Huron River Report Published quarterly by the Huron River Watershed Council 1100 North Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Fall 2012
CWA at “40” pg 5 Ospreys Are Back! A Dam Nation pg 6 Reintroduction effort a success Thanks to HRWC Interns pg 10
If you see a cell phone tower, look up! under the State of Michigan’s endangered Ospreys, rarely seen in southeast Michigan species legislation. for decades, are now living and thriving on the Huron River thanks in part to the Ospreys are a charismatic bird with dark Southern Michigan Osprey Reintroduction brown on the back and white on the belly Project, which took flight in 1998. and chest. The head is mostly brown with a distinct, dark stripe across the eyes. Ospreys once lived throughout Although closely related to hawks and Michigan. Known as the “fish hawk” eagles, they are unique among raptors because they eat fish almost exclusively, due to their specialized feet and wings these birds live near water and use their that bend in flight like a gull. The osprey keen eyesight and superb flying skills to grows to be about 2 feet long, with a catch their prey. Their feet are specialized wingspan of 4.5 to 6 feet and weights from for “fishing” with each foot having four 2.5 to 4 pounds, with females tending talons – one pair facing forward, the other to be slightly larger than males. While pair facing backward – and soles covered they normally reach a maximum speed in sharp spines that help them grip the fish of 40 miles per hour in flight, ospreys are The return of the osprey to Michigan is an indication of improved water quality. in flight. capable of reaching 80 mph in steep dives photo: R. Miller while hunting fish. Loss of habitat and the use of DDT and Metroparks, Detroit Zoological Society, other pesticides led to the osprey’s decline The goal of the osprey relocation project DTE Energy, Michigan Department of to the point that they ceased to nest in is to re-establish a breeding population of Natural Resources, and many dedicated southeast Michigan. Today, ospreys are osprey in southern Michigan. The project volunteers. The Detroit Zoo provides considered “threatened” and are protected is a joint effort between Huron-Clinton continued on page 3
Restoration of a Highly Urbanized Creek Benefits extend downriver
Malletts Creek, located in the southern TMDL sets goals for reducing pollution, portion of the City of Ann Arbor and sediments, and runoff in order to improve northern Pittsfield Township, is a natural waterway health. The DEQ determined creek with several channelized sections that stream bank erosion, sedimentation, that also receives drainage from numerous total suspended solids and flashy water storm sewers. Thirty four percent of the flow in Mallets were causing poor fish and 7,000 acre creekshed (11 square miles) is macroinvertebrate communities. They also impervious (numerous studies have shown identified Malletts as a major contributor that fish and insect communities suffer of phosphorus and E.coli to the Huron when impervious surface exceeds 15%). River. Over 1,000 tons of sediment each Mallets Creek prior to restoration efforts. year was moving downstream to the Note the wide channel, high sediment content, In August 2004, the Michigan Department Huron River from Malletts Creek and its and bank erosion. photo: HRWC of Environmental Quality (DEQ) tributaries. established a biota Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Malletts Creek. A continued on page 3 Table of Contents Featured Articles = Adopt-A-Stream Monitoring Site * Ospreys Are Back! ...... cover Reintroduction effort a success Indicates geographic location connected to article. Restoration of a Highly Urbanized Creek Benefits extend downriver ...... cover cover Clean Water Act at “40” ...... 5 One perpective on landmark legislation page 6 A Dam Nation ...... 6 HRWC continues to eye the impacts of dams on the Huron River
Staff Updates ...... 8 New staff, new position, and an anniversary
Summer Interns of 2012 ...... 10 page 6 HRWC appreciates the contributions of eight cover interns
Events Regular Features Thursday, September 6, 5 – 7:30 PM Saturday, October 6, 9 AM – 3:30 PM or Brew for the River 10:30 AM – 5 PM Laura’s Stream of Consciousness...... 9 Blue Tractor, 205 East Washington River Roundup An update on HRWC projects and activities contact: [email protected] NEW Center, Ann Arbor www.hrwc.org/brew Pre-registration required You Make the Difference! ...... 11 contact: www.hrwc.org/volunteer Become a member of HRWC Saturday, September 8, 6 – 10 PM Ann Arbor Home Grown Festival Sunday, October 14, noon – 4:30 PM Thank You! back cover Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market, 315 Detroit St (start at noon or 2 PM) contact: [email protected] Bug ID Day NEW Center, Ann Arbor Thursday, September 13, 6 – 9 PM Pre-registration required Suds on the River contact: www.hrwc.org/volunteer contact: [email protected] The content of this newsletter is prepared by www.hrwc.org/suds Thursday, October 25, 5:30 PM HRWC staff and does not necessarily reflect the HRWC Board Meeting opinions of HRWC board members. Saturday, September 15, 10 AM NEW Center, Ann Arbor Paddle Trip Flat Rock to Point Mouillee contact: [email protected] contact: [email protected] Monday-Tuesday, October 29 – 30 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! Thursday, September 27, 5:30 PM MiCorps’ Eighth Annual Conference and www.facebook.com/huronriver HRWC Executive Committee Meeting Training www.twitter.com/hrwc NEW Center, Ann Arbor R.A. MacMullan Center, Roscommon, MI contact: [email protected] Register: www.micorps.net/conference
Saturday-Sunday, September 15 – 16 More events and updates AT HRWC offices are located at the NEW Center Flat Rock River Fest www.hrwc.org 1100 N. Main Street in Ann Arbor. Directions at contact: [email protected] www.hrwc.org or call (734) 769-5123.
