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Between Land and : ’s Great Coastal E-2902 • New • December 2003

Between Land and Lake: Michigan’s Coastal Wetlands

by Dennis A. Albert

Michigan Natural Features Inventory www.msue.msu.edu/mnfi

ISBN 1-56525-018-4 Albert, Dennis A. 2003. Between Land and Lake: Michigan’s Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State University Extension, East Lansing, Mich.: Extension Bulletin E-2902. 96 p.

Design by Alicia Burnell, Michigan State University Communication and Technology Systems. © 2003 Michigan State University, all rights reserved. Dedication and Acknowledgments

any of us will remember MTed Cline for his tireless dedication to conserving Michigan’s special places. Ted’s aerial photography helped pro- tect important sites from Drummond to the tip of the Keweenaw , as well as in New Mexico. In this book, his photos provide us an important landscape perspective.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Edward Bonanno, John Brazner, Tom publication. Konrad Schmidt’s Voss, who introduced me to Burton, Pat Chow-Fraser, Sue photos came from ’s Great Lakes marshes in 1980, Crispin, Eric Epstein, Mike Fishes of Minnesota Web site. allowing me to join him in his Grimm, Tom Hart, Bud Harris, The gracious staff of the Monroe long-term marsh studies at Joel Ingram, Carol Johnston, Archives provided access to its Cecil . Shari Gregory, Dave Kenyon, historic photography collection. Janet Keough, Elizabeth LaPorte, This study represents the efforts Michigan Grant (www.mi- James McCormac, Rich Merritt, of many. Individuals participating seagrant.umich.edu) provided Mary Moffett, Glenn Palmgren, in the field studies include Larry access to its digital graphics col- Mary Rabe, Dave Rutkowski, Brewer, William Brodowich, lection, as did The Nature Thomas Simon, Steve Patrick Comer, Tim Garlock, Conservancy and the Michigan Sutherland, Todd Thompson, Chad Hess, Michael Kost, Will DNR. Ken Fettig, Leslie Johnson Don Uzarski, Howard Wandell, MacKinnon, Michael Penskar, and Alicia Burnell of MSUE’s Doug Wilcox, Leni Wilsmann, Ursula Peterson, Gary Reese, Gill ANR Publications turned a rough Earl Wolf and Gene Wright. Starks and Dan Wujek. Leah idea into a finished publication. Michael Kost, Rueben Goforth, Minc provided data analysis and Michael Penskar, Todd White and Funding for this publication was literature review; her contribu- Michael Monvils provided edi- provided by the National Oceanic tion cannot be overstated. toral comments that improved and Atmospheric Administration I especially appreciate text con- the accuracy and the flow of the through the Coastal Zone tributions by Vanessa Lougheed, text. Lyn Scrimger, Sue Ridge Management Program of the Sheila McNair, Rich Merritt, and Laraine Reynolds provided Michigan Department of Greg Soulliere and Todd White. administrative assistance. Cathie Environmental Quality. John Schafer’s photographs of Ballard, Dave Kenaga and Michigan’s field office of The the St. Clair flats inspire all of us. Maureen Houghton helped Nature Conservancy and the administer the project for Great Lakes Area of Expertise A number of others have provid- Michigan’s Department of Team of Michigan State ed valuable information, insights Environmental Quality, University Extension provided and commentary incorporated additional matching funds. into this work. These contribu- Many thanks to numerous pho- tors include Ted Batterson, Sandy tographers who allowed me to include their photos in this

2 Table of Contents

Introduction...... 4 The Natural Setting: The Environmental Context of Coastal Wetlands...... 7 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline ...... 8 Shoreline Configuration ...... 10 Site Types of Lacustrine Systems ...... 11 Wetland Site Types of Barrier-protected Lacustrine Systems ...... 12 Wetland Site Types of Riverine Systems ...... 14 Fluctuations in Great Lakes Water Levels ...... 17 Wetland Response to Water Level Fluctuations ...... 20 Bedrock ...... 22 Climate ...... 24 Human Land Use and Anthropogenic Stress...... 25 The Diversity of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands ...... 29 Zonal Wetland Vegetation ...... 30 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of ...... 32 Northern Great Lakes Marsh...... 32 : The Hidden World of the Marsh ...... 37 Northern Rich Fen...... 39 St. Marys River Marshes ...... 42 Macroinvertebrates in Michigan’s Coastal Wetlands ...... 45 Poor Fen...... 47 Fish in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands ...... 49 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of ...... 53 Drowned River Mouths ...... 53 Lakeplain Marsh ...... 56 Lakeplain ...... 60 St. Clair Lakeplain Marsh ...... 62 Waterfowl Use of Michigan’s Coastal Wetlands...... 67 Lakeplain Marsh ...... 71 Case History of a Marsh: Delta...... 73 Restoration and Recovery ...... 79 Appendices...... 86 Appendix A: Marshes in Michigan ...... 87 Appendix B: Referenced ...... 93 Appendix C: Suggested Readings ...... 96

3 Introduction Introduction

J. Schafer magine flying over the Ishoreline of western Lake Erie and seeing a -wide swath of grasses and bulrushes rippling in the winds. As the plane passes, thousands of waterfowl rise and take flight to a distant edge of the marsh. We could also be in a , paddling through shallow, meander- ing channels at the mouth of the River Raisin, gliding through an open bed of , with broad meadows of blue-joint grass and bulrush sur- rounding us in all direc- tions. The splits again and again before we reach the open waters of Aerial view of St. Clair . the lake. One hundred and fifty broad coastal marshes nificent bird’s-foot delta of years ago, as the Michigan lined western Lake Erie, the St. Clair River, and territory was being settled, Lake St. Clair and the mag- many other river mouths and shallow bays of the D. Albert Great Lakes. Such marshes could be found on all of the Great Lakes, from the western tip of Lake Superior to the upper reaches of the St. Lawrence River and its countless trib- utaries. Early surveyors and historians described Canoeing in a slough of the St. Clair River delta.

5 Introduction

D. Albert and mapped many of the largest wetlands. These descriptions invariably include uncountable flocks of waterfowl or abundant spawning and feeding fish. For centuries, Native American villages had con- gregated on the shoreline, attracted by the abundant fish and wildlife. Annual spawning of lake , whitefish and suckers and Rock-armored mouth of the River, previously a large wetland. the presence of many other wildlife species pro- vided a bountiful harvest as factory or docking sites, wetland types with charac- to these original settlers of requiring the wetlands to teristic assemblages of Michigan. be filled. access plant and animal species. required dredging, We identify the natural But as the number of straightening and stabiliz- processes that occur with- European settlers to the ing of the lower stream in the various types of channels. Rapidly the coastal wetlands and make increased, these protected seemingly limitless marsh- Great Lakes wetlands eco- waters took on other val- es along the Great Lakes logically different from the ues that conflicted with and their connecting chan- smaller, inland wetlands the ecological values so nels began to disappear. familiar to many of us. important to the Native Finally, we discuss the American settlements and In this book, we define and impacts of human develop- the fish and wildlife of the describe the diversity of ment and land use on marsh. The river mouths coastal wetlands found coastal wetlands and dis- and bays provided refuge along the Great Lakes cuss ways in which we can to commercial and shoreline and connecting protect and restore this . The waters became waterways. Throughout important natural resource important for industrial the region, a series of envi- for future generations. processes such as steam ronmental factors con- power or cooling. The verge to create distinctive shorelines were developed wetland environments and

6 The Natural Setting: The Environmental Context of Coastal Wetlands

reat Lakes coastal wetlands occur along the GGreat Lakes shoreline proper and in portions of tributary rivers and streams that are directly affected by Great Lakes water regimes. These wet- lands form a transition between the Great Lakes and adjacent terrestrial uplands and are influenced by both. Though multiple environmental factors are at work in structuring these systems, the most important factors appear to be: • The aquatic environment. • Shoreline configuration. • Water level fluctuations. • Bedrock geology. • Climate. • Human land use. These factors — some regional, some local — create the context for Great Lakes coastal wetlands and provide a broad classification framework for under- standing their diversity, distribution and species composition. Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

S. Kogge ater flow character- Wistics define distinc- tive aquatic environments within the Great Lakes. In lacustrine environments along the Great Lakes shoreline, water flow in the adjacent wetlands is controlled directly by waters of the Great Lakes; Lacustrine environment: along western Saginaw Bay. the wetlands are strongly affected by littoral (along- land. Barrier-protected ) currents and - Along the most exposed wetlands are strongly driven wave action. shorelines, wetland influenced by the water Lacustrine gener- is rare, but wetlands fre- levels of the neighboring ally experience the great- quently form in barrier- Great Lake, but the est exposure to wind and protected lacustrine envi- or ridge protects the wave action and to ice ronments, where a wetland from storm waves scour, the primary agents dune or barrier beach sep- and reduces the chemical responsible for shore ero- arates the waters of the influence of the lake as sion and redeposition of Great Lakes from the wet- well. sediments. In addition to the lakes E. Epstein themselves, multiple rivers and streams flow into or connect the Great Lakes, creating localized wetland habitats strongly influ- enced by the rivers. Connecting channels — the major rivers linking the Great Lakes — are the St. Marys, and St. Clair rivers in Michigan, as well as the and Barrier-protected environment: , Apostle .

8 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

C. McNabb Among the smaller tribu- tary rivers to the Great Lakes, , flow rate and sediment load are controlled in large part by their individual drainages. Tributary rivers have a much lower volume and seasonally more variable flow than connecting channels, and they are Connecting river: the St. Marys River joins Lake Superior and influenced by the Great . Lakes near their mouths. Where the tributaries St. Lawrence rivers con- G. Reese necting the Great Lakes farther east in and . All connect- ing channels have been modified to accommodate large commercial vessels. Connecting channels are characterized by a large flow and seasonally stable hydrology. Their shallow- ness and strong result in earlier spring warming and better oxy- genation than in other aquatic environments. Because of their large size and modified hydrology, connecting channels are often treated as distinct from smaller rivers that flow into the lakes. Bayou of the , a tributary river to Lake Michigan.

9 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

T. Cline Michigan approximately 10,000 years ago, these sed- iments were redeposited, forming diverse features including moraines, drum- lins, eskers, kames and out- wash plains. The modern landscape closely reflects these glacial , with surface sediments reworked by wind and water. Their Protected embayment: Duck Bay. characteristic differences in soils, slope and drainage enter the lakes, a transi- well-known tributary to conditions largely deter- tion zone from stream to the Grand River with an mine both natural shore- lake occurs within which excellent marsh. line configuration and sedi- water level, sedimentation, ment composition. These, and biological Shoreline in turn, generate distinctive processes are partially Configuration contexts or site types for controlled by fluctuations Today, glacial landforms, wetland development that in lake level. This transi- modified by lake currents vary in their exposure and tional zone can extend sev- and alongshore movement resilience to lake stresses eral upstream and of sand, are the prevalent and in their soil chemistry result in the formation of features along much of the and texture. The impor- extensive wetlands. Great Lakes shoreline. tance of these glacial fea- Examples include the During the tures for understanding the in western glaciation, the most recent diversity of Great Lakes Lake Erie, whose water glacial advance, much of coastal wetlands is clear. As flow is affected by Lake the was Charles Herdendorf, a Erie more than 10 miles covered by ice. Advancing Great Lakes authority upstream from the lake, scoured the notes, “Perhaps in no other and the Grand River, also ancient landscape and geographic environment is with several miles of transported rocks and soil the relationship between stream affected by Lake on and in the glacial ice. As landforms and vegetation Michigan water levels. the glaciers retreated from so evident.” Potawatomi Bayou is a

10 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

Wetland Site Types of depth and gently sloping Protected embayments, Lacustrine Systems bottom topography reduce in contrast, are deeper wave height and energy, shoreline indentations cut Lacustrine wetlands along such as along the flat gla- into resistant upland shore- the Great Lakes coastline cial lakeplains. On line that provide significant generally occupy sites that lakeplains, the fine-textured protection from wind and offer some protection from soils are ideal for the estab- the force of wind and T. Cline waves. In contrast, where the shoreline is exposed to the full erosive forces of wind, wave and ice, high wave energies and the absence of stable sub- strates preclude wetland development. Protection from the lake may be cre- ated by upland topography and shoreline configura- tion, by a variety of St. Martin Bay, an open embayment of northern Lake Huron. nearshore barriers (includ- ing sand spits, and lishment and persistence of wave energy. Tributary islands), or by gently slop- aquatic . They permit streams may flow into ing and shallow bottom a continuous ring of emer- these embayments carrying topography that attenuates gent marsh vegetation such organic and mineral sedi- wave height and reduces as that rimming large por- ments derived from adja- wave energy. tions of Saginaw Bay. In cent uplands. The complex Several coastal features contrast, on sand lake- shoreline of the Les provide protection for wet- plains, broad and shallow Cheneaux Islands consists land development along embayments are created of drumlinized ground the Great Lakes proper. through nearshore trans- moraine features that cre- Open embayments — port of sand. The shifting ate numerous protected curving sections of shore- discourage aquatic embayments. Protected line open to the lake — plant roots and generally embayments are some- offer some protection from limit emergent wetlands to times common where the force of the lake in a narrow fringe along the glacial scouring has carved areas where shallow water shore. into bedrock, but examples

11 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

D. Albert as sand lakeplains. These complexes consist of a series of low, sandy or beach ridges 2 to 15 feet high deposited by receding Great Lakes waters over the past 5,000 years. From the air, these ridges appear as a series of arcs extending inland up Sand- embayment at Wigwam Bay, Saginaw Bay. to 3 miles, generally paral- lel to the present shore- line. Wetlands form in the of such wetlands are more good protection from wind swales between the beach common outside of Mich- and waves that allows ridges. Close to the lake, igan, such as along Geor- organic and fine mineral water levels in these gian Bay on northeastern sediment accumulation swales are directly tied to Lake Huron or the Thou- and wetland development Great Lakes water level sand Islands of the upper in the sheltered embay- fluctuations, but swales St. Lawrence River. In ments. Large, recurved and more distant from the lake Michigan, a few such bed- compound sand spits may rock embayments occur also enclose small swales along the northern Drum- or larger that offer E. Epstein mond Island shoreline. a protected habitat for emergent vegetation. Major Shallow sand-spit embay- sand-spit features occur at ments are created behind on Lake sand spits projecting along Superior. Smaller sand-spit the . These sand spits embayments are common form along gently sloping along Saginaw Bay. and curving sections of shoreline where sand trans- Wetland Site Types of port parallels the shore. Barrier-protected The spits are exposed to Lacustrine Systems both wave activity and overwash. On their land- Dune and swale com- ward side, however, the plexes form along rela- Dune and swale complex at Stockton Island, , spits generally provide tively flat shoreline, such Wis.

