION 8 HABITAT METRIC Substrate and Instream Cover Epifaunal Substrate/ Avail Cover (20) 6 16 11 Embeddedness (20)* 6 Velocity/Depth Regime (20)* 10 Pool Substrate Characterization (20)** 18 8 Pool Variability (20)** 8 10 Channel Morphology Sediment Deposition (20) 14 18 8 Flow Status - Maint. Flow Volume (10) 10 10 10 Flow Status - Flashiness (10) 10 10 10 Channel Alteration (20) 20 20 20 Frequency of Riffles/Bends (20)* 15 Channel Sinuosity (20)** 9 13 Riparian and Bank Structure Bank Stability (L) (10) 10 10 10 Bank Stability (R) (10) 10 10 10 Vegetative Protection (L) (10) 10 10 10 Vegetative Protection (R) (10) 10 10 10 Riparian Veg. Zone Width (L) (10) 10 10 10 Riparian Veg. Zone Width (R) (10) 8 10 10

TOTAL SCORE (200): 149 169 150

HABITAT RATING: GOOD EXCELLENT GOOD (SLIGHTLY (NON- (SLIGHTLY IMPAIRED) IMPAIRED) IMPAIRED)

Note: Individual metrics may better describe conditions directly affecting the biological community while the Habitat Rating describes the general riverine environment at the site(s).

Date: 9/9/2008 7/16/2008 9/9/2008 Weather: Sunny Sunny Sunny Air Temperature: 65 Deg. F. 74 Deg. F. 70 Deg. F. Water Temperature: 56 Deg. F. 64 Deg. F. 51 Deg. F. Ave. Stream Width: 4 Feet 80 Feet 10 Feet Ave. Stream Depth: 0.25 Feet 1Feet 0.8 Feet Surface Velocity: 1 Ft./Sec. 1.25 Ft./Sec. 0.75 Ft./Sec. Estimated Flow: 1 CFS 100 CFS 6 CFS Stream Modifications: None None None Nuisance Plants (Y/N): Y N N Report Number:

STORET No.: 100240 100238 100241 Stream Name: Unnamed Trib to Platte Lake Platte River North Branch Platte River Road Crossing/Location: US 31 2 Track Off Goose Road Indian Hill Road County Code: 10 10 10 TRS: 26N14W07 26N14W14 27N14W31

Latitude (dd): 44.6638 44.65 44.7041 Longitude (dd): -86.0542 -85.969 -86.0413 Ecoregion: NCHF NCHF NCHF Stream Type: Warmwater Coldwater Coldwater

USGS Basin Code: 4060104 4060104 4060104

* Applies only to Riffle/Run stream Surveys ** Applies only to Glide/Pool stream Surveys

19 Table 3. Habitat evaluation for Weaver Creek Leo Creek M22 Upstream M22 GLIDE/POOL GLIDE/POOL STATION 10 STATION 11 HABITAT METRIC Substrate and Instream Cover Epifaunal Substrate/ Avail Cover (20) 17 10 Embeddedness (20)* Velocity/Depth Regime (20)* Pool Substrate Characterization (20)** 18 10 Pool Variability (20)** 15 10 Channel Morphology Sediment Deposition (20) 13 11 Flow Status - Maint. Flow Volume (10) 8 7 Flow Status - Flashiness (10) 10 8 Channel Alteration (20) 20 20 Frequency of Riffles/Bends (20)* Channel Sinuosity (20)** 18 16 Riparian and Bank Structure Bank Stability (L) (10) 10 10 Bank Stability (R) (10) 10 10 Vegetative Protection (L) (10) 10 10 Vegetative Protection (R) (10) 10 10 Riparian Veg. Zone Width (L) (10) 10 10 Riparian Veg. Zone Width (R) (10) 10 10

TOTAL SCORE (200): 179 152

HABITAT RATING: EXCELLENT GOOD (NON- (SLIGHTLY IMPAIRED) IMPAIRED)

Note: Individual metrics may better describe conditions directly affecting the biological community while the Habitat Rating describes the general riverine environment at the site(s).

Date: 9/8/2008 9/8/2008 Weather: Cloudy Cloudy Air Temperature: 65 Deg. F. 65 Deg. F. Water Temperature: 56 Deg. F. 55 Deg. F. Ave. Stream Width: 10 Feet 12 Feet Ave. Stream Depth: 0.33 Feet 0.5 Feet Surface Velocity: 0.75 Ft./Sec. 0.5 Ft./Sec. Estimated Flow: 2.475 CFS 3 CFS Stream Modifications: None None Nuisance Plants (Y/N): N N Report Number:

STORET No.: 450229 450228 Stream Name: Weaver Creek Leo Creek Road Crossing/Location: M22 Upstream M22 County Code: 45 45 TRS: 31N11W35 30N11W28

Latitude (dd): 45.0473 44.9673 Longitude (dd): -85.5938 -85.6443 Ecoregion: NCHF NCHF Stream Type: Coldwater Coldwater

USGS Basin Code: 4060104 4060104

* Applies only to Riffle/Run stream Surveys ** Applies only to Glide/Pool stream Surveys