Page 2 Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 Ospreys Are Back! continued from cover
veterinary services, telemetry equipment typically return to nest in the area where rebounding. OWSEM recorded 37 nesting and consultation. The Metroparks provides they learned to fly. Breeding pairs of pairs in 2011, and today there are 36 known staff and trained volunteers to feed and osprey usually form a life-long bond, and nests in southeast Michigan. care for the birds. The osprey program both the male and the female will tend to receives funding from DTE Energy and the eggs. In order to protect their young The osprey’s recovery is also due to the citizens who contribute to the Nongame from predators like bald eagles and great Clean Water Act of 1972, and the work of Wildlife Fund through sales of the Wildlife horned owls, osprey build their nests away HRWC to protect and restore clean water Conservation license plate. from dense cover and high up enough to in the Huron since 1965. We are fortunate maintain a 360 degree view of the space to have so many opportunities to see a At the beginning of a relocation project, around them. Cell phone towers fit the bill wide variety of birds within the Huron staff and volunteers transport chicks from nicely! River watershed, and to observe mating wild osprey nests up north to a “hack box” and feeding behaviors. The osprey’s return — a tall tree-like shelter 15 feet above the HRWC staff recently traveled to is an amazing success story of clean water, water. Care for the birds includes a daily Kensington Metropark to learn more healthy diversity, and abundant fish. diet of fish and behavioral monitoring. The about ospreys. Barb Jensen, a volunteer — Margaret Smith and Kris Olsson birds remain in the hack box until they of Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan fledge (fly) at about eight weeks of age. (OWSEM; www.owsem.org), guided HRWC The article from the Flint Journal titled staff to the nesting site of a mated pair “Michigan DNR bands osprey chick from cell The relocated ospreys will stay at the of osprey and their young family of three tower in Lapeer” and dated July 11, 2012, is available at www.mlive.com. Included with park through the summer and early fall fledglings on Wildwing Lake. Thanks to a the article is a terrific slideshow of osprey and then migrate south to Central and 1998 reintroduction project and cleaner nesting in cell towers, as well as pictures of South America. After maturing, ospreys water in the watershed, the osprey are the leg-banding process. Restoration of a Highly Urbanized Creek continued from cover
In 1999, the City of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Recent Study In Malletts Township, and the Washtenaw County After these successful projects, Drain Commissioner’s office hired ECT, efforts focused on other potential ASTI, and Tilton & Associates to conduct ways to reduce the flow and the Malletts Creek Restoration Project. improve water quality. OHM, Inc. The report from this project, along with and Niswander Environmental the Middle Huron Management Plan and conducted field investigations the Creek Report for Malletts (all available and discussions with residents, at www.hrwc.org) focused on developing who reported that the stream had a comprehensive assessment of the creek, been widening for many years, establishing goals for restoration activities, was extremely flashy, and was and identifying specific actions to achieve starting to jeopardize private and Mallets Creek at the completion of construction. Note those goals. public property. Indicators of this the boulders and vegetation for bank stabilization, widening included eroding stream including the toe formations added on the outer bank These plans identified two major goals for banks with exposed tree roots, to reduce undercutting and erosion. photo: HRWC Malletts Creek: as well as older utility poles and storm structures now located in • Reduce peak flow rates and the middle of the channel. It was condition, due to years of bank erosion in-stream velocities. clear that the creek substrate was stable and subsequent stream widening. Thus, the • Reduce the amount of pollutants, and contained good habitat (boulders most cost-effective restoration measures primarily phosphorus, to the and cobbles) for a diversity of benthic would include slight stream widening, watercourse. macroinvertebrates, but sediment eroding combined with stabilizing the toe of the Several projects, including the Mary Beth from the banks filled many of the spaces bank with vegetation and boulders in Doyle Park & Wetland Preserve Project between the cobbles, denying the stream’s areas with high potential for erosion. In (formerly Brown Park Pond), have already biota this habitat. County Farm Park, the stream’s existing begun to address these challenges by stresses were well above what the existing reducing peak flows and velocities and The studies also found that while banks could withstand. This meant that improving water quality in the downstream Malletts Creek’s banks were still eroding the stream would continue to erode and reaches of Malletts Creek. greatly, the stream bed was near a stable continued on page 4
Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 Page 3 Mallets Creek Restoration continued from page 3 widen until it reached an equilibrium size. Restoration Construction Anticipated project benefits include: Therefore, restoration measures would The work began in September 2011. • 90% reduction in sediment and need to be more intrusive, including The warm weather last winter slowed phosphorus loading to the Huron installing boulders to reduce in-stream construction, yet one benefit of having the River; velocities and creating a wider channel warm winter weather was the ability to • increased base flow to both County that would reduce shear stresses and plant live stakes of woody plants through Farm Drain and Malletts Creek; could handle the higher peak flows and the winter months. • ultimate improvement of in-stream velocities. substrate; and Successes! • improved riparian and stream A Wetland Is Born This project is one of the largest urban ecosystem diversity. Yet there was still something missing. stream restoration projects undertaken The staff at the Office of the WCWRC in Michigan. Almost two miles of urban Staff and park users already see mallards (Washtenaw County Water Resource stream are now restored as part of the nesting along the creek’s shoreline. Native Commissioner, formerly known as the ongoing watershed-wide plan. Project plants are beginning to grow along the Drain Commissioner) knew that they had construction statistics include: stream, and much of the native seed is to reduce the stream’s flashiness and • seventeen problematic log jams beginning to germinate. A year from now, improve low base flow in order to meet removed; a vigorous native plant community within the TMDLs. The WCWRC’s office initiated • 4.5 acres of native wetland and County Farm Park and Malletts Creek’s discussions with Washtenaw County prairie areas created; riparian areas will be thriving and in- Parks to build a wetland/storm water • over 360 native shrubs and trees stream habitat will continue to improve storage area within County Farm Park. Both installed; and stabilize. HRWC will monitor Malletts organizations were eager to improve water • 33,000 live stakes installed; Creek and report out on the progress. quality while adding ecosystem diversity • 6,000 tons of boulders placed within the park. When the pond opens along the stream; — Harry Sheehan, Office of Washtenaw and receives flow from the creek in 2013, • over 5,000 feet of coconut fiber County Water Resource Commissioner engineering models predict the wetland “logs” installed along bank toe; — Ron Cavallaro, OHM Inc will absorb and store over 30 percent of • 4 turtle nesting sand mounds — Jason Frenzel, HRWC the water from a large rainstorm. placed, with successful nesting; and • 11 acres of invasive plants removed with native seed and plant replacement.
Arial of the Mallets Creek Project at County Farm Park, along Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor. source: Google Earth, modified by HRWC
Page 4 Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 The Clean Water Act at “40” One perspective on how well the country’s landmark water legislation holds up
Many of the tools that HRWC uses to “Regulations to ensure that we have delegated state should be encouraged, protect and restore the Huron River that most basic of human needs, clean documented, assessed and, when proven orginated when the U.S. Congress enacted water, produce $40 dollars in health and to be effective, required for the rest of the the Clean Water Act (CWA) in the early environmental benefits for every dollar EPA regions and delegated states. 1970s. The landmark act turns 40 this year. of compliance costs.” – Todd Ambs This milestone gives the CWA’s supporters 10) Total Maximum Daily Load too often and critics cause to reflect on the becomes Total Maximum Daily Litigation original intent of its framers, evaluate its instead of the useful tool that it should success, and envision the next 40 years of be to develop a meaningful cleanup plan watershed protection and management. for a waterway impaired with too many pollutants. Todd Ambs is President of River Network,
a national river and watershed protection 11) Thousands of public servants around and restoration organization (HRWC is a the country, many of whom have retired member), and is intimately familiar with or are retiring, deserve our heartfelt thanks the successes and shortcomings of the for working diligently over the years to get CWA. Previously, Todd ran the Water the CWA in place and working to clean up Division of the Wisconsin Department our waterways. of Natural Resources and was Executive
Director of River Alliance of Wisconsin. River Network’s fifth President, Todd has 12) The requirements for an investment in His “Forty Thoughts for Forty Years” is worked in the environmental policy field for green infrastructure must be enhanced and available in its entirety at rivernetwork. over 30 years. photo: www.rivernetwork.org retained in order for regulated entities to org. An excerpt of his reflections, the first qualify for State Revolving Loan Funds. 20 thoughts, follows. 4) The federal government provided much 13) Old, centralized gray water systems It is 2012, a full 40 years since Congress of the funding for construction of the should be replaced with today’s passed the Federal Water Pollution first generation of wastewater treatment technology. Green infrastructure, Control Amendments of 1972, better facilities in the mid-1970s. decentralized systems where appropriate, known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). and efforts to restore natural hydrologic The bill was vetoed by then President 5) The federal government is unlikely to system functions all must play a part in the Nixon, but overridden by a Congress provide much of the billions of dollars in “replumbing” of America. tired of watching rivers catch on fire and funding needed to reconstruct the nation’s raw sewage flushing into community wastewater infrastructure 40 years later. 