12 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

E. Epstein

Tombolo at Stockton Island, Apostle Islands, Wis. are affected by groundwa- fringe of marsh vegetation Grand Island near ter flow from the uplands. persists. The connecting Munising and Pequaming bar or ridge may also on . form when enclose a swale or bedrock islands are con- Barrier-beach lagoons within which thick organic nected to the mainland by result when nearshore cur- soils accumulate and sup- current-deposited sands. rents deposit a sand or port a dense growth of The embayment created gravel barrier bar across aquatic vegetation. Two on the leeward side of the the mouth of an embay- Michigan examples, both offers sufficient ment. The resulting shal- on Lake Superior, are protection from Great low pond or lagoon is Murray Bay on eastern Lakes wave action that a

Northern Barrier-beach Lagoon (Lake Superior)

Upland conifer Old barrier beach

Streamside wetland

Lagoon Barrier beach

Clay Sand

13 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

sheltered from the lake's manent or intermittent Michigan barrier-beach wave energy; sediments connecting channels, wave lagoons. accumulate in the lagoon overwash or cross-bar basin and vegetation can seepage. Barrier-beach Wetland Site Types of become rooted. Although lagoons are a common Riverine Systems water levels in the lagoon wetland type in the Along the major connect- may be augmented by trib- Apostle Islands of Lake ing rivers that link the utary streams and ground- Superior and on Lake Great Lakes, streamside water seepage, coastal Ontario. Tobico Marsh on sites fronting the main lagoon wetlands are also Saginaw Bay and channels are exposed to partially controlled by the Petobego Pond near wave action from Great Lakes through per- Traverse City are two traffic, and vegetation is frequently limited to a thin C. McNabb fringe paralleling the shore. These channelside wetland sites experience strong currents, deep water, and little or no organic accumulation in the emergent marsh zone. Channelside wetlands are common along the St. Marys River and portions Channelside wetland along the St. Marys River. of both the St. Clair and C. McNabb Detroit rivers because of the flat, poorly drained glacial lacustrine topogra- phy. In contrast, shallow streamside embayments along the major connect- ing rivers provide addi- tional protection from ero- sion. Effects of channel current and boat wash are reduced, organic sedi- ments accumulate, and Streamside embayment, St. Marys River.

14 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

G. Soulliere wetland vegetation is more extensive than in channel- side wetlands. River deltas form as stream sediments deposit- ed at the mouth of a river accumulate and create multiple shallow channels, low islands and aban- doned meanders that allow for extensive wet- land development. Wet- land sites range from the generally sandy or gravel substrates and swift cur- rent of the to the thick organic soils of the more protected sec- ondary channels. Large deltas commonly form on flat glacial lakeplains. The Munuscong River delta. St. Clair River, a connect- ing river, forms the largest Drowned river mouths these rivers, creating an freshwater delta in the form in the zone of embayed whose world as it enters Lake St. riverine/lacustrine inter- water levels are controlled Clair. More commonly, face along the lower by the Great Lakes. Fairly deltas are formed by large stretches of tributary steep upland slopes help tributary rivers as they rivers. During periods of the estuary, and enter the Great Lakes. extremely low lake levels, reduced water velocities Prime examples include tributary rivers eroded lead to deep accumula- deltas formed by the Pine, broad ravines through tions of organic soils. The Rifle and Saganing rivers bluffs bordering the Great result is a protected, fertile on Saginaw Bay in Lake Lakes shoreline. The sub- (but topographically cir- Huron, as well as the sequent rise in the Great cumscribed) wetland. River Raisin on western Lakes to present-day levels Lake Erie. drowned the mouths of

15 Aquatic Environments along the Great Lakes Shoreline

Drowned

Wet meadow & swamp Stream emergent & submergent plants

Sedge peat >8 feet thick

Drowned river mouths storm events. Alternatively, sheltered inland “lake” or that remain open to the a lacustrine estuary may pond connected to Great lake experience continual be barred when nearshore Lakes water levels by an water flows between river currents deposit a partial outlet channel but protect- and lake and are subject to berm or barrier dune ed from the direct force of the direct impact of lake across its mouth. Such wind and wave action off level fluctuations and barriers create a relatively the lake. Barred drowned river mouths are a domi-

E. Epstein nant wetland feature along the Lake Michigan shore- line in southwestern lower Michigan where large dune features have partial- ly blocked riverine flows. The protected, fertile wet- land habitat extends inland for several miles along the Kalamazoo, White and Grand rivers.

Open drowned river mouth, Sand River in Bayfield County, Wis.

16 Fluctuations in Great Lakes Water Levels

MI DEQ ll of the preceding Wind set-up is a local rise in water caused by winds A wetland environments pushing water to one side of the lake. are influenced, to differing degrees, by fluctuations in Still High level Great Lakes water levels. Wind water caused by level wind set-up These fluctuations occur over three temporal scales: short-term, seasonal, and interannual or multiyear. All of these scales con- tribute to the dynamic Diagram of wind set. character of coastal wet- lands, although inter- pressure. Short-term fluc- ly when associated with annual fluctuations tuations are known as . as high as impose the greatest stress. or wind-set events. 5 feet have been recorded Though these fluctuations on Lake Michigan and as Short-term fluctuations are of relatively short high as 9 feet on Lake in water level are caused duration, their effects can Huron. Lake Erie, the by persistent winds and/or be quite extreme, especial- shallowest of the Great differences in barometric

Lake St. Clair: July, 1984-1996 Wet meadow, St. Clair River delta 578

577

1986: Extreme high water level. 576

Feet (above ) 575

Mean water level

574 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 19901991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Year 1988: Average water level.

Diagram of long-term water level changes, with accompanying photos of the wet meadow zone of the St. Clair River delta.

17 Fluctuations in Great Lakes Water Levels

Lakes, experiences some exposure to air. On many low water levels in the of the most dramatic occasions while sampling winter and spring and seiches, with lake level vegetation in Saginaw Bay high water levels in sum- surges as high as 15 feet marshes, we discovered mer and early fall. Highest (5 meters). Such storm that plants submerged water levels are typically surges have tremendous near shore were complete- seen in early August. The impact on coastal wet- ly exposed to the air an effects of these seasonal lands and their inhabi- hour or two later following changes on marsh plants tants. Waves can destroy a wind change. Similarly, and animals have not been wetland vegetation, elimi- along the of Lake studied in detail but may nating habitat for fish, Erie, spawning northern be significant for germina- waterfowl and aquatic pike are temporarily tion of many plants. Many mammals. A spring storm trapped in shallow isolated aquatic plants germinate in 1998 destroyed hun- pools within the marsh best on moist soils or in dreds of muskrat lodges when lake waters are very shallow water, even along Saginaw Bay at a pushed from the wetland though they thrive as time when young by strong offshore winds. adults in completely flood- muskrats were highly ed conditions. Seasonal fluctuations in vulnerable. lake levels reflect the Interannual or year- Many plants and animals annual hydrologic cycle in to-year fluctuations in of the marsh, however, are the Great Lakes basin. lake levels are the result of adapted to survive either Water levels in the Great variable precipitation and temporary flooding or Lakes are characterized by evaporation within Great

D. Albert

Interannual fluctuations: wave erosion of wet meadow in 1986 high water.

18 Fluctuations in Great Lakes Water Levels

D. Albert Lakes drainage basins. Interannual fluctuations can be as extreme as 3.5 to 6.5 feet (1.3 to 2.5 meters); they occur with no regular periodicity. In general, as water levels rise and fall, vegetation communities shift their location — land- ward during high-water years and lakeward during low-water years. However, Wave erosion of bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus) stems in 1986 high water. fluctuating lake levels effect not only a change in muskrats, demonstrate an as well. Coastal wetland water depth but a broad equally dramatic response. systems are adapted to range of associated stress- During high-water condi- and require periodic inun- es to which plants must tions in 1986 and 1987, dation. Where regulation respond, including muskrat lodges were very of water levels has signifi- changes in water current, abundant in flooded sedge cantly reduced the occur- wave action, turbidity meadows and cat-tail rence of extreme high and (clarity or light penetra- beds. When water levels low water levels, disrup- tion), nutrient content or dropped in 1988, exposing tion of the natural cycle availability, alkalinity and most of the sedge meadow favors species intolerant of temperature, as well as ice and cat-tail beds, muskrat water depth change and scour and sediment dis- lodges became much less associated stresses, and/or placement. Individual numerous. Similar excludes species requiring species display different changes affect waterfowl periodic exposure of fertile tolerance limits along one breeding success and fish substrates. The result may or more of these dimen- spawning, as well as distri- be a reduction of species sions of stress, so species bution of invertebrates diversity. A reduction in composition within a such as dragonflies and the amplitude of natural marsh or marsh zone can . water level fluctuations change dramatically in has been suggested as the Conversely, the absence or response to water level reason for reduced species dampening of natural lake fluctuations. Wetland ani- diversity in many Lake level fluctuations alters mal species, including Ontario marshes. plant species composition

19 Wetland Plant Response to Water Level Fluctuations

D. Albert ultiyear studies of MMichigan’s Great Lakes wetlands have shown us how vegetation responds to interannual water level fluctuations. When water levels rise, sedges, grasses and cat- tails along the shore are eroded by wave action. Some species of the A dense band of sedge (Carex cryptolepis) occupies the dried-down emergent marsh zone strand zone following a drop in Great Lakes water level. shift inland, such as cat- tails and bulrushes. newly exposed mud flats dreds of stems per Small bladderworts, are often more dramatic. square meter. Another including Utricularia It is common to see a conspicuous arrival is the intermedia, appear as lawn of minute annual sedge Carex cryptolepis, soon as shallow water spike-rushes. Softstem resembling small pin- covers the wet meadow. bulrush may explode in cushions, locally carpet- coverage, often forming a ing a band several feet But when the water level dense band with hun- wide just above the drops, changes on the water’s edge. Each sedge D. Albert plant bears dozens of seeds that will ripen and drop onto the soil, where they may rest dormant for years until conditions are again right for their germination. The ability of seeds to remain dor- mant in the seed bank is an adaptation that has proven successful for many plant species in the fluctuating environment of coastal marshes.

Seeds of Montevidens’ arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis), an annual, germinate from the seed bank when water levels drop.

20 Wetland Plant Response (continued)

D. Albert stranded along the shore- line. When water levels are high, water bulrush (Schoenoplectus subter- minalis) forms slender, limp leaves that shift with each passing wave. But when water levels drop, it produces short Nodding smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium) growing on - stems, each with a single rich mud following a drop in water level. Erie Marsh, Lake Erie. fruit, sometimes called “bug on a stick”.

Probably the most amaz- A. Reznicek ing response to the dry- downs is seen on Lake Erie marshes. Nodding smartweed, an annual, uses the surge of newly available nutrients to form dense stands of heavily fruiting plants 6 feet tall. A year later,

D. Albert Both forms of water bulrush (Schoenoplectus subterminalis): low-water emergent form with fruit and high-water limp, submergent form.

with reduced nutrients Most aquatic plants in and competition from the coastal marshes other plant species, nod- exhibit changes in struc- ding smartweed is only a ture, dominance or fruit few inches high. Some production in response submergent plants to water level fluctua- and fruit abundantly dur- tions. This seems only ing low-water conditions natural in an ecosystem as well. Water star-grass, where water level change Water star-grass (Heteranthera typically growing in 1 to dubia) abundantly is so prevalent. when stranded during low- 3 feet of water, flowers water periods. profusely only when it is

21 Bedrock Geology

he physical and chem- dolomite). Igneous and tribution of coastal wet- T ical characteristics of metamorphic bedrocks lands at a regional scale. various bedrock types can form the southern shore of The rugged Lake Superior affect both wetland loca- western Lake Superior, shoreline of sandstone and tion and species composi- where they co-occur with igneous and metamorphic tion. The major bedrock younger sedimentary rock, rock lacks the shallow pro- distinction in the Great primarily sandstone. In tected waters and fine- Lakes Basin is between contrast, only softer sedi- textured substrates that igneous and metamorphic mentary bedrock types support broad coastal wet- bedrock (including gran- underlie lakes Michigan, lands. Here almost all ite, and rhyolite) of Huron, St. Clair, Erie and coastal wetlands occur the period Ontario. behind protective barrier or are localized at and younger (Paleozoic) As a major determinant of stream mouths. In con- sedimentary bedrock coastline configuration, trast, the horizontally (including sandstone, the physical structure of deposited marine and near- shale, and bedrock type limits the dis- shore sedimentary rock that underlies lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario provides broad zones of shallow water and fine-textured substrates for marsh development. Bedrock chemistry can affect wetland species composition as well. Soils derived from much of the Precambrian bedrock are generally acid and favor the development of poor fen or communities. In contrast, soils derived from marine deposits, including shale and

22 Bedrock Geology

D. Albert

Steep volcanic conglomerate bedrock along Lake Superior provides few sites for wetland development. marine limestone, and moisture-rich loams alkalinity creates the pre- dolomite and evaporites, and clays. Where these ferred habitat for many are typically more calcare- bedrock types are at or calcium-loving plant ous (less acid), nutrient- near the surface, their species.

P. Comer

Flat-lying limestone bedrock. The flat landscape and nutrient-rich sediments derived from the limestone produce ideal conditions for the formation of large coastal wetlands.

23 Climate

D. Albert ariation in climate species that rarely occur Vwithin the Great along the other Great Lakes Basin is largely Lakes; species representa- determined by latitude, tive of southern wet with the modifying influ- prairie are locally abun- ence of the lakes (i.e., lake dant there as well. Both of effect) operating at a more these southern floras differ local level. The strong lati- significantly from the tudinal gradient from complex of boreal, subarc- southern Lake Erie to tic and species northern Lake Superior found in the northern por- creates marked differences tions of lakes Huron, in length of growing sea- Michigan and Superior. son and annual input of solar energy across the D. Albert In Michigan, Sullivant’s milkweed D. Albert (Asclepias sullivantii) is found in lakeplain wet along the southern lakes from Lake Erie to Saginaw Bay.

region. These differences, in turn, are reflected in the regional distributions of a number of species com- mon to Great Lakes wet- lands. Though most aquatic plants are widely distrib- uted, species with known southern affinities make their appearance, as do those of the far-northern Cotton-grass (Eriophorum spp.), boreal forest. Lake Erie characteristic of northern bog A southern species, Montevidens’ wetlands, here is seen growing arrowhead, grows only as far wetlands, for example, are in a coastal dune and swale north as Lake Erie’s shoreline. rich in southern marsh complex.

