Michigan Wetlands – Yours to Protect
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MICHIGAN WETLANDS – YOURS TO PROTECT A Citizen’s Guide to Wetland Protection third edition by Wilfred Cwikiel ©2003 Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council Cover photograph © John & Ann Mahan ISBN# 1-889313-08-4 The interpretations and conclusions presented in this publication represent the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily represent the views of the C.S. Mott Foundation, the SFC Charitable Foundation, the Frey Foundation, the Wege Foundation, the Offield Family Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the sponsors, the individuals who served as reviewers, or any of the organizations listed in the text or appendices of this document. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reserve a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use, and to authorize other entities to use, for governmental purposes, this document. The purpose of this document is to promote citizen involvement in wetland protection. If you would like to reproduce this book or portions of it for reasons consistent with this purpose, please contact the publisher: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council 426 Bay Street Petoskey, MI 49770 phone: (231) 347-1181 fax: (231) 347-5928 web address: www.watershedcouncil.org e-mail: [email protected] This book shall be cited as follows: Cwikiel, Wilfred. Michigan Wetlands – Yours to Protect: A Citizen’s Guide to Wetland Protection (Third Edition) 2003. Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Petoskey, MI 49770 Funding for this project was made possible by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (Federal Grant # CD995523-01-0), the C.S. Mott Foundation, SFC Charitable Foundation, Frey Foundation, Wege Foundation, Offield Family Foundation, and sponsorships by dozens of organizations involved in protecting Michigan’s wetlands. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................................................vi Organizational Sponsors...................................................................................................................................vii Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................viii A Letter from Governor Granholm................................................................................................................ix Chapter One - A Call to Action........................................................................................................................1 Wetland Protection Spotlight: Alan Puplis and the Wetlands Conservation Association.........5 Chapter Two - A Valuable Resource................................................................................................................7 What Are Wetlands? ................................................................................................................8 Why Are Wetlands Important? .............................................................................................12 Quantifying Wetland Values..................................................................................................18 Wetland Losses.......................................................................................................................19 Wetland Protection Spotlight: Assessing Mill Creek’s Wetlands..............................................21 Chapter Three - Identification and Delineation .....................................................................................23 A Short History of Wetland Delineation..............................................................................23 Environmental Indicators of Wetlands.................................................................................25 Hydrophytic Vegetation..................................................................................................26 Wetland Hydrology.........................................................................................................27 ii Hydric Soils.....................................................................................................................29 Exceptions .......................................................................................................................30 Disturbed Areas...............................................................................................................31 Offsite Wetland Delineation .................................................................................................31 Wetland Identification Resources..........................................................................................33 MDEQ’s Wetland Assessment Program...............................................................................36 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................38 Chapter Four - Activities that Impact Wetland Functions..................................................................39 Hydrologic Modifications .....................................................................................................40 Flooding ..........................................................................................................................40 Draining ..........................................................................................................................41 Land Use Changes .................................................................................................................42 Dredging..........................................................................................................................42 Filling...............................................................................................................................43 Vegetation Cutting..........................................................................................................44 Exotic Species Invasion ..................................................................................................45 Using Harmful