14) The permits issued under the law are waterways. Today it seems appropriate part of the National Pollutant Discharge to take stock of how far we have come 6) Combined sewer overflows will be with ELIMINATION System – it sure would thanks to this landmark legislation, how far us in many cities across the U.S. for years be nice if we started to focus on that we have to go and perhaps some ideas on to come. elimination word. how to get there. 7) Excessive nutrients, such as phosphorus 15) The amount of a pollutant that a Twenty Thoughts in 2012 and nitrogen, are a large and still-growing waterbody can hold before it becomes 1) We have made good progress – rivers problem causing deadly algae blooms impaired, known as the assimilative don’t catch fire anymore, raw sewage is in thousands of lakes and streams and a capacity, should not be a threshold to usually not found in our waterways, and massive dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. which dischargers aspire. many waterbodies once thought dead are To solve this problem, we must get
now prime recreation locations. meaningful, numeric nutrient standards in 16) Most Americans don’t realize that place in states across the country. we haven’t even assessed the quality of 2) The CWA is not uniformly applied – it is many of the nation’s waterways, let alone unevenly administered by eleven EPA’s (the 8) The definition of the Waters of the determined whether they are impaired and DC office and ten regions) and through United States covered by the CWA must why. the 46 states who have been delegated be broad and inclusive to insure that we
authority to implement the act. have clean water in all parts of the natural 17) Regulations to ensure that we have hydrologic cycle - it is not called the that most basic of human needs, clean 3) Stormwater regulations were not really “Partially Clean Water Act”. water, produce $40 dollars in health and contemplated 40 years ago and only now environmental benefits for every dollar of are we beginning to get a handle on how 9) Innovative approaches to CWA compliance costs. to address this problematic vector for implementation, monitoring and pollutants. enforcement in one EPA Region or continued on page 6
Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 Page 5 A Dam Nation HRWC continues to eye the impacts of dams on the Huron River
There are 75,000 dams in the United Because sediment accumulates behind life spans. Typically, engineers design States. Michigan contains an estimated dams, water flowing over or through dams to last for 40 years. According to 2,500 dams; 101 of these are on the dams is sediment-starved, and will the Michigan Department of Natural main stem and tributaries of the Huron pick up sediment below the dam, Resources (DNR), most dams in Michigan River. Michigan dams once served increasing the erosive potential of the were built several decades ago, and many river. many purposes, including providing have deteriorated due to age, erosion, hydroelectric power, water supply, • Dams fragment rivers and block the flood damage, and poor design. In the irrigation, flood control, debris control, natural movement of fish and other Huron River watershed, 65% of dams are and recreational opportunities, as well as aquatic species. more than 40 years old. supporting shipping, logging and milling operations, and holding mine tailings. • Dams contribute to, and sometimes According to the DNR, some dams are Today, most dams serve the purposes of are the sole cause of, many species “at significant risk of failure, particularly recreation, municipal water supply, and becoming threatened, endangered, or during high flow events.” This poses a property value enhancement. extinct. looming safety problem to the public. • Dams can greatly increase water When dams fail, the results can be loss Dam problems temperatures, reduce the water’s of life, significant property damage, loss Dams can be harmful to stream dissolved oxygen levels, and produce of recreational resources, and significant ecosystems: turbidity and salinity, both upstream environmental damage. If these aging and downstream of the structure. All dams are not properly maintained or • Dams cause the build-up of sediment of these effects reduce the amount removed, dam failures will become a more behind them. They block free-flowing and diversity of aquatic life. frequent occurrence. water and impede the river’s flushing function, as well as the transport of Dams require ongoing operation and continued on next page nutrients and sediment downstream. maintenance and have maximum expected
The Clean Water Act at “40” continued from page 5