24 Human Land Use and Anthropogenic Stress

J. Schafer ifferences in land use D— whether urban, agricultural or forested — create regional differences in the extent and quality of coastal wetlands, as well as in their species compo- sition. To a large extent, land use is a composite variable reflecting climate, physiography and soils. The tension zone, a rough climatic boundary separat- ing the forested north from the more agricultural No island within the delta is viewed as too small for development. south, closely follows regional differences in summer mean daily air temperature. Urban devel- opment, in contrast, reflects the early location of good harbors and the distribution of natural resources such as timber and mineral ores. Both urban and agricultural development have resulted in severe degradation and loss of coastal marshes.

Impacts of Urban Development: • Armoring of the shore- line and dredging of channels to create har- bors eliminate marsh and wetland habitat.

25 Human Land Use and Anthropogenic Stress

R. Cole tuations and alters natu- ral wetland dynamics. • Marina development and beach grooming by lake- side residents removes aquatic vegetation; with- out roots to stabilize bot- tom sediments, lake cur- rents erode adjacent shoreline, resulting in wetland loss or degradation.

J. Haas

On , cat-tail-choked wetlands along stream margins are partially the result of water level control.

• Dumping of waste mate- • Shipping traffic and asso- rials such as sawdust ciated wave action erode and sewage and a wide shoreline vegetation. variety of chemicals • Water level control of the increases turbidity, Great Lakes and con- reduces oxygen concen- necting rivers reduces trations and alters the Beach plowing on Saginaw Bay short-term and inter- pH of the shallow-water reduces bulrush regeneration and annual water level fluc- rooting. marsh environment.

D. Albert C. McNabb

Grand River sewage spill results in dense growth Commercial vessels can contribute to erosion of of duckweed. coastal wetlands.

26 Human Land Use and Anthropogenic Stress

Impacts of Agricultural Development: • Field drainage has eliminated large areas of marsh and coastal wetlands. • Erosion and sedimenta- tion from plowed fields have greatly increased water turbidity and elim- inated aquatic plants requiring clear water. • Nutrient loading has locally reduced oxygen levels, prompted algal Historic wetland change on Saginaw Bay. blooms, and led to the dominance of species Lois Wolfson D. Albert such as cat-tails that

D. Albert

Curly-leaved pondweed Duckweed in drainage ditch (Potamogeton crispus), an aggres- carrying water and sediments sive exotic plant, tolerates turbid from agricultural lands along Drainage of lakeplain prairie waters by concentrating leaves Saginaw Bay. along Saginaw Bay with drainage near water surface. ditches and tiles.

27 Human Land Use and Anthropogenic Stress

D. Albert thrive on high nutrient levels. • Heavy agricultural run- off has led to the deposi- tion of rich organic mud in the wet meadows and along the shoreline, favoring the dominance of early successional and weedy species. • Introduced aggressive exotic plants have crowded out native plant species and reduced Mats of filamentous algae along Frenchman Creek, Lake Erie. dependent insects and G. Soulliere birds.

D. Albert

An exotic variety of reed (Phragmites australis) is a large, aggressive emergent species that expands into disturbed habitat. Stream carrying nutrient-rich sediments from agricultural fields.

28 The Diversity of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Zonal Wetland Vegetation

reat Lakes coastal nated by bulrushes, cat- ceous or wet meadow Gwetlands usually con- tails and other species zone characterized by sat- tain several distinct zones emerging above the water, urated or periodically of aquatic and wetland but also containing sub- flooded soils and dominat- vegetation. Moving from mergent and/or floating ed by sedges, grasses and deeper water to the shore, vegetation; and a narrow other herbs; and the shrub typical zonation includes but diverse shoreline or swamp and swamp forest the submergent marsh strand zone at or just zones, both characterized containing submerged above the water line where by periodic standing water (underwater) and/or float- seasonal water level fluctu- and dominated by woody ing vegetation such as ations and waves cause species adapted to a vari- water-lilies; the emergent erosion, usually dominat- ety of flooding regimes. marsh, characterized by ed by annual herbs. Not all zones are present shallow water or saturated Inland from the water's or well developed in every soils and typically domi- edge, additional zones can wetland. be identified: the herba-

0

-3

-6 Depth (feet) 0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 Distance (feet)

30 Zonal Wetland Vegetation

D. Albert D. Albert

Submergent vegetation such as wild-celery The outer emergent bulrush beds are quite sparse as (Vallisneria americana) can occupy clear waters a result of strong wave activity. much deeper than emergent plants.

The development of dis- environmental factors dis- Great Lakes coastal wet- tinct vegetation zones, cussed above. Through a lands in Michigan, each species composition and combined analysis of the with distinctive floristic quality of Great Lakes vegetation and the environ- characteristics and a coastal wetlands directly mental context, we can restricted geographic reflect the controlling identify several types of distribution. influence of specific

D. Albert D. Albert

Wet meadow dominated by broad blue-joint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis) and sedge (Carex stricta) with speckled alder (Alnosa rugosa) and willows (Salix spp.) closer to shore.

Submergent and floating types of vegetation often grow densely in the protected inner emergent marsh.

31 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

T. Cline Northern Great Lakes Marsh

The clear, cool waters of northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are to some of the least dis- turbed Great Lakes coastal wetlands in Michigan. Their intactness, resulting from relatively low levels of agricultural, industrial and residential develop- ment, allows us to better understand the natural wetland zonation and dynamics of Great Lakes wetlands. The Les Cheneaux Islands on northern Lake Huron contain prime examples of northern Great Lakes marshes. Among these Aerial photo of Duck, Peck and Voight bays on Marquette Island. islands there are countless small bays, some protected between the island and the trast in wetland vegetation emergent marsh and wet mainland and others open resulting from the differ- meadow along their to the full wind of Lake ent degrees of exposure to shores, such as those Huron. Two nearby marsh- the open lake. encountered at Duck Bay. Submergent plants grow es on Marquette Island — Bays protected from the to depths of 6 feet in the Duck Bay and Peck Bay — full energy of storm waves clear waters of Duck Bay, illustrate the strong con- support broad bands of

32 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

Comparison of Plant Communities at Peck Bay and Duck Bay, Marquette Island

Northern hardwoods forest

Peck Bay Northern white-cedar swamp (open embayment)

Northern fen Submergent marsh

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Distance (feet)

Northern hardwoods (sugar maple) forest

Duck Bay (protected embayment) Northern white-cedar swamp

Shrub swamp/ Submergent/emergent wet meadow marsh

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Distance (feet)

33 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

well beyond the outer beds of water bulrush, wild-celery. The protected margin of the emergent water horsetail, arrow- waters of the inner bay zone. Low densities of head, pickerel weed and accumulate silt and fine hardstem bulrush and bur-reed form near shore, decomposing organic spike-rush characterize the providing additional pro- material important to the outer emergent beds. tection for floating water- ecology of the wetland. Vegetation becomes denser lilies and spatterdock, as Inland from the water’s close to shore, where wave well as submerged beds of edge, a zone of grasses action becomes less pondweeds, naiad, water- and sedges several hun- severe. Diverse emergent weed, water-milfoil and dred feet wide begins, con- tinuing until conditions J. Schafer become dry enough to support swamp or upland forest. Among the most common wet meadow plants are blue-joint grass and tussock-forming sedges (Carex stricta and C. aquatilis). Marsh fern, marsh bellflower, marsh pea and marsh cinquefoil, along with many other forbs, are scattered throughout the meadow. In the narrow band of northern that bor- ders many of these wet- lands, one regularly sees speckled alder, sweet gale, meadowsweet and shrub- by willows, all surrounded by blue-joint grass and tussock sedges. As condi- tions become drier, the shrubs are replaced by Marsh pea (Lathyrus palustris) in wet meadow.

34 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

Michigan Sea Grant northern white- plant’s rhizomes cedar or other and the plant will swamp trees. die. It can then take several years Conditions in for bulrushes to the wet meadow reestablish in the and shrub emergent zone of swamp are wet the wetland. enough that Without their trees seldom tenacious root survive to adult- structure to hood. During (Perca flavescens). anchor sediments the wettest and reduce wave years, the entire bays are subjected to large action, storms erode wet meadow can be cov- storm waves that often organic material, leaving a ered with shallow water, break stems at the plant surface of cobbly clay. As a which kills any tree base. If all of the stems of result, the zones of the seedlings that might have a bulrush plant are bro- open embayment at Peck established. Continuously ken, adequate levels of and Voight bays are much wet conditions in the oxygen may not reach the narrower and less well meadow result in accumu- developed than those of lation of partially decom- M. Blouin protected embayments. posed vegetation, often to Where organic materials the depth of 2 or 3 feet. have been completely In the nearby open embay- removed, a distinctive ments at Peck and Voight assemblage of plants bays, intense wave action known as northern fen creates very different con- grows directly on the clay ditions. Here, the broad or marl substrate. emergent marsh is absent Northern fens will be dis- and there are few submer- cussed in more detail in gent plants, with the the following section. exception of scattered Nutrient enrichment from pondweed and muskgrass. agricultural fertilizers and During high-water years, sewage effluent have bulrushes in such open Perch spawn deposited on bulrush stems. altered most marshes

35 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

along the southern Great beds cannot be distin- B. D. Cottrille Lakes, but few of these guished from those in northern wetlands have other nearby protected undergone significant embayments. alterations. This has The extensive emergent allowed for some interest- marshes of the Les ing comparisons at Cheneaux islands are con- Cedarville, where a small sidered by many to be crit- flow of nutrient-rich ical for maintaining the wastewater enters a famous perch fishery of coastal wetland from Black-throated blue warbler the islands. This depen- (Dendroica caerulescens). Pearson Creek. While the dency begins as the fish emergent zone of most spawn, commonly attach- protected embayments ing their egg masses to discovered: that between contains only open beds of bulrush stems; later the midges and migratory submergent plants, the weed beds provide protec- songbirds, especially the nutrient input from tive cover for newly spring migration of war- Pearson Creek has resulted hatched and juvenile blers. Warblers migrate in dense submergent and perch. The young perch north during late April and floating plant beds. The feed heavily on abundant early May when there are effect is quite localized — plankton in May and June, few insects or other high- a few hundred yards from but as plankton numbers calorie foods to reenergize the source, nutrient levels begin to decline and fish these long-distance travel- have been reduced by lake grow into their larger juve- ers. During these first currents and the plant stage, they begin feed- warm spring days, swarms ing on larvae of midges of midges emerge from the T. White and other macroinverte- shallow waters along the brate fauna. shoreline, alighting by the millions on shoreline The importance of marsh trees. Warblers feast on invertebrates in maintain- these minute insects and ing a healthy fishery has are fueled up to complete long been recognized. their long journey. Another surprising and important ecological rela- tionship was only recently Midge (Chironomus spp.)

36 Plankton: The Hidden World of the Marsh Sheila McNair and Vanessa Lougheed

V. Lougheed he broad northern Collect a bottle of water T marshes provide from a wetland and you food and habitat for a could see well over 1,000 diverse and complex tiny animals per liter or group of animals, includ- hundreds of small plants ing insects, amphibians, living in a single drop. fish, mammals and wet- Although invisible to the naked eye, these micro- land birds. At the base of Highly specialized microinver- the food chain are the scopic organisms play a tebrate (Cladosceran, 0.3 mm) microscopic aquatic critical part in the ecolo- uses fine hairs (bottom of organisms, phytoplank- gy of Great Lakes coastal picture) to attach firmly to undersides of leaves. ton and . marshes. Both micro- include a scopic plants (algae) and plankton) forms, float broad group of algae liv- animals (microinverte- about or swim weakly in ing in open waters of the brates) are found in large the water column. In lake, dependent on sun- numbers throughout shallower areas, plants light and nutrients in the these diverse ecosystems. and sediments provide a water for their survival In the water column and surface for a unique and reproduction. Most attached to various sur- community of attached phytoplankton have no faces, algae form the algae and substrate- power of locomotion and base of aquatic food associated microinverte- are distributed by water webs. They are used as brates. Certain organ- movement. Other algae, food by microinverte- isms may even be adapt- commonly called peri- brates, which may then ed to living on a specific phyton, form thick layers be eaten by other inverte- type or species of aquatic on the submerged por- brates or fish. plant. tions of plants growing Specialized microscopic Organisms have special within the marsh and communities become adaptations that allow provide an abundant and established in the various them to thrive in these important food source types of open-water and shallow, plant-dominated for aquatic invertebrates vegetated habitats found habitats. Many algae are such as caddisflies, in wetlands. In the open- able to attach to the sur- mayflies, water boatmen, water areas, planktonic faces of plants (epiphy- segmented worms, organisms, including ton) or to submerged midges and snails. both plant (phytoplank- woody debris, fenceposts ton) and animal (zoo-

37 Plankton: The Hidden World (continued)

S. McNair or other hard surfaces and their movements are (periphyton) using spe- usually restricted to a cialized structures such as fairly small area, they mucilage pads, mucous quickly reflect changes in tubes or specialized their immediate habitat attachment cells. Other and may thus be used as forms live on and within an early warning signal the sediment or attached of environmental change. to hard or stone For example, microscop- surfaces. Some algae are ic algae are often incon- perched on stalks that spicuous unless elevated allow them to compete Stalked magnified S. McNair for space, light and nutri- 400 times. ents by extending out into sides of leaves, burrow the water from the point into soft sediment or sur- of attachment. vive in conditions of low S. McNair oxygen. Specialized body parts are used to collect food by scraping algae from attached surfaces or by selecting particles that have sunk out of the water column. The submergent vegetation in Scientists are just start- this coastal wetland is covered by clouds of attached algae ing to use invertebrates (epiphyton). and algae as indicators of wetland quality. These nutrient inputs to the Floating algae mat, made up organisms reproduce wetland produce a “nui- of floating vascular plants quickly and are relatively and filamentous green algae. sance bloom” that may short-lived, so they often be more visible. The microinvertebrate respond to chemical and Similarly, with reduced community is generally physical stress before wetland quality, plant- dominated by poor swim- longer lived organisms associated microscopic mers that live attached to such as fish and vascular organisms may become plants or close to them. plants. In addition, replaced by more toler- Animals are adapted to because they are at the ant, smaller bodied open- cling firmly to the under- bottom of the water species.

38 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

logically interesting, con- exposed lime-rich mineral Northern taining sinkholes or soils are maintained. As a Rich Fen springs sometimes fed by result, submergent and streams that disappeared emergent types of vegeta- Coastal wetlands of this belowground miles from tion are often sparse and type are concentrated near the lakeshore. Both sink- diversity is low in the shal- the of Mackinac in holes and springs occur at low waters of the open open embayments where El Cajon Bay. bays. Muskgrass some- clay, limestone bedrock or times forms an under- Unlike most of the other limestone cobbles are at or water “lawn” in shallow Great Lakes coastal wet- near the surface. Some waters, and sparse stands lands, the northern rich well-known fens in public of hardstem bulrush form fen sites have calcareous ownership are Wilderness an open emergent zone. soils with pH values high- State Park, Thompsons er than 8.0. The open, Along the shore, however, Harbor State Park, El exposed conditions of the algal precipitation of calci- Cajon Bay near Alpena open embayments do not um carbonate in the rela- and Voight Bay on allow organic materials to tively warm, carbonate- Marquette Island. Many of accumulate, so the saturated waters forms our northern fens are - distinctive marly flats that

T. Cline host a diverse and colorful flora of calcium-loving plants. Within the mead- ow zone, an interesting indicator plant of the northern fen is walking sedge, a spike-rush that arches over and roots at the tip of its stem, produc- ing a loop that can trip a careless visitor. One of the earliest plants of the shoreline, bird’s-eye prim- ula, brightens the shore- line in mid-May, to be rap- idly joined by Indian Open northern fens along the shoreline of Horseshoe Bay Wilderness Area.

39 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

D. Albert paintbrush. As the sum- mer progresses, Kalm’s lobelia, calamint and grass-of-Parnassus appear, followed by golden- rod, fringed gentian and several late-flowering asters. D. Albert

One of the earliest flowers of the Northern fen at El Cajon Bay, near Alpena. marsh, bird’s-eye primula D. Albert (Primula mistassinica).

D. Albert

Walking sedge (Eleocharis rostellata) growing on marl flat. Notice stems Calamint (Calamintha arkansana) rooting from their tip. blooms in late summer.

40 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

D. Albert S. Crispin of the fen that supplement their diet with insects are butterwort, pitcher-plant and sundews. Butterwort, a rare plant along the shoreline, tracks moisture conditions closely, always staying near the moist wetland edge. Two other rare plants asso- ciated with the fens are Houghton’s goldenrod, found at the edge of moist swales, and dwarf lake , found along the upland Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia Houghton’s goldenrod ( glauca), Ohio goldenrod (Solidago edge of the fen and some- houghtonii) grows along moist ohioensis) and fringed gentian times within the fen itself. margins of swales. (Gentianopsis procera) flowering Two shrubs characteristic in mid-September. Tamarack and northern of the fen are sweet gale white-cedar are the most and shrubby cinquefoil. The carbonate-rich waters common trees. of the northern fens do Wildlife habitat values of not provide all of the D. Albert northern fens are not as nutrients needed by some well studied as those of plants. Bladderworts, many other Great Lakes which get some of their wetland types. Minnows nutrients from insects that and are abundant are captured in tiny blad- when water levels are ders and then slowly high, but during low-water digested, are one of several conditions shoreline habi- carnivorous plants found tat is very restricted. in the fen. When moisture Whitefish and suckers can conditions are right in the be found in shallow waters fen, thousands of bladder- during both the spring and worts can be flowering. Bladderwort (Utricularia fall. Other carnivorous plants intermedia) growing densely in shallow water.

41 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

C. McNabb St. Marys River Marshes

The St. Marys River, which joins Lake Superior to Lake Huron, is one of three connecting channels in Michigan, along with the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. All of the connect- ing channels were origi- nally characterized by Freighter traffic is restricted to the dredged shipping channel. Emer- gent vegetation is concentrated in shallow water along the shoreline. clear and fast flowing water, and all have dredged channels to allow mergent vegetation, early 1900s, much of the for commercial shipping. including muskgrass, quill- mixed conifer swamp Wetlands remain relatively worts and pondweeds, adjacent to the was intact along the St. Marys continue into water as cleared for agriculture, River, but most of the wet- deep as 10 or 12 feet, espe- and drainage by surface lands along the Detroit cially in the upper reaches ditching allowed these and St. Clair rivers have of the river, where water clay plain wetlands to be been eliminated by exten- clarity is good. Much managed as productive sive residential or industri- wider marshes occupy hay and pasture lands. broad bays within the al development. Great Lakes water level river, including Shingle changes cause dramatic The St. Marys River flows Bay, Duck Bay and changes in the wetland through flat clay lakeplain, Munuscong Lake. vegetation along the a landscape supporting Tributary rivers such as St. Marys River. During extensive inland wetlands. the Munuscong River times of low water levels, Along the St. Marys, a nar- carry high volumes of dense beds of cat-tails row fringe of wet meadow nutrient-rich silt and clay expand rapidly. When the and emergent wetland eroded from the extensive water level rises, however, continues almost unbro- agricultural lands upriver. wave action erodes the ken for miles. Beds of sub- During the late 1800s and cat-tail root mats, creating

42 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

D. Albert large openings within the wetland. These newly cre- ated openings are quickly colonized, and the mucky substrate may become choked with naiad or aquatic mosses within a single growing season. Muskrats, especially abun- dant in the marsh during high-water conditions, use cat-tails as both food and nesting material and cre- ate small open ponds in the cat-tails. Submergent plants then establish in the muskrat ponds, increasing local plant diversity.

J. Schafer Openings created by feeding and lodge-building muskrats provide habitat for submergent plants such as bladderwort (Utricularia spp.) and pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.).

The diversity of habitats in the marsh create ideal habitat for a wide range of invertebrates; a winter nav- igation study documented more than 170 taxa of insects in St. Marys marsh- es. This invertebrate diver- sity provides an important Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are quite abundant in the Munuscong River delta and other marshes along the St. Marys River. food source for both the

43 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

C. McNabb fishery and for waterfowl during fall migration. In contrast, waterfowl nesting is concentrated in nearby inland wetlands. Inland wetlands warm up faster and begin producing abun- dant invertebrates earlier in the spring, allowing more successful brood production. The importance of the St. Marys River wetlands for waterfowl has long been recognized. As early as 1905, wealthy sports- men from the Dodge fam- Ice floes can be broken loose by wakes of freighters, removing plants ily established a private with their roots and soil. duck-hunting club at Munuscong Bay. Around and soil. A multiyear study destruction of vegetation 1920, heirs donated the documented that winter within the shoreline land to the state of navigation resulted in the marshes.

Michigan, creating the G. Soulliere core of the Munuscong State Wildlife Area. A major concern along the entire length of the St. Marys River has been the effect of winter naviga- tion and resulting ice scour on the marsh beds along the river. Passing freighters cause the river’s water level to rise, lifting the ice along with vegeta- tion and attached roots Munuscong diked wetland.

44 Macroinvertebrates in Michigan's Coastal Wetlands

great diversity of Aquatic macroinverte- Other invertebrates are A macroinvertebrates brates have several feed- collectors of fine organic — spiders, insects, snails, ing mechanisms. Some material. nymphs mollusks and aquatic shred live vegetation or of the family Caenidae worms — thrive in Great fragments of decompos- feed chiefly on algae and Lakes coastal wetlands. ing vegetation. One detritus. Midges of the Coastal marshes produce shredder is the scud family large quantities of vege- (family Gammaridae), a (order Diptera) are tation during the grow- shell-less crustacean that scavengers that live in ing season, but by late feeds by shredding decomposing organic summer, plant growth coarse plant detritus. material of the marsh. Larvae of case-making stops and plants of the Still other invertebrates caddisflies (order marsh begin to decom- scrape periphyton from Trichoptera), such as the pose. Invertebrates play vegetation or other sub- Leptocerid and a key role in nutrient strates. These scrapers Limnephilid caddisflies, cycling by breaking down include the coiled-shell also shred coarse vegeta- coarse vegetation and snails of the family tion. These case-making making it available to Hydrobiidae. Small clams caddisflies use bits of other animals. called fingernail clams leaves, twigs or (family Sphaeriidae) feed to build their cases.

T. White and R. Merritt T. White and R. Merritt M. Higgins

Asellidae: A shell-less Limnephilid caddisfly Limnephilid caddisfly larva. crustacean (Isopoda). (Trichoptera) larva.

T. White and R. Merritt R. Merritt T. White and R. Merritt

Caenid: Mayfly nymph. Caenid: Mayfly adult. Midge (chironomid), a member of the fly family.

45 Macroinvertebrates (continued)

on much finer particles insects such as midges tle (Gyrinidae), prey on a of organic material by and mosquitoes. Phantom variety of small aquatic filtering them through midge larvae also feed on insects; adults scavenge their gills. mosquito larvae. The lar- insects on the water sur- vae of Hydrachnid water face. Larvae of the marsh But by far the greatest mites are parasitic on fly (family Sciomyzidae) number are predators aquatic insects, including feed on snails and snail that prey on other dragonfly nymphs; as eggs. macroinvertebrates. nymphs and adults, water Nymphs of damselflies The high diversity of mites are predators. The and dragonflies feed on invertebrates in turn pro- larvae of another familiar other aquatic insects; as vides food for fish and insect, the whirligig bee- adults they feed on flying wetland birds.

D. Albert T. White and R. Merritt M. Higgins

Coiled-shell snail. Clams (Sphaeriid). Narrow-winged damselfly (Coenagrionid) nymph.

M. Higgins R. Merritt T. White and R. Merritt

Libellulid dragonfly nymph. Adult Libellulid dragonfly. Water mite (Hydrachnid) larva.

T. White and R. Merritt M. Higgins T. White and R. Merritt

Whirligig beetle (Gyrinidae). Phantom midge Marsh fly (Sciomyzidae) larva. (Chaeoborus) larva.

46 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

vegetation and result in dews and beak-rushes. The Lake development of deep blossoms of two showy Superior organic soils. orchids, rose pogonia and grass-pink, are scattered Wetland vegetation mir- Poor Fen throughout the wetland. rors this acidic condition, Both shrubs and trees are Wetlands seldom develop and the broad herbaceous dwarfed. Among the com- along unprotected stretch- zone that characterizes mon bog shrubs are small es of Lake Superior's most Lake Superior wet- and large harsh shoreline. Instead, lands could be classified ( oxycoccos and they occupy sheltered sites as either poor fen or bog. V. macrocarpon), bog rose- such as barrier-beach The rhizomes of two mary, leatherleaf and bog- lagoons, drowned river sedges, Carex oligosperma laurel. Low mounds pro- mouths and river deltas. and C. lasiocarpa, typically vide habitat for dwarfed These coastal wetlands are form a dense floating mat tamarack and black spruce characterized by acidic, in which several species of on the open mat, with a sandy soils and an extreme sphagnum mosses grow, more dense treed zone northern climate, condi- along with other bog herbs sometimes forming along tions that cause slow such as buckbean, bog better drained wetland decomposition of wetland aster, pitcher-plant, sun- margins.

M. Penskar

Pequaming tombolo during 1987 high water levels.

47 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Northern Michigan

J. Schafer reed and water bulrush. Several excellent Lake Common floating-leaved Superior coastal wetlands species include yellow occur on public lands. Two pond-lily, water-shield and of these are tombolos, water marigold; the Pequaming on Keweenaw pondweed Potamogeton Bay and Murray Bay on gramineus is the most fre- Grand Island, near quently encountered sub- Munising. Bald eagles nest mergent species. Wild rice in the pines of the exten- is a common plant along sive Murray Bay wetland. Tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) growing in the wet the margins of Wisconsin’s Two other coastal wet- meadow zone. riverine marshes, but none lands formed in riverine was encountered in our environments: Portage The nature of the bog Michigan marsh surveys. River marsh occupies a changes with the water This lack of rice may have meander loop in the river level. During low-water been because of unusually near the conditions, the wetland high water levels during harbor of refuge; Au Train mat can be quite stable, our Lake Superior surveys. marsh occupies a large dune and swale complex possibly grounded on the Most fish species are not near the mouth of the underlying mineral sub- well adapted to the weedy, Au Train River in Alger strate. In contrast, during boggy lagoons and slow County. high-water times, the mat flowing streams associated can be treacherous, with with many of these wet- D. Albert open channels separating lands. A few species can islands of vegetation. As in tolerate these conditions many of the coastal wet- — among them the native lands, changing moisture bullheads and mud- conditions result in major minnows and introduced changes in the plants as . All of these species well. are tolerant of oxygen- The emergent marsh zone depleted waters. Mud- often forms only a narrow, minnows are secretive fish open fringe of plants asso- that flee into dense vegeta- ciated with clear, well- tion or soft, mucky sub- aerated waters. These strates when pursued. Bur-reed (Sparganium fluctuans) is a narrow-leaved floating plant include spike-rush, bur- of clear Lake Superior deltas.

48 Fish in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands K. Schmidt

Adult (Esox lucius).

he Great Lakes sup- preferring bulrush stems immediately fertilized by Tport nearly 200 of the open emergent nearby males. Central species of fish. Of these, zone. Northern pike sim- mud-minnows, another more than 90 percent uti- ilarly spawn in the shal- marsh spawner, also have lize coastal marshes dur- low waters of the marsh; adhesive eggs. Newly ing some part of their the female deposits thou- hatched pike and mud- lives. Many fish spawn sands of adhesive eggs minnows are adapted to within coastal wetlands into decaying vegetation, the low-oxygen condi- in early spring. These where the eggs are tions resulting from include familiar game- D. Albert fish such as northern pike, , yel- low perch and large- mouth bass, and also less familiar species, including and central mud-minnow. In the spring, one of Michigan’s favorite sport fish, yellow perch, drapes its egg masses A school of juvenile black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) feeds in over aquatic vegetation, protected shallow water of the marsh; an adult male is probably nearby.

49 Fish in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands (continued)

decomposition of large

amounts of aquatic Michigan Sea Grant plants in the marsh. Decomposing vegetation provides both refuge and an abundant supply of prey in the form of minute crustaceans. When the eggs of north- ern pike hatch, the young fish immediately begin feeding on small aquatic crustaceans, progressing to a diet of small fish within a week. Marshes serve as impor- tant nursery habitat, with diverse inverte- brates providing an abundant diet for imma- ture fish. This diet changes as fish develop and increase in size. (Cyprinus carpio). Yellow perch, for exam-

E. S. Damstra

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), an exotic introduction to the Great Lakes.