18) The practice of approving broad Michigan, and the Huron River, generic template permits that then apply has much to gain with full Reminder: to whole classes of facilities is largely implementation of the CWA. Yet the the result of our failure to invest in the CWA faces political pressures and 1. Take extra, old and unwanted necessary resources to make it possible court rulings that seek to narrow books, CDs, and DVDs to HRWC to properly approve individual permits its vision. This year, give back to 2. Feel good about a cleaner for those facilities. These general permits the act that protects your drinking home with less clutter, while simply do not protect our water resources water and favorite bathing beach raising funds for HRWC as well as individual permits. by learning about these challenges and how to speak up for the 3. Tell friends and neighbors 19) The CWA was a great piece of continuation and strengthening of about Books by Chance legislation when it was passed in 1972, but the CWA. Bring your goods to HRWC this law in its current form will not enable — compiled by Elizabeth Riggs between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM us to achieve the physical and biological weekdays. Books by Chance will integrity goals that produce truly healthy sell them over the internet and waterways. Todd’s blog “Forty Thoughts for Forty donate the proceeds to HRWC. Years – The Clean Water Act Four Books that sell very well are non- 20) It is time to consider amending the Decades Later” originally appeared on fiction, scholarly, technical, current CWA again to bring it into the 21st century. Jan. 26, 2012 at www.rivernetwork.org; search for “40”. medical and science, quilting/sew- — Todd Ambs ing, engineering, law, political, very President, River Network More reading: Weakening the Clean current fiction, and textbooks. Water Act: What it means for Michigan; www.nwf.org /Wildlife/Policy/Clean- Thanks! Water-Act/In-Your-State.aspx
Page 6 Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 A Dam Nation continued from previous page
Hydropower no longer viable 3. Costs of Repair, Maintenance Though hydropower has provided an and Removal - dams facing large alternative to fossil fuels for the state maintenance and repair costs are more in the past, hydropower from low-head worthy to consider for removal if the dams (the type of dam most common removal will save money in the long- in Michigan) is no longer economically term. Dam removal will be cheaper for viable, and should not be considered small dams with small impoundments. “clean” energy given the negative impacts dams have on stream ecosystems. While Dams that score high in public support and 114 of Michigan’s dams generate electricity, environmental benefits and low in removal they provide a mere 1.5% of the state’s cost are dams worth further investigation. energy; just ten of those dams generate over half of that hydropower. This is due HRWC’s next steps HRWC is contacting owners of dams in the to Michigan’s relatively small and flat The Mill Pond Dam in Brighton creates a watershed in order to get more detailed rivers. Since the 1960s, Consumers Energy weedy impoundment on South Ore Creek. and updated information. HRWC is also and Detroit Edison have been retiring photo: HRWC hydropower dams. conducting a desktop analysis using aerial in the greatest ecological benefit to the maps to find undocumented dams and to river. HRWC’s dam prioritization tool add them to the list for evaluation. HRWC’s goals regarding dams are three- HRWC based the tool on data from fold. First, HRWC desires to remove Finally, HRWC will continue to use the the State of Michigan, as well as data unwanted and environmentally-unfriendly prioritization tool to determine which generated from digital mapping software. dams from the Huron River and its dams have high public support and low The tool uses this data to provide a tributaries. Second, for dams that remain cost for removal, and where removal quick and easy “first cut” assessment. For in place on the river, HRWC wants them would produce a noticeable ecological example, HRWC used the tool to glean a to be safe for the public through regular, benefit. HRWC will be working with the list of 10 dams from the total of 101 that proper maintainence. Third, HRWC wants owners of these dams to determine are likely the most ecologically important to work with dam owners to improve the interest in dam removal or better methods and most feasible to remove. HRWC will management of dams in order to minimize for dam management. further investigate this more manageable their impact on the river. list, saving considerable effort, time, and — Paul Steen and Josh Miller resources by focusing on high priority potential targets. Sources: MDNR, History of Michigan’s Dams, The tool measures three characteristics of www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153- dams: 10364_52259_27415-80296--,00.html. 1. Public Support – when stakeholders MDNR, Dam Removal, are interested in seeing a dam www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153- removed, the entire process is much 10364_52259_27415-80303--,00.html. easier and cheaper to accomplish. People are more likely to support the removal of a dam that no longer The Village of Dexter removed a dam in Mill Creek in 2008. Today, the free-flowing river is fulfills its intended function (like the centerpiece of a downtown revitalization electricity generation), a dam that project. photo: HRWC produces a weedy and undesirable pond, or a dam that would cause a high amount of property and In regards to HRWC’s first goal, there are environmental damage upon many dams whose removal would benefit structural failure. the river ecosystem. However, there 2. Environmental Benefits – dam are limited funds for dam removal, and removal will be most beneficial on deciding how to best use these funds is an streams that hold rare species, that important decision. HRWC has developed have a potentially high gradient and a prioritization tool to determine which wide range of habitat types, and dams are most economically and socially whose removal would reconnect long feasible to remove and would also result stretches of free-flowing water.
Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 Page 7 Staff Updates New staff, new position, and an anniversary
HRWC Staff: (back, left to right) Ric, Pam, Jason and Paul; (front, left to right) Laura, Jen, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Margaret and Kris. photo: H. Buffman
HRWC welcomes Rebecca Esselman to the staff (learn more about Rebecca on the next page); Elizabeth Riggs is HRWC’s new Deputy Director; and Kris Olsson just celebrated 20 years on staff with HRWC. Congratulations to all!
HRWC BOARD OF DIRECTORS HRWC STAFF (734) 769-5123
CITY OF ANN ARBOR HURON TOWNSHIP SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP Rebecca Esselman x 611 Watershed Planner Dick Norton (Exec. Comm.) Deeda Stanczak John Langs (Exec. Comm.) [email protected] Eunice Burns (Exec. Comm.) Robert Stanczak (alternate) VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP Jennifer Fike x 604 Craig Hupy (Treasurer) LIVINGSTON COUNTY Dave Wilson Finance Manager Evan Pratt (Chair) Matt Bolang WALLED LAKE [email protected] Molly Wade (alternate) Scott Barb Lisa McGill Jason Frenzel x 600 Cheryl Darnton (alternate) VILLAGE OF MILFORD WASHTENAW COUNTY Stewardship Coordinator Mark Irish Janis Bobrin (Exec. Comm.) ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP [email protected] Diane O’Connell (Exec. Comm.) MILFORD TOWNSHIP Scott Munzel Pam Labadie x 602 VILLAGE OF BARTON HILLS Mary Bajcz Steve Francoeur (alternate) Marketing Director Cheryl Mackrell NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP WAYNE COUNTY [email protected] CITY OF BELLEVILLE Sue Shink vacant Ric Lawson x 609 vacant OAKLAND COUNTY WEBSTER TOWNSHIP Watershed Planner CITY OF BRIGHTON Chris Benedict (Exec. Comm.) vacant [email protected] vacant VILLAGE OF PINCKNEY W. BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP Kris Olsson x 607 Barry White Gene Farber CITY OF CHELSEA Watershed Ecologist Steven Wright PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP [email protected] COMMERCE TOWNSHIP vacant Kathy Aseltyne Elizabeth Riggs x 608 Peter Schappach PUTNAM TOWNSHIP CITY OF WIXOM Deputy Director DEXTER TOWNSHIP vacant Michael Howell [email protected] Barry Lonik CITY OF ROCKWOOD VILLAGE OF WOLVERINE LAKE Laura Rubin x 606 Kathryn Bowring (alternate) vacant vacant Executive Director VILLAGE OF DEXTER SALEM TOWNSHIP CITY OF YPSILANTI [email protected] Paul Cousins (Vice Chair) vacant Sally Lusk Margaret M. Smith x 605 CITY OF FLAT ROCK SCIO TOWNSHIP Lisa Wozniak Director of Development Jim Martin Gerry Kangas YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP [email protected] Norm Andresen GENOA TOWNSHIP Erik Petrovskis (alternate) Paul Steen x 601 vacant VILLAGE OF SOUTH Watershed Ecologist GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP ROCKWOOD [email protected] Fred Hanert Matthew LaFleur Debi Weiker Watershed Program Associate [email protected]
Page 8 Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 Staff Updates Laura’s Stream of Consciousness An update on HRWC projects and activities
The Huron River had its first in-stream 3. Many of the white water structures whitewater structure proposal this past include “low head” dams and have summer for the section of the river below similar effects of any low head dam Argo Dam. The City of Ann Arbor proposes (see related article on page 6). These to install two whitewater structures. dams interfere with sediment transport While we want to encourage the diverse by creating sediment deposition zones in the pools between structures, which use of the river, and while this stretch of in turn may eliminate preferred fish the river is already grossly impacted by habitat, interfere with downstream Argo Dam, we also feel it’s important to drifting of macroinvertebrates, and point out the potential negative impacts lower dissolved oxygen concentrations. of this whitewater structure and – even Whitewater pools may also interfere more so – of future whitewater structure with the transport of small and large photo: H. Buffman installations. Whitewater structures, like organic materials. Organic material I am pleased to welcome a new all man-made in-stream structures, have transport plays a crucial role in stream watershed planner to HRWC. the potential to negatively impact stream health, from fallen leaves that are food for macroinvertebrates to large Rebecca Esselman joined us hydrology and hydraulics, sediment in June. Rebecca comes to us transport, channel morphology (shape), woody debris that provides sediment retention in stream channels and cover from the Nature Conservancy and stream ecology (collectively known as as a conservation scientist and for fish. “stream function”). brings 10 years of experience 4. Whitewater structures can create with the Conservancy. She holds Whitewater structures are new to passage barriers or stranding hazards an M.S. in Ecology from the Michigan, and we are concerned about for fish and other aquatic organisms University of Georgia and a B.S. in Environmental Biology from their impacts on rivers while balancing due to a combination of high water Michigan State University. Rebecca recreational interests. These features velocities, inadequate water depths, high vertical drops, turbulence, and is a skilled researcher, facilitator, commonly use artificial rock or wood and communicator on conservation lack of space for resting cover. The structures to augment natural whitewater knowledge. She lives outside of measured velocities over current white features (steep, fast-flowing stream Dexter with her husband and young water structures are greater than the reaches, usually with rocky substrates) daughter. Please stop in to meet her known velocity capabilities of most if you are in the office, or introduce or to create new ones. Two whitewater of the native fish species present in yourself at an HRWC event. structures have recently opened in Michigan rivers. Michigan; in the Bear River in Petoskey and in the Argo Dam mill race on the Huron 5. Porous streambeds and banks found River in Ann Arbor. Proposals for several in natural rivers are critical habitat water quality by removing excess others are being considered around the for fish and macroinvertebrates. nutrients, preventing sedimentation state. The whitewater structures noted Additionally, this habitat functions to from bank erosion, and lowering water above, like many installed in other states, exchange water between the ground temperature. Whitewater structures consist of channel-spanning, boulder-drop and river, assist in nutrient and carbon also increase the amount of rock in the assimilation, and moderate river structures that increase water velocity in stream or riparian corridor, which can temperatures. Grouted whitewater increase water temperatures. short reaches by significantly reducing the structures are nonporous and block the channel width and increasing the channel interplay between the river, land, and HRWC is awaiting MDEQ’s decision slope to vertical or near-vertical. groundwater. this fall on whether to issue the permit and to determine if these whitewater HRWC concerns fall into a few categories: 6. The social impact of whitewater structures is also an issue, in that structures are consistent with the state 1. Whitewater structures can potentially modification of a channel to maximize and federal laws protecting use, habitat, impact stream hydrology and whitewater recreation precludes other and water quality. Concerns include how hydraulics in several ways. Low-flow recreational uses. a precedence allowing this structure dams/weirs incorporated into certain would set and how the MDEQ/MDNR will white water structures reduce channel 7. Whitewater structures may include handle future requests on Michigan rivers width by up to 90 percent, creating large rocks, benches, terraces, or given current laws. water flows that are too intense for fish viewing platforms, which displaces and other wildlife to swim upstream, riparian vegetation. Riparian vegetation — Laura Rubin contributes to the health of the river and potentially increasing shear stress References: by providing shade, bank stabilization, on downstream beds and banks. Michigan Stream Team White Paper, large woody debris, and habitat 2. These narrow weirs can create stagnant for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Whitewater Parks, Draft-5/6/12. pools that strand aquatic organisms Riparian vegetation also improves and raise water temperature.
Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 Page 9 Summer Interns of 2012 HRWC appreciates the contributions of eight interns
Jon Doubek, M.S. Candidate in Conservation Biology at University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment (UM’s SNRE), completed his second season as a water quality intern at HRWC. He collected biweekly water samples and flow measurements in Livingston and Washtenaw counties, set-up and analyzed storm samples, and coordinated with HRWC volunteers on the water quality monitoring project. Jon notes that he “loves the Huron River watershed because HRWC summer interns, like Lindsay Hanna pictured above conducting a wetland it is a very diverse watershed ecologically assessment, proved to be outstanding in their fields! photo: M. Smith – lots of surrounding wilderness, farmland, and urban areas – and a huge river system record the condition of natural areas only helped her better understand that possesses a rich history. It is great within the watershed. differences and similarities with home, to be an intern with HRWC where one is but also demonstrated collaboration able to proportion their time between the Jenna Hetherington is a senior at UM, and community support for clean water office work and being outdoors, immersed studying environmental science and and responsible stewardship. in rich ecosystems.” specializing in environmental health. She helped HRWC assess the quality Josh Miller is a graduate student in Lindsay Hanna is a graduate student at of possible Adopt-a-Stream sites as Environmental Policy and Planning at UM’s SNRE, and this summer’s Bioreserve well as find undocumented dams in the UM. He worked this spring and summer Project intern. She scheduled, coordinated watershed. with Ric Lawson on the water quality and performed field assessments to help monitoring program and Honey Creek Nick LaVigne is majoring project, as well as the green infrastructure in Environmental Studies planning project in Washtenaw County. at Schoolcraft College. With HRWC, he worked Emily Provonsha planned logistics for with Debi Weiker and facilitated recreational events this Bids doing water quality summer. She is pursuing a masters of urban on the monitoring. He loves planning at UM. One of the driving forces the Huron River because for her to become an urban planner is of its diverse scenery, activating the public to interact with the River ecosystems and wildlife; natural environment so that she can help “I like doing my part to better plan our cities according to natural help keep the Huron systems. She notes, “being the recreation River the cleanest urban coordinator for HRWC this summer is a river in Michigan.” great experience in working hands-on with the public in natural areas throughout the Online Auction Amanda McCarthy is watershed.” OPENS majoring in Science, Tuesday, November 13 Technology, and Society Rob Selesky is an Environmental Studies at Vassar College. student at Michigan State University who CLOSES Originally, she comes assisted with coordinating the water Monday, November 26 at 9 PM from a relatively water- quality monitoring program and Honey scarce area, and notes, Creek project. His career goals are in “it was very interesting natural resources management and policy. and rewarding to learn Rob says, “I am very excited to be getting about issues in the experience in this area by working to Huron River watershed.” protect the cleanest urban waterway in Working on projects Michigan: the Huron River.” like Failing Septics — compiled by Jason Frenzel www.hrwc.org Detection and Brew for the River not
Page 10 Fall 2012 Huron River Report Huron River Report Fall 2012 Raising Michigan’s Renewable Energy Standard to 25% by 2025 means: « Healther air and water for our families « Lower energy costs for consumers « More jobs for Michigan workers VOTE YES ON NOV. 6 Paid for with regulated funds by: Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs, P.O. Box 873, East Lansing, MI 48826
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Thanks to Our Volunteers! Protecting the Huron is a big job and we would be lost without the donations of time, talents, and resources from our dedicated volunteers. We extend Special Thanks to:
Marc Akemann, Matt Bolang, and Polina Gouskova for helping us look Mike Mouradian, Ann Arbor Trout Barry White for keeping us grounded at our Adopt-a-Stream data in new Unlimited and Colton Bay for great fly in 30 mph winds and for talking up the and fun ways. fishing instruction to over 43 people. Huron River at Pinckney’s Art in the Park. Dick Chase, Bruce Artz, Joan Martin, Donna Snyder, Michigan Sailing Club, Chatura Vaidya, Pranav Yajnik, Peggy Washtenaw Marine Sheriff, Suzanne Van Korinne Wotell and Dave Wilson for Liggit, Brett Harris, Dave and Sharon Appledorn, Melinda Colquitt, and the their excellent outreach efforts at the Brooks for scouting out streams safety paddlers for making the Baseline Ann Arbor Mayor’s Green Fair. this summer and giving wonderful Lake swim so much fun. feedback on the program. Shirley Axon, Julia Henshaw, Keely Bob Hospadaruk and the Michigan Kaleski, Jackie Richards, Jana Smith, Mike “Schultzy” Schultz for creating Geocachers for hosting geocache Gayle Thomas and Irwin Weingarten the Single Fly Tournament and making adventures and instruction on Huron for teaching the public how Saving it all happen, and Maggie Long and River Day. Water Saves Energy at Mission Zero Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor for raising Fest. much needed funding for RiverUp!, Ron Sell, Barry Lonik, Gerry Neumeier and Mike Mitchell of Staffan Mitchell and Bob Jack for their help with the Korinne and Joe Wotell for taking Funeral for the tee-shirts. summer paddle trips, and Al Heavner for in over 70 pledges to save water and the ice cream. energy at HRWC’s Huron River Day booth.