50 Fish in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands (continued)

K. Schmidt ple, feed on small crus- dense vegetation under taceans until they are the protection of the roughly 1/4 inch (60 mm) male until they are long. These immature nearly 4 inches long. fish then begin eating Adult fish may move into Juvenile bowfin (Amia calva). aquatic insects and the marsh either to for- K. Schmidt crayfish. As adults, their age or to rest. diet consists largely of move into the emergent crayfish, along with bur- marsh to forage at night, rowing mayflies and while yellow perch are small fish. known to rest at night Gizzard shad Young fish of many on the bottom within (Dorosoma cepedianum). marsh-spawning species bulrush beds. K.. Schmidt remain in the marsh Historically, certain until they are quite Great Lakes coastal wet- mobile. These include lands provided excep- northern pike, yellow tional recreational fish- perch, , ing. The marshes of west- Central mud-minnow bowfin, longnose , (Umbra limi). ern Lake Erie, especially black and brown bull- K. Schmidt , were head, common carp and known for their muskel- central mud-minnow. lunge and pike . Others, including lake With the destruction of sturgeon and , uti- the marshes by industrial lize the marsh during Spottail shiner development, the famous (Notropis hudsonius). early stages but spend Sandusky Bay fisheries most of their adult lives collapsed. The St. Clair marsh habitat. Carp, an in the open lakes and River delta remains rec- exotic species, was wide- large rivers. ognized as one of the ly stocked in the late Both male bowfin and most productive muskel- . Within black bullheads remain lunge fisheries in North the marsh, carp stir up in the marsh with their . fine sediment as they young fry, protecting root along the bottom in Common carp have them from predators. search of food and as played an important role Dense swarms of young they breed in shallow in the degradation of will feed in the water. The combination

51 Fish in Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands (continued)

E. S. Damstra

Juvenile northern pike (Esox lucius). C. McNabb

of loosening vegetation and increasing turbidity can contribute to the loss of submergent vegetation. Other inhabi- tants of degraded wetlands including spottail shiners and gizzard shad. Gizzard shad are prolific egg produc- ers and can compete with other fish for habitat. A single female can lay up to 400,000 eggs, and large schools of Water-lilies viewed from below. Water-lilies shad can consume large quantities of and other aquatic plants provide important cover for both juvenile and adult fish. plankton. D. Wilcox

K. Schmidt

Newly hatched longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus). Adult brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus).

E. S. Damstra

Juvenile longnose gar.

52 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

G. Reese Lake Michigan Drowned River Mouths

Along the eastern shore- line of Lake Michigan, strong winds from the southwest restrict wet- lands to drowned river mouths protected from storm waves by sand bars or dunes. All major rivers along eastern Lake Michigan once had drowned river mouth wet- lands along their lower reaches. These wetlands, under the influence of Great Lakes water levels, can extend for a consider- able distance inland, up to 10 or 12 miles upriver from the lake. Potawatomi Bayou, a tributary of the Grand River that floods when lake levels are high, is more than 8 miles upriver from Lake Michigan. Many drowned river Potawatomi Bayou, influenced by Great Lakes water levels several miles inland from Lake Michigan. mouths are barred by sand

53 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

G. Reese

The stream flowing through Potawatomi Bayou occupies a shallow channel choked with submergent vegetation. Organic sediments are several feet thick. dunes that create small the wetland margins. fringe. On most of the larg- inland lakes between the Many drowned river er streams, submergent rivers and Lake Michigan, mouth wetlands now have vegetation is restricted to such as those found at the artificially maintained protected backwaters. mouths of the White, channels to Lake Michigan Smaller streams, such as Muskegon and Kalamazoo for boat access, often the Potawatomi Bayou, can rivers. Where the inland resulting in major changes be completely covered by lake meets the river, a to the wetland dynamics. submergent plants. In broad, deltalike wetland southern lower Michigan, The emergent and submer- forms. Because of their yellow pond-lily and arrow- gent vegetation zones of long, narrow configuration arum are characteristic on these riverine wetlands are and partial separation the muck soils of the emer- quite variable in width. In from Lake Michigan, the gent zone. Both species are some abandoned meander wetlands are well protect- uncommon north of loops of the river, wide ed from wind and wave Muskegon, where arrow- emergent beds can cover action. This protection head, pickerel weed and several acres. On fast flow- results in deep accumula- bur-reed replace these ing streams, emergents tions of muck or peat at southern species. Overly may be restricted to a thin

54 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

D. Albert abundant submergent and Development of industrial floating species thrive in and recreational marinas relatively protected waters has severely altered the with a high nutrient con- lower rivers. Beginning in tent. These include coon- the mid-1800s, lumber tail, water-lily, and the mills, paper mills and tan- duckweeds Spirodela neries were built along the polyrhiza, Lemna trisulca inland lake and drowned and L. minor. river mouth margins, which provided easy The wet meadow grows as access for shipping to a floating mat on organic major markets such as soils many feet thick. . More recent These meadows include alterations to the wetland blue-joint grass, jewel- A rare variety of wild rice include highway construc- weed, yellow cress, nod- (Zizania aquatica var. aquatica) tion; dredging and filling ding smartweed, cut grass occurs in the open emergent zone for marinas, golf courses, and many more herba- of Potawatomi Bayou and other shoreline homes and con- ceous plants. Scattered drowned river mouths. dos; and sewage treatment plants of a rare variety of plants. These activities wild rice often grow mix of speckled alder, red- increase water turbidity, between the wet meadow osier dogwood and red which in turn reduces sub- and the emergent zone. ash. They also contain mergent plant establish- Shrub swamp forms a nar- many of the herbs of the ment and survival, espe- row band along the upland wet meadow, as well as cially in the larger stream margin, characterized by a royal fern. channels.

D. Albert

Drowned river mouth along Bowens Creek at Arcadia during low-water conditions. Nodding beggar-ticks (Bidens cernuus), an annual, forms a broad band on the exposed mud.

55 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

D. Albert Saginaw Bay Lakeplain Marsh

The shallow, gently sloping margins of Saginaw Bay provide excellent wetland habitat. The most exten- sive type of wetland on Saginaw Bay is a narrow band of open marsh 200 to Emergent marsh dominated by threesquare (Schoenoplectus pungens) 300 yards wide. Substrate forms a 250- to 300-yard-wide zone along long stretches of Saginaw for most of the bay’s wet- Bay. Stem density can be quite high in low-water years. lands is a thin veneer of sand over clay. low in diversity. Three- provide a protective envi- square, a bulrush, is one ronment for other more Wider wetlands occur in of the few species tolerant weakly rooted emergent small, protected bays of the storm waves that and submergent plants. behind sand spits and as regularly buffet the shore- Near the deeper, outer deltaic deposits near the line. Its survival is linked edge of the marsh, bulrush mouths of the larger rivers, to its root system — stout stems are more susceptible including the Saginaw, horizontal stems (rhi- to wave action, and the Pine, Au Gres, Rifle and zomes) sent into the marsh is quite open. Quanicassee. Other broad underlying clay substrate prairie wetlands form par- Sand-spit embayments, allow it to resist erosion. allel to the shoreline in formed by sands carried At the same time, it pro- dune and swale complexes. into Saginaw Bay by small duces a dense mat of fine streams, provide a more The wetland types of roots near the surface. protected environment Saginaw Bay are quite dis- These bind the surface than the open bay and tinctive from one another. sands and further stabilize support dense beds of sub- Wetlands of the open the sediments of the mergent and emergent embayments, although marsh. Nearer shore there marsh plants. Well- forming an almost contin- may be more than 100 developed sand-spit uous band around bulrush stems in a square embayments include those Saginaw Bay, are generally meter of marsh. These

56 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

D. Albert at Pinconning and Nayanquing, both in pub- lic ownership. The Wildfowl Bay Islands near Sebewaing form a large complex of sand-spit embayments. Typical zonation consists of a narrow band of emer- gent vegetation along the shoreline with a broad bay The emergent zone is much less dense along its lakeward margin, as of submergent plants. seen near the .

Blue-joint grass and tus- D. Albert sock sedges may once have and water-lily all share the dominated the emergent 2- to 3-foot-deep waters of zone, but nutrient-rich the bay. As water levels agricultural runoff has drop, a rapid succession of resulted in the develop- emergent plants moves ment of a dense band of across the newly exposed cat-tails along the shore. muck. Dense stands of stiff Even this monoculture of arrowhead along with cat-tails is subject to muskgrass and yellow change. When water levels pond-lily fill the shallow are high, cat-tails exclude (6 inches deep) water, with most other species. a 3- to 4-foot-tall band of However, when the water softstem bulrush blanket- level drops, goldenrods, ing the exposed, moist asters, willows, dogwoods, muck. If water levels drop and seedlings of ash and farther in following years, cottonwood rapidly estab- softstem bulrush plants lish. The submergent zone continue their advance out is equally dynamic when At Pinconning’s sand-spit embay- into the bay, to be replaced water levels change. ment, dense stands of softstem nearer shore by another bulrush expand outward into the Coontail, pondweeds, marsh, while spatterdock bulrush (Schoenoplectus common waterweed, slen- (Nuphar advena) and muskgrass cespitosus) and cat-tails. der naiad, yellow pond-lily (Chara spp.) carpet shallow water.

57 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

D. Albert When water levels again grass — rim almost rise, the emergent vegeta- the entire shoreline tion begins a slow retreat, of the bay. Reed driven back by reduced (Phragmites aus- oxygen availability and the tralis), another erosive force of storm aggressive exotic, waves. forms dense, almost impenetrable stands The wetland plant commu- along the shoreline. nities of Saginaw Bay have Reed can grow out been altered by surround- into deep water but ing intensive agricultural is not tolerant of land use. Nutrient-rich heavy wave action. runoff fosters dense stands of cat-tails along the Intense development shoreline. In addition, two pressure has also aggressive exotic plant adversely affected species — purple loose- the fishery and Softstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani). strife and reed canary waterfowl habitat of

D. Albert these coastal wetlands. Riverine and coastal marshes served as impor- tant spawning and nursery habitat for a large number of fish species, including lake perch and northern pike. Both fish and water- fowl were heavily harvest- ed during early settlement of the state by European immigrants. Large fish and waterfowl harvests were aided by the local abundance of salt and ice for preservation. As Asters, goldenrods and willows invade cat-tail stands when the marsh coastal wetlands were dries down.

58 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

Michigan Sea Grant degraded, ditched, drained to important upland habi- and farmed, both fish and tat for egg laying. waterfowl harvests Increased numbers of pred- declined. ators, such as and skunks, further reduce the In addition to loss of number of turtle eggs that spawning habitat, pollu- successfully hatch. tants from agriculture, (Dreissena polymorpha). urban development and Recent legal settlements industry are often harmful over industrial numbers can increase to fish. Organic materials have resulted in state rapidly. dumped into the bay — acquisition of large areas including sewage, sawdust Other animal species have of coastal agricultural and sugar beet pulp — suffered from alteration or lands. These once drained produced anoxic condi- reduction of coastal wet- fields are being restored to tions that resulted in major land habitat. King rail and marsh or lakeplain prairie fish kills. In recent years, American bittern numbers by removing dikes and reductions in pollution lev- dropped as coastal marsh drainage tiles and, for the els have resulted in a was eliminated. Turtles prairies, conducting pre- recovery for parts of the from the marsh lost access scribed burns. Saginaw Bay fishery. The recent introductions of D. Albert exotic species such as zebra mussels and round gobies, however, have brought new problems. Exotic species alter the wetland environment for native species by occupy- ing their habitat and com- peting for food and, in some cases, by altering the chemical and physical nature of the environment. Many exotic species lack predators in their new environment, so their Nodding beggar-ticks (Bidens cernuus).

59 Lakeplain Prairie

rare type of wetland, prairie grasses are big Riddell’s and Ohio - A lakeplain prairie, bluestem, Indian grass, enrod, and many more occurs along the upland switch grass and prairie showy forbs. margins of coastal cordgrass. More than 200 The prairies, because marshes on Lake Erie, plant species can occur they flooded less often Lake St. Clair and in the lakeplain prairie, than the marsh, have Saginaw Bay. One of the including mountain been heavily converted to largest expanses formerly mint, purple milkweed, agriculture. A mile grid occurred on Saginaw marsh blazing-star, - of large drainage ditches, Bay in a 3-mile-wide weed, tall coreopsis, dune and swale complex that stretched for several Fish Point: miles from Sebewaing to Bay City. The original Circa 1800 Vegetation government land survey- ors were the first to Marsh (primarily bulrushes and sedges) describe the changes Wet prairie (blue-joint grass and other prairie grasses) within the marsh and Oak on beach ridges (pine, hemlock or dry prairie) Rich forest (beech, sugar maple, basswood, etc.) prairie as the water levels or swamp (tamarack, northern white-cedar, elm, maple, black ash) of Saginaw Bay changed. Boundary between public and private They first surveyed the land prairie during low-water conditions, mentioning prairie grasses and prairie dock. Ten years later, the shoreline was resurveyed during high- water conditions, and the surveyors noted rushes and bulrushes growing in shallow water and replacing the prairie. Such dynamics continue to play an important role in maintaining the diver- sity of the prairie-marsh landscape. The dominant Original surveyor’s map of lakeplain prairie along Saginaw Bay. Each square is a mile.

60 Lakeplain Prairie (continued) D. Albert D. Albert

Lakeplain prairies also support a distinctive fauna. Prairie plants including prairie dock, Culver’s-root and marsh blazing-star are host to rare borer moths. Two characteristic animals of Chimney of burrowing crayfish lakeplain prairies are (family Cambaridae). mound-producing ants, whose nests are common delta, as well as at Diverse lakeplain prairie along the prairie mar- following burn management. Thomas Road prairie gins, and burrowing within the Fish Point combined with tiling, crayfish, whose clay Wildlife Area on Saginaw diking and pumping, has Bay. Controlled burns, allowed most of the K. Herman herbicide treatment of prairies to be farmed. exotic herbs and shrubs, The intensive conversion and mechanical removal of prairie to agriculture of shrubs have resulted has caused many prairie in increased native plant plants to become rare, diversity and wildlife including Sullivant’s habitat. milkweed, tall green D. Albert milkweed and tuberous Ant mound along the edge of the prairie. Indian plantain.

G. Reese chimneys occur through- out the prairie openings. Crayfish burrows are used by many snake species as hibernacula. Active restoration of lakeplain prairies began in the late 1980s at St. John’s Marsh and Densely flowering big bluestem Algonac State Park, both (Andropogon gerardii) and sun- Tall green milkweed (Asclepias flower ( spp.) follow- hirtella), a rare prairie plant. within the St. Clair River ing burn management.

61 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

several islands broken by the wetland. Topographic St. Clair channels of the St. Clair relief on the island is low, Lakeplain River. Elevation drops less with levees along the river than a foot over the 10-mile generally less than 5 feet Marsh length of the delta, and the high. When Lake meanders widely. water levels are high, large The St. Clair River delta Surface sediments of the portions of the delta’s forms one of the largest delta are largely fine sand islands are flooded with wetlands in the Great and silt over underlying shallow water. Even when Lakes. More than 10 miles lake clay. Finer, organic- water levels are low, much long and almost 15 miles rich sediments accumulate of the delta still remains wide, the delta consists of in alluvial channels within saturated.

Library of Michigan Archives

St. Clair River delta.

62 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

Historically, almost the upstream from the delta Lake Erie, along with entire shoreline of Lake also supports a narrow more northern wetlands. St. Clair supported coastal zone of wet meadow and The drier portions of the marshland. Today, coastal emergent marsh, with sub- delta’s wetlands support wetlands on Lake St. Clair mergent vegetation contin- diverse wet and wet-mesic are restricted largely to the uing to depths of more prairies, both southern delta — residential devel- than 10 feet in the clear wetland types. The vegeta- opment has occurred waters of the river. tion of the emergent zone, along much of the lake’s Residential development however, is more typical of shoreline. The clear waters along the river has result- northern open marshes, of Lake St. Clair allow ed in the loss of most of perhaps owing to the flow submergent aquatic plants the meadow and emergent of clear, cold river waters to grow on the bottom vegetation. through the wetland. throughout much of the The vegetation of the delta shallow lake. The channel Exotic species so charac- shares characteristics with of the St. Clair River teristic of the wetlands of both Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie and Saginaw

J. Schafer

Wetlands were diked to provide increased habitat for waterfowl during migration, as well as increased hunt- ing access. However, dikes also disrupt hydrologic processes and facilitate the spread of .

63 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

J. Schafer Bay are less prevalent in large portions of the St. Clair delta but are by no means absent. During low- water conditions in 2000-03, reed (Phragmites australis) has expanded its habitat greatly in St. John’s Marsh and may have sim- ilarly expanded in other portions of the delta. But in some areas of the delta, the wet meadows still con- sist of a broad zone of blue-joint grass and tus- sock sedges. Personal watercraft can damage coastal wetland vegetation. In the emergent marsh, pickerel weed, arrowhead and bur-reed occur along J. Schafer with a diverse flora of sub- mergent and floating plants, including several species of pondweed, naiad, water-lily and yel- low pond-lily. Wild rice forms dense stands except when water level are at their highest, as in 1986 and 1987. Many of the southern emergent and submergent species, such as American lotus, Montevidens’ arrowhead and arrow-arum, are absent from the delta.

Intensive residential and recreational use within the St. Clair delta.

64 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

The St. Clair flats are rec- cal habitat for waterfowl waterfowl. On Harsen’s ognized as a highly signifi- and other wetland fauna, Island, large areas of cant wetland area for and providing adequate marsh have been diked, so waterfowl. In spite of access to hunters from water levels can be manip- intense residential devel- southern Michigan’s large ulated both to meet water- opment in portions of the urban population. fowl needs and to allow delta, large areas continue hunters increased access Over the years, several to be managed as both to the marsh. Elsewhere, management options have natural and managed in the past, openings were been explored to maintain marsh, maintaining criti- created with explosives. conditions favorable to

J. Schafer J. Schafer

Common (Sterna hirundo). Eastern fox snake (Elaphe gloydi) is often seen on dikes or sand ridges J. Schafer within the marsh. J. Schafer

Black tern (Chlidonias niger). Great egret (Casmerodius albos) feeding along a dike.

65 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

J. Schafer

Marina development on a small island within the delta.

More recently, prescribed delta wetland, are habitat with prescribed burns to burns have been conduct- for several rare plants, improve species diversity, ed to maintain open con- including Sullivant’s milk- reduce shrub and tree ditions in the marsh. Most weed. The Algonac prairies encroachment, and elimi- marsh burns are conduct- are currently managed nate exotic species. ed when the marsh is frozen to increase the like- J. Schafer lihood of a successful burn. The marsh provides important habitat to many nongame animals as well. Several rare species are known from the marshes of , including the eastern fox snake, , Blanding’s turtle, black tern, and king rail. The lake- plain prairies of Algonac State Park, also part of the Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata).

66 Waterfowl Use of Michigan's Coastal Wetlands by Greg Soulliere M. Pirnie

mpressive numbers of I ducks, geese and swans move through Michigan’s coastal marshes in the spring, often through the first half of May. Bird num- bers again increase dra- matically from late September through mid- November, with a peak in abundance the last week

of October. The excep- Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria). tions are Lake St. Clair and western Lake Erie, The coastal wetlands of tebrates for food for where some ducks can be Michigan are less impor- early-breeding ducks. numerous through early tant than inland wet- They stay warm longer in winter. Some years can- lands for waterfowl the fall, however, and vasbacks winter on Lake reproduction. They warm provide invertebrates and St. Clair and remain slowly in the spring, so seeds from aquatic plants through spring. they provide fewer inver- for fall-migrating ducks. All of the plant seeds are

J. Schafer not eaten in the fall, so some seeds along with submergent aquatic plants are available dur- ing spring migration. Coastal wetlands along the east side of Michigan are especially important to staging waterfowl. Diving ducks, such as redheads and canvas- backs from the midconti- nent prairies, arrive in Migrating waterfowl on St. Clair River delta.

67 Waterfowl Use of Coastal Wetlands (continued) J. Schafer J. Schafer

Migrating redheads (Aythya americana). Pair of blue-winged teal (Anas discors).

large numbers to wet- In western Michigan, nesting habitat for many lands along Saginaw Bay, the marshes of Lake species of ducks. This Lake St. Clair, the lower Michigan's drowned river forested region provides and west- mouths, protected from dependable habitat from ern Lake Erie. Here they the wave action of the year to year, and as a feed on aquatic plants, Great Lakes, offer respite result, the number of insects and mollusks of to migrating dabbling dabbling ducks moving coastal deep-water wet- ducks, especially mal- through Michigan from lands. In some years, as lards and black ducks. is relatively sta- much as 60 percent of Favored foods in this ble. St. Marys River wet- the world's canvasback vegetation-rich habitat lands — the largest is in population can be found include the seeds from Munuscong Lake — are fall-staging on lakes bur-reed, duck potato, the busiest in the Upper St. Clair and Erie. High and other emergent and Peninsula for mallards, numbers of dabbling submergent aquatic black ducks, teal and ducks — including mal- plants. Migrating birds ring-necked ducks, and lards, black ducks, teal, often stop to refuel in are recognized as quality wigeons and, in some these river mouth wet- wetlands for hunting. In years, pintails — also lands for days or even the northern Lower feed in the shallow weeks. Peninsula, these same marshes of Saginaw Bay species are common on Farther north, beaver and roost in the safety of Lake Huron's Misery and ponds and forested wet- the open bay. Squaw bays near Alpena. lands in Michigan and Wood ducks are common provide

68 Waterfowl Use of Coastal Wetlands (continued) in many coastal wetlands Wood ducks will often Canada geese are com- during late summer as group with male mal- mon in Michigan these birds group up lards and black ducks in throughout the spring, after the breeding sea- large coastal wetlands. summer and fall, and son. Large numbers of Molting ducks rely on the even through the winter male wood ducks find marsh’s protection and in southern Michigan. protection and abundant readily available food Canada geese roost on food in coastal wetlands resources during the sand bars and mud flats during the flightless peri- middle and later part of in coastal areas during od when they are replac- summer. low-water periods, where ing their wing feathers. they feed on emergent

Modified from F. C. Bellrose.

Grreatr Lakes Migratiigration CorridorCorridoors for Caaanvasbacks and Innteriorn Canaddad Geese

Interiorr Canvasbbackb Canvasbackack breeding area

69 Waterfowl Use of Coastal Wetlands (continued)

plants, the small shoots during spring and fall wetlands and shallow- of strand plants and, migration, while mute water zones. Although occasionally, aquatic and trumpeter swans these species are most insects. During the nest in Michigan. Like commonly seen during spring, Canada geese Canada geese, swans will the spring and fall in readily nest in coastal readily nest on muskrat deeper open water, they wetlands, selecting any or beaver lodges. will readily use coastal high point — including wetlands during migra- Michigan’s long coastline muskrat lodges and spoil tion, especially the long- hosts a variety of sea islands from channel tailed ducks, buffleheads ducks, including black dredging — as the foun- and mergansers, finding scoters, white-winged dation for their nests. food resources as well as scoters, long-tailed During the fall, these off- shelter during storms. ducks, buffleheads, gold- shore shallow-water A few species, including eneyes, and red-breasted areas provide protection the red-breasted and and American mer- from disturbance and American mergansers, gansers. Some of these predators. nest in Michigan as well. birds are rarely seen in For these sea ducks, Swans also use coastal the interior of the United Michigan’s coastal wet- wetlands from early States; their diversity and lands provide critical spring through the sum- abundance in Michigan habitat during the brood- mer and fall, feeding reflect the high-quality rearing period, offering a mostly on submergent habitat provided by the rich selection of small aquatic plants. Tundra Great Lakes shoreline fish and mollusks. swans are common and associated coastal

J. Schafer D. Kenyon

Pair of wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Canada geese (Branta canadensis) nesting on muskrat lodge.

70 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

C. E. Herdendorf Lake Erie Lakeplain N Marsh Lake Erie Much of the shoreline around the western basin 1800 of Lake Erie consists of flat glacial lakeplain. The 1988 shallow, sloping terrain Upland and rich clay sediments historically supported extensive marshes and wet prairies along much of Lake Erie’s southern Black swamp along western Lake Erie. Most of the extensive swamp shore. Because Lake Erie and marsh have been destroyed. enjoys the most moderate climate of the Great Lakes draining the flat lakeplain. ments and nutrient load- region, these wetlands By 1900, more than 90 ing are significant stres- contained a suite of dis- percent of the Black sors to remaining coastal tinctly southern plant Swamp had been drained wetlands of Lake Erie. species not found else- for agriculture or modified Today, the formerly exten- where within the Great for industrial and residen- sive coastal marshes are Lakes. tial use. limited to a few degraded In the early 1800s, the The Detroit, Maumee, sand-spit embayments, Black Swamp, a band of Portage and Sandusky drowned river mouths or swamp and marsh several rivers also dump heavy deltas. Here, relatively few miles wide, surrounded sediment loads into the rooted submergent species western Lake Erie from waters of western Lake are found; instead, floating Sandusky, Ohio, to Detroit, Erie, where wind action duckweeds (Lemna minor Michigan. Large marshes continually stirs up silt and Spirodela polyrhiza) formed at the mouths of and clay from the relative- and floating submergents major rivers such as the ly shallow bottom. The such as hornwort, common Raisin, Huron and lower resulting high turbidity, waterweed and the exotic Detroit rivers and the excessive suspended sedi- curly-leaved pondweed dozens of smaller creeks spread rapidly at or near

71 Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands of Southern Michigan

D. Albert D. Albert

Marsh with arrowhead (Sagittaria rigida) and water-lily (Nymphaea odor- ata): Frenchman Duckweed: Lake Erie. Creek, lower

D. Landis Detroit River.

the surface of muddy, nutri- cat-tail and nodding ent-rich waters. The south- smartweed. The standard ern species of yellow pond- suite of early sucessional lily (Nuphar advena) is species (nodding beggar- common, and American ticks, spotted touch-me-not lotus attains very high den- and yellow cress) and sities at selected sites. aggressive exotics (purple Common arrowhead, soft- loosestrife and reed) are stem bulrush, narrow- present as well. As in leaved cat-tail and hybrid Saginaw Bay, the absence cat-tail are common edge of a distinct shrub swamp species. zone often reflects the intensity of land use along The herbaceous zone is Lake Erie, where fertile southern wet meadow lacustrine soils are farmed dominated by blue-joint as close to coastal wetlands Purple loosestrife (Lythrum sali- grass along with reed as possible. caria), an aggressive exotic plant, canary grass, narrow-leaved readily colonizes mud flats.

72 Case History of a Marsh: River Raisin Delta

onroe Marsh, at the River Raisin Mmouth of the River Raisin, typifies the his- toric changes seen in Monroe many of Michigan’s large coastal marshes. From Marsh its earliest settlement until the 1890s, Monroe Plum Creek Marsh had an economy dependent on the harvest of the natural resources of the marsh and nearby Lake Erie. Among the most valued resources in the shallow Lake Erie waters of Lake Erie was Upland , harvested Marsh 1 mile annually at the river mouths by Wyandotte waters. Muskrat, beaver Beginning in the mid- Indians. Early native and other furbearers 1800s, market hunters fishermen took fish in were also trapped in the exploited the abundant shallow waters using marshes by early native aquatic resources of the seine nets or spears, peoples for food, clothing marshes, harvesting while gill nets allowed and trade items. waterfowl by the thou- fish to be taken in deeper sands to supply eastern and urban markets.

E. S. Damstra

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens).

73 Case History of a Marsh: River Raisin Delta (continued)

Working from punt boats seines, brush weirs, ted, but only the roe (fish only 16 to 18 feet long, spears, dip nets and lines eggs) were sold; the fish they used large guns with many fish hooks. By were left to rot on shore. capable of killing dozens the 1840s and 1850s, Technological changes of birds with a single large stationary nets were rapidly altering the shot. It was not unusual called “pound nets” were Great Lakes fishery, but to kill several hundred set in shallow coastal most coastal habitats ducks in a night under waters, funneling fish to remained intact until the cover of darkness, when an offshore crib. Lighter, end of the century. it was easier to approach stronger machine-made Between the 1890s and a large flock of ducks. nets allowed fishermen 1930, however, industri- The use of live decoys to harvest more fish in alization of coastal wet- and hunting with bait deeper water, and by the lands greatly reduced the and traps were other 1870s, steam tugs productivity of the marsh effective ways to harvest allowed fishing still far- for waterfowl and fish large hauls of waterfowl. ther from shore. At and altered the habitat Monroe, the early fish- Fish were another valued for the broad diversity of eries harvested whitefish, resource for the expand- plants and wildlife native trout, perch and . ing country. Early settlers to the wetland. Sturgeon were also net- fished with simple

Monroe Historical Museum

Punt boats were used by market hunters to harvest large numbers of waterfowl.

74 Case History of a Marsh: River Raisin Delta (continued)

State of Michigan Archives Seining in coastal wetland (1890s).

As the town of Monroe nearby Toledo and The marsh itself was still grew, the mouth of the Detroit. Local trolley a favorite destination; River Raisin was dredged lines soon followed, and fishing was popular and and a port developed in tourism boomed. local boatmen rowed 1843. By the 1880s, regu- lar steamship service Monroe Historical Museum brought passengers into Monroe. One major attraction for wealthy East Coast businessmen was the hunt club estab- lished at the mouth of the river by a Monroe resident, John Sterling. When the hunt club burned, Sterling replaced it with a hotel and swim- ming beach, which drew hundreds of urban visi- tors by steamship from Successful duck hunters at Pt. Mouillee Hunt Club, 1910.

75 Case History of a Marsh: River Raisin Delta (continued) Monroe Historical Museum

visitors to the famed lotus beds. Covering almost 1,000 acres, the lotus beds were a source of local pride; scenes of the lotus beds graced pic- ture postcards, and lotus flowers graced the dining room of the hotel, which was named after the lovely flower. With increased develop- ment, the ecology of the Youngsters fishing in Monroe Marsh with net (circa 1900). marsh declined rapidly. In the early 1900s, there were already accounts of fish. Recreational fishing the marsh were dredged pollution from the town declined, and commer- into ponds for raising and the accompanying cial fishing within the carp, which were shipped turbidity in the marsh marsh collapsed. To live as far as New York that resulted in the loss maintain the local fish- City. of aquatic plant beds and ing industry, portions of

Monroe Historical Museum

Picture postcard showing boatman with visitors to the Monroe lotus (Nelumbo lutea) bed, circa 1900.

76 Case History of a Marsh: River Raisin Delta (continued)

Monroe Historical Museum Other marsh values dis- appeared with changing technology. Before elec- trical refrigeration, blocks of ice were cut from the shallow waters of Lake Erie. Marsh hay was harvested with horse-drawn mowers and laid down in thick layers to insulate the ice blocks through the hot summer. In 1920, Fisher Body purchased land in the marsh, followed by Newton Steel (now the site of Ford Motor River Raisin with channel straightened and “turning basin” constructed in 1931 to allow for large ships.

Lotus Garden Club of Monroe

Company) in 1927. The factories grew, filling additional lands and dredging ponds for waste materials. In 1931, a turning basin was dredged to allow passage of larger ships. In 1953, Detroit Edison bought 1,200 acres and built an electric plant on spoils within the marsh, which was being filled from all sides. Plans for a marina

Lotus bed with in background.

77 Case History of a Marsh: River Raisin Delta (continued)

MI DNR with elite housing sites and a golf course were developed but abandoned during the Great Depression; the area is now in state ownership as . Today efforts are under- way to protect and restore the remnants of the marsh. Detroit Edison has established a preserve dedicated to the protection of the American lotus. In 2002, Sterling State Park staff initiated a project aimed at restoring both coastal marsh and wet prairie. Diverse recreational use can be seen at remnants of numerous coastal wet- lands along Lake Erie.

D. Albert Intensive industrialization of Monroe Marsh can be seen on 1978 aerial photo.

Boardwalk in Lake Erie Metro Park.

78 Restoration and Recovery Restoration and Recovery

stimates of overall greater levels of loss. coastal fishery and water- Ewetland loss along the These losses have resulted fowl populations. As large Great Lakes shoreline in significant ecological marshes disappeared or range from 30 to 50 per- changes to the Great Lakes were severely degraded, cent. In Saginaw Bay, Lake and its biota. fish and waterfowl popula- tions responded to the St. Clair and western Lake Historically, the earliest habitat loss and their pop- Erie, comparison of his- signs of significant wet- ulations often plummeted, toric maps to present were affecting both the econo- aerial photos shows even sharp declines in the my and recreation of the

D. Albert local communities. Overall chemical and physical Rooting of Bulrushes degradation of the lakes affected human health as well, and this was often the factor that triggered the cleanup of the Great Lakes, including their wet- lands. Other values recog- nized as important to both residents and the general Water public were the impor- tance of wetland vegeta- Sand: tion for shoreline stabiliza- Fine roots tion and the aesthetics and green space they provided. The earliest coastal wet- land restoration began Clay: with use of dikes to reduce Rhizomes erosion of coastal wet- and coarse lands. On western Lake roots Erie, high turbidity result- ing from agricultural

Rhizomes of bulrush reduce sediment erosion.

80 Restoration and Recovery

J. Schafer runoff and other forms of in other ways. Diking, pollution, erosion by ship which prevents dewatering traffic and hardening of or the influx of oxygenated the shoreline had eliminat- lake water into coastal ed most of the original wetlands, causes buildup coastal marshes. Diking of dead plant material and allowed manipulation of the depletion of dissolved the water level throughout oxygen within impounded the year and improved wetlands. Anaerobic con- access to marshes in heav- ditions eventually result in ily populated areas, the loss of additional increasing the number of species of aquatic life that hunters who could safely depend on oxygenated utilize a wetland. water. Accumulation of nutrients and organic Though dikes proved use- materials can lead to over- ful in restoring or main- ly dense monocultures of taining degraded wetland Dikes allow a variety of manage- cat-tails or other emergent systems, they can also ment opportunities, including water level control, planting, vegetation. result in degradation of creating openings and more otherwise intact wetlands, intensive use of marsh during especially where wetlands hunting season. meet diverse biological J. Schafer needs. In intact wetland systems, dike placements can fragment coastal wet- lands and reduce function by altering water, nutrient and energy exchange. Impounded coastal marsh- es often exclude aquatic organisms and are no longer available for fish spawning and nurseries. Plant and wildlife popula- tions are likely disrupted Dikes allow control of water levels in coastal marshes.

81 Restoration and Recovery

G. Soulliere Other wetland restoration efforts have sought to cre- ate openings in dense emergent vegetation. One dramatic method — that of blowing openings in the marsh with explosives — is no longer a common practice. Instead, during low-water conditions, openings are created with heavy equipment.

Dikes are occasionally removed when they prove ineffective for man- J. Schafer agement, as in the extensive marshes at the mouth of the Munuscong River. Dikes here were too large for effective water level control and subject to considerable damage by storm waves.

Up through the early require herbicide treat- 1800s, Native Americans ments as well. Experimen- utilized fire to create more tation on exotic control is open-water habitat in now being conducted at coastal wetlands. Today, St. John’s Marsh, along fire is once again recog- with controlled burning. nized as an efficient man- Galerucella, a host-specific agement tool for restoring beetle that feeds only on wetlands. The most effec- purple loosestrife, has tive time to burn is during been introduced into wet- the winter, when managers lands and has reduced can work quickly and safe- populations of this inva- ly on ice. Controlled burns sive plant by 90 percent in reduce cat-tail coverage some areas. and help to control exotic Michigan wetland restora- species such as reed and tion projects include sites purple loosestrife. on lakes Michigan, Huron, Successful removal of St. Clair and Erie. On the Creating marsh openings with explosives is no longer a common some aggressive exotic St. Marys River, restora- practice. plants, such as reed, may tion efforts include remov-

82 Restoration and Recovery

ing ineffective waterfowl scribed burns, along with ing to construct much management dikes. On mechanical shrub removal more sophisticated diked Saginaw Bay, a major mit- and herbicide treatment of wetlands, controlling not igation project is restoring exotic plants. At Sterling only water levels but the recently acquired agricul- State Park, on Lake Erie, entry of fish into the wet- tural lands to wet prairie the hydrology is being land as well. The goal is to and marsh; agricultural restored and coastal allow some fish to utilize dikes are removed, selec- marsh is being replanted the marsh while excluding tive drains are closed and with seed from local wet- common carp. tiles are broken in fields. land sources. Metzger marsh originally At St. John's Marsh and Recent restoration efforts, had a barrier beach pro- Algonac State Park on such as the project at tecting the wetland from Lake St. Clair, both marsh- Metzger Marsh near San- the waves of Lake Erie. es and wet prairies are dusky, Ohio, are attempt- The wetland had been now managed with pre-

J. Schafer

Wetland restoration: burning cat-tails and reed on St. John’s Marsh.

83 Restoration and Recovery

J. Schafer than carp could be intro- duced to the wetland. While some carp enter the wetland, reduced carp populations have allowed the vegetation in the marsh to persist. The success of these recent experiments has not yet been fully evaluated. In addition to these many management initiatives, conservation groups have been acquiring high- quality Great Lakes wet- Wetland restoration: using ORV to set marsh fires at St. John’s Marsh. lands for preservation in perpetuity. Conservation heavily manipulated, with In 1995 the barrier beach organizations have pur- attempts to dike and farm was replaced by a dike, chased tracts along Duck, it. Hardening of the adja- with five gates to allow Voight, Dudley and El cent shoreline eliminated drawdown to mimic low Cajon bays on northern the sediments that were lake levels and allow the Lake Huron as well as at needed to maintain the growth of emergent vege- Roach Point and adjacent barrier beach. The barrier tation. Natural regenera- wetlands along the St. was eroded by high water tion of the marsh from the Marys River. The Michigan conditions in 1973. Loss of seed bank was augmented Department of Natural the protective barrier com- with planting of wild- Resources has acquired a bined with spawning and celery tubers. The dike large dune and swale com- feeding of large numbers gates were fitted with bars plex west of Big Knob of carp resulted in almost spaced five centimeters Campground on northern complete loss of submer- apart to allow small fish to Lake Michigan. Michigan's gent and emergent wet- enter the wetland but to government and numerous land plants. exclude large carp. Lift conservation organizations baskets were also installed maintain their goal of pro- so that large fish other tecting coastal wetlands.

84 Restoration and Recovery

D. Wilcox Though education, acqui- sition and more careful management of adjacent uplands have slowed the rate of wetland loss in recent years, coastal wet- has by no means been eliminated. Declining water levels in lakes Metzger Marsh. Prior to restoration, there was little aquatic vegetation Huron and Michigan since in the carp-filled, turbid waters of the marsh. 1999 have exposed exten- D. Wilcox sive beds of shoreline wet- land vegetation, especially along Saginaw Bay. Some landowners have illegally plowed these coastal wet- lands, altering hundreds of acres of open bulrush beds and wet meadow. It is too early to evaluate the full impact of these activities, but habitat value for many Metzger Marsh. Five large gates provide effective control of the water wetland animals has been levels in the marsh, while grates control entry of large fish. reduced, and removal of D. Wilcox stabilizing plant roots will likely increase shoreline erosion when water levels rise again.

Metzger Marsh. After dike construction and water drawdown, aquatic vegetation established from the seed bank.

85 Appendix A Marshes in Michigan - Lake Erie...... 87 Marshes in Michigan - Lake Huron ...... 88 Marshes in Michigan - Lake Michigan...... 90 Marshes in Michigan - Lake Superior ...... 92 Appendix B Referenced Species: Common and Latin Names ...... 93 Appendix C Suggested Readings...... 96

G. Soulliere Marshes in Michigan - Lake Erie

5 Lake Erie

No. Name Lake Type Ownership

1 Erie Marsh Erie Sand-spit embayment TNC, MI DNR, private 2 Otter Creek Erie Drowned river mouth Private, MI DNR

3 River Raisin (Monroe) Erie Delta Private, MI DNR (SP) 4 Swan Creek Erie Drowned river mouth Private 5 Pte. Mouillee Erie Delta MI DNR

** Public overlook MNA = Michigan Nature TNC = The Nature Conservancy LTC = Little Traverse Conservancy Association USFS = U. S. Forest Service MI DNR = Michigan Department NF = National forest of Natural Resources SP = State park

Bolded sites are good examples of marsh types with public access. Marshes in Michigan - Lake Huron

40

34-36 3

8 Lake

Huron

10 9

Lake St. C

88 Marshes in Michigan - Lake Huron

No. Name Lake Type Ownership 6 Frenchman Creek Detroit River Drowned river mouth Private 7 St. Clair Delta Metropark, private 8 St. Clair River St. Clair Delta MI DNR, private 9 Hardwood Point Huron Open embayment Private 10 Whiskey Harbor Huron Open embayment Private 11 Sleeper/Port Crescent Huron Dune & swale complex MI DNR (SP) 12 Wildfowl Bay Islands Huron Sand-spit embayment MI DNR 13 Wildfowl Bay Huron Open embayment Private, MI DNR 14 Fish Point Huron Sand-spit embayment MI DNR, private & open embayment 15 Vanderbilt Park Huron Delta & open embayment County park 16 Coryeon Point Huron Open embayment Private, MI DNR 17 Tobico State Park Huron Barrier beach lagoon MI DNR 18 Nayanquing Huron Sand-spit embayment MI DNR ** 19 Pinconning Huron Sand-spit embayment County park 20 Wigwam Bay/Pine R. Huron Delta & open MI DNR embayment 21 Rifle River Huron Delta Private 22 Huron Dune & swale complex MI DNR 23 Squaw Bay Huron Open embayment Private 24 Misery Bay Huron Open embayment Private 25 El Cajon Bay Huron Protected embayment MI DNR 26 False Presque Isle Huron Drowned river mouth Private 27 Hammond Bay Huron Dune & swale complex Private 28 Grass Bay Huron Dune & swale complex TNC 29 Cheboygan State Park Huron Dune & swale complex MI DNR 30 Carp/Pine Rivers Huron Dune & swale complex Hiawatha NF (USFS) 31 St. Martins Bay Huron Open embayment Private, USFS 32 Mismer Bay Huron Protected embayment Private, LTC 33 Mackinac Bay Huron Protected embayment Private ** 34 Duck Bay Huron Protected embayment TNC, MI DNR, private 35 Peck Bay Huron Open bay (n. fen) Private 36 Voight Bay Huron Open bay (n. fen) TNC, private 37 Big Huron Open bay (n. fen) Private 38 Scott Bay/Paw Point Huron Protected embayment MI DNR, private 39 Burnt Island Huron Protected embayment Private 40 Harbor Island Huron Protected embayment Private

** Public overlook MNA = Michigan Nature TNC = The Nature Conservancy LTC = Little Traverse Conservancy Association USFS = U. S. Forest Service MI DNR = Michigan Department NF = National forest of Natural Resources SP = State park

Bolded sites are good examples of marsh types with public access.

89 Marshes in Michigan - Lake Michigan

59

44 45 4

47 48

Michigan

52 5 5

Lake 55

56 57

90 Marshes in Michigan - Lake Michigan

No. Name Lake Type Ownership 41 Trails End/Cecil Bays Michigan Open bays Private, MI DNR 42 Michigan Open bay (n. fen) MI DNR (SP) 43 Michigan Dune & swale complex MI DNR (SP) 44 Platte Bay Michigan Dune & swale complex Sleeping Bear NLS 45 Point Michigan Dune & swale complex Sleeping Bear NLS 46 Michigan Drowned river mouth MI DNR 47 Michigan Drowned river mouth MI DNR 48 Big Sable River Michigan Drowned river mouth Private 49 Pentwater River Michigan Drowned river mouth MI DNR 50 Stoney Creek Michigan Drowned river mouth Private 51 White River Michigan Drowned river mouth Private 52 Michigan Drowned river mouth MI DNR, private 53 South Lloyd Island Michigan Drowned river mouth Private 54 Potawatomi Bayou Michigan Drowned river mouth Co. park 55 Michigan Drowned river mouth Saugatuck Twp. park, private 56 Michigan Drowned river mouth Private 57 Michigan Drowned river mouth Private 58 Portage Creek Michigan Sand-spit embayment MI DNR 59 Chippewa Point Michigan Open bay/delta Private 60 Ogontz Bay Michigan Dune & swale complex Hiawatha NF (USFS) 61 Indian Point/Nahma Michigan Open bay Hiawatha NF (USFS) 62 Fishdam Rivers Michigan Dune & swale complex Hiawatha NF (USFS) 63 Thompson Michigan Dune & swale complex/delta Private, MI DNR 64 Gulliver Lake Dunes Michigan Dune & swale complex Private 65 Big Knob/Crow River Michigan Dune & swale complex MI DNR 66 Kenyon Bay Michigan Open bay Private 67 Epoufette Bay Michigan Open bay MI DNR, private 68 Pointe Aux Chenes Michigan Dune & swale complex Hiawatha NF (USFS)

** Public overlook MNA = Michigan Nature TNC = The Nature Conservancy LTC = Little Traverse Conservancy Association USFS = U. S. Forest Service MI DNR = Michigan Department NF = National forest NLS = National Lakeshore of Natural Resources SP = State park

Bolded sites are good examples of marsh types with public access.

91 Marshes in Michigan - Lake Superior

Superior

Lake 84 9 8

No. Name Lake Type Ownership 69 Gogomain River St. Marys R. Connecting river - delta Private 70 Roach Point St. Marys R. Connecting river – Michigan Nature Association protected embayment 71 St. Marys R. Connecting river – University of Michigan, private protected embayment 72 Munuscong St. Marys R. Connecting river – delta MI DNR 73 Shingle Bay St. Marys R. Connecting river – Private protected embayment 74 Tahquamenon Bay Superior Dune & swale complex MI DNR, USFS 75 Whitefish Point Superior Dune & swale complex MI DNR 76 Grand I. – Murray Bay Superior Dune & swale complex Hiawatha NF (USFS) 77 Au Train River Superior Dune & swale complex Hiawatha NF, USFS, private 78 Little Presque Isle Superior Dune & swale complex MI DNR 79 Lake Superior Dune & swale complex Private 80 Pequaming Superior Tombolo County park 81 Sturgeon River Superior Delta MI DNR ** 82 Portage Lake Superior Drowned river mouth MI DNR, private 83 Big Superior Dune & swale complex MI DNR, private 84 Oliver Bay Superior Dune & swale complex Private 85 Lac la Belle Superior Dune & swale complex Private

** Public overlook MNA = Michigan Nature TNC = The Nature Conservancy LTC = Little Traverse Conservancy Association USFS = U. S. Forest Service MI DNR = Michigan Department NF = National forest of Natural Resources SP = State park

Bolded sites are good examples of marsh types with public access.

92 Referenced Species: Common and Latin Names

Common Names Latin Names Comon Names Latin Names

Plants Plants Alder ...... Alnosa rugosa Houghton’s goldenrod ...... American lotus ...... Nelumbo lutea Hybrid cat-tail...... Typha X glauca Arrow-arum...... Peltandra virginica Indian grass ...... Sorghastrum nutans Arrowhead ...... Sagittaria spp. Indian paintbrush ...... Castilleja coccinea Aster ...... Aster spp. Ironweed ...... Vernonia spp. Beak-rush ...... Rhynchospora spp. Jewelweed ...... Impatiens spp. Big bluestem...... Andropogon gerardii Kalm’s lobelia ...... Lobelia kalmii Bird’s-eye primula...... Primula mistassinica Larch ...... Larix laricina Black spruce...... Picea mariana Large ...... Vaccinium macrocarpon Bladderwort ...... Utricularia spp. Leatherleaf ...... Chamaedaphne calyculata Blue-joint grass ...... Calamagrostis canadensis Marsh bellflower ...... Campanula aparinoides Bog aster...... Aster nemoralis Marsh blazing-star ...... spicata Bog-laurel ...... Kalmia polifolia Marsh cinquefoil...... Potentilla palustris Bog rosemary ...... Andromeda glaucophylla Marsh fern ...... Thelypteris palustris Buckbean...... Menyanthes trifoliata Marsh pea...... Lathyrus palustris Bulrush ...... Schoenoplectus spp. Meadowsweet ...... Spiraea alba Bur-reed ...... Sparganium chlorocarpum, S. fluctuans Montevidens’ arrowhead ...... Sagittaria montevidensis Butterwort ...... Pinguicula vulgaris Mountain mint ...... Pycnanthemum virginicum Calamint ...... Calamintha arkansana Muskgrass ...... Chara spp. Cat-tail ...... Typha spp. Naiad...... Najas spp. Common waterweed ...... Elodea canadensis Narrow-leaved cat-tail...... Typha angustifolia Coontail ...... Ceratophyllum demersum Nodding beggar-ticks ...... Bidens cernuus Cotton-grass ...... Eriophorum spp. Nodding smartweed ...... Polygonum lapathifolium Cottonwood...... Populus deltoides Northern white-cedar ...... Culver’s-root ...... Veronicastrum virginicum Ohio goldenrod ...... Solidago ohioensis Curly-leaved pondweed ...... Potamogeton crispus Pickerel weed ...... Pontedaria cordata Cut grass...... Leersia oryzoides Pitcher-plant...... Sarracenia purpurea Dogwood ...... Cornus spp. Pondweed ...... Potamogeton spp. Duck potato ...... Sagittaria spp. Prairie cordgrass ...... Spartina pectinata Duckweed ...... Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Prairie dock...... Silphium terebinthinaceum Spirodela polyrhiza Purple loosestrife ...... Lythrum salicaria Dwarf lake iris...... Purple milkweed ...... Asclepias purpurascens Fringed gentian...... Gentianopsis procera Quillwort...... Isoetes spp. Frogbit ...... Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Red ash ...... Fraxinus pennsylvanica Goldenrod ...... Solidago spp. Red-osier dogwood ...... Cornus stolonifera Grass-of-Parnassus ...... Parnassia glauca Reed ...... Phragmites australis* Grass-pink ...... Calopogon tuberosus Reed canary grass ...... Phalaris arundinacea* Greater duckweed ...... Spirodela polyrhiza Riddell’s goldenrod ...... Solidago riddellii Hardstem bulrush ...... Schoenoplectus acutus Rose pogonia ...... Pogonia ophioglossoides Hornwort ...... Ceratophyllum demersum Royal fern...... Osmunda regalis

93 Referenced Species: Common and Latin Names

Comon Names Latin Names Common Names Latin Names

Plants Animals

Sedge...... Carex spp. Aquatic Worms Shrubby cinquefoil...... Potentilla fruticosa Segmented worm ...... Order Oligochaeta Slender naiad ...... Najas flexilis Small cranberry ...... Vaccinium oxycoccos Arthropods – Spiders Softstem bulrush ...... Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Water mite ...... Family Hydrachnidae Spatterdock ...... Nuphar spp. Speckled alder ...... Alnus rugosa Birds Spike-rush...... Eleocharis spp. Spotted touch-me-not ...... Impatiens capensis American bittern ...... Botaurus lentiginosus Sullivant’s milkweed ...... Asclepias sullivantii ...... Anas rubripes Sundew ...... Drosera spp. Black scoter ...... Melanitta nigra Sunflower...... Helianthus spp. Black tern ...... Chlidonias niger Sweet gale ...... Myrica gale Black-throated blue warbler...... Dendroica caerulescens Switch grass ...... Panicum virgatum Blue-winged teal ...... Anas discors Tall coreopsis ...... Coreopsis tripteris Bufflehead ...... Bucephala albeola Tall green milkweed...... Asclepias hirtella Canada goose ...... Branta canadensis Tamarack ...... Larix laricina Canvasback ...... Aythya valisineria Threesquare ...... Schoenoplectus pungens Common goldeneye...... Bucephala clangula Tuberous Indian plantain ...... Cacalia plantaginea Common merganser ...... Mergus merganser Tufted loosestrife...... Lysimachia thyrsiflora Common tern ...... Sterna hirundo Tussock-forming sedges ...... Carex stricta, Great egret ...... Casmerodius albos C. aquatilis, and others King rail ...... Rallus elegans Walking sedge ...... Eleocharis rostellata Mallard...... Anas platyrhynchos Water bulrush ...... Schoenoplectus subterminalis Pintail...... Anas acuta Water-celery ...... Vallisneria americana Red-breasted merganser ...... Mergus serrator Water horsetail ...... Equisetum fluviatile Redhead ...... Aythya americana Water-lily...... Nymphaea odorata Ring-necked duck ...... Aythya collaris Water-shield ...... Brassenia schreberi Swan, mute ...... Cygnus olor Water star-grass ...... Heteranthera dubia Swan, trumpeter ...... C. buccinator Water-marigold ...... Megalodonta beckii Swan, tundra ...... C. columbianus Water-milfoil ...... Myriophyllum spp. White-winged scoter ...... Melanitta fusca Waterweed ...... Elodea canadensis Wigeon, American...... Anas americana Wild rice ...... Zizania aquatica Wood duck ...... Aix sponsa Wild-celery ...... Vallisneria americana Willow ...... Salix spp. Crustaceans Yellow cress ...... Rorippa palustris Burrowing crayfish ...... Family Cambaridae Yellow pond-lily ...... Nuphar advena Scud (shell-less crustacean) ...... Family Gammaridae Water flea...... Daphnia spp.

94 Referenced Species: Common and Latin Names

Common Names Latin Names Common Names Latin Names

Animals Animals

Fish Insects – Moths Alewife ...... Alosa pseudoharengus Borer moth ...... Papaipema spp. Black bullhead ...... Ictalurus melas Bowfin ...... Amia calva Insects – Other Brown bullhead ...... Ameiurus nebulosus Case-making caddisflies ...... Families Leptoceridae and Central mud-minnow...... Umbra limi Limnephilidae Common carp ...... Cyprinus carpio Mayfly ...... Family Caenidae Gizzard shad ...... Dorosoma cepedianum Mound ant (wood ant) ...... Subfamily Formicinae Goldfish ...... Carassius auratus Water boatmen ...... Family Corixidae Lake sturgeon...... Acipenser fulvescens ...... Micropterus salmoides Mammals Longnose gar...... Lepisosteus osseus Beaver ...... Castor canadensis Muskellunge ...... Esox masquinongy Muskrat ...... Ondatra zibethicus Northern pike ...... Esox lucius ...... Procyon lotor ...... Neogobius melanostomus Skunk ...... Mephitis mephitis Smallmouth bass...... Micropterus dolomieu Spottail shiner...... Notropis hudsonius Mollusks Sucker ...... Family Catostomidae Coiled-shell snail...... Family Hydrobiidae Trout...... Family Salmonidae Fingernail clam ...... Family Sphaeriidae Walleye ...... Stizostedion vitreum Zebra mussel ...... Dreissena polymorpha Whitefish...... Coregonus spp. Yellow perch ...... Perca flavescens Reptiles

Insects – Beetles Eastern fox snake ...... Elaphe gloydi Spotted turtle ...... Clemmys guttata Leaf-eating beetle Blanding’s turtle ...... Emys blandingii (host – purple loosestrife) ...... Galerucella spp.** Whirligig beetle ...... Family Gyrinidae

Insects – Dragonflies Bolded species are exotics (introduced from outside Dragonfly ...... Family Libellulidae Great Lakes region). Narrow-winged damselfly...... Family Coenagrionidae * Both native and aggressive exotic varieties of these species occur within coastal wetlands. Insects – Flies (Order Diptera) Marsh fly ...... Family Sciomyzidae ** Introduced to control purple loosestrife. Midge ...... Family Chironomidae

95 Suggested Readings

Albert, D.A., G. Reese, Great Lakes coastal wetlands Minc, L.D. 1997. Great Lakes S. Crispin, L.A. Wilsmann and within the . Vol. 1: Coastal Wetlands: An Overview of S.J. Ouwinga. 1987. A Survey of Overview; Vol. 2: Lake Ontario; Abiotic Factors Affecting their Great Lakes Marshes in Vol. 3: Lake Erie; Vol. 4: Lake Distribution, Form, and Species Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Huron; Vol. 5: Lake Michigan; Composition. Lansing, Mich.: Lansing, Mich.: Michigan Natural Vol. 6: Lake Superior. FWS/OBS- Michigan Natural Features Features Inventory. 81/02-v1-6. , D.C.: Inventory. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Albert, D.A., G. Reese, S.R. Prince, H.H., and F.M. D’Itri Crispin, M.R. Penskar, L.A. Hoagman, W. J. 1998. Great Lakes (eds). 1985. Coastal Wetlands. Wilsmann and S.J. Ouwinga. Wetlands: A Field Guide. Ann Chelsea, Mich.: Lewis Publishers, 1988. A Survey of Great Lakes Arbor, Mich.: Michigan Sea Grant Inc. Marshes in the Southern Half of Publications. Stuckey, R.L. 1989. Western Lake Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Keddy, P.A., and A.A. Reznicek. Erie aquatic and wetland vascu- Lansing, Mich.: Michigan Natural 1985. Vegetation dynamics, lar plant flora: its origin and Features Inventory. buried seeds, and water-level fluc- change. In Lake Erie Estuarine Albert, D.A., G. Reese, M.R. tuations on the shoreline of the Systems: Issues, Resources, Penskar, L.A. Wilsmann and S.J. Great Lakes. In Coastal Wetlands, Status, and Management, Ouwinga. 1989. A Survey of edited by H.H. Prince and F.M. pp. 205-256. Estuary-of-the- Great Lakes Marshes in the D'Itri, pp. 33-58. Chelsea, Mich.: Month Seminar Series No. 14. Northern Half of Michigan's Lewis Publishers, Inc. Washington, D.C.: NOAA. Lower Peninsula and Throughout Keddy, P.A., and A.A. Reznicek. Wilcox, D.A., J.E. Meeker and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 1986. Great Lakes vegetation J. Elias. 1993. Impacts of Water- Lansing, Mich.: Michigan Natural dynamics: the role of fluctuating Level Regulation on Wetlands of Features Inventory. water levels and buried seeds. the Great Lakes. Phase 2 Report Environment Canada. 2002. Where Journal of Great Lakes Research to Working Committee 2, Land Meets Water: Understanding 12:25-36. International Joint Commission, Wetlands of the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Water Level Minc, L.D. 1997. Vegetative : Environment Canada. Reference Study, Natural Response in Michigan's Great Resources Task Group. Herdendorf, C.E., S.M. Hartley Lakes Marshes to Great Lakes and M.D. Barnes (eds.). 1981. Water-Level Fluctuations. Fish and wildlife resources of the Lansing, Mich.: Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

For More Information Contact:

Michigan Natural Features Inventory Michigan State University Extension Mason Building, Box 30444 Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Web site: www.msue.msu.edu/mnfi

96 MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. • Issued in furtherance of Extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Margaret A. Bethel, Extension director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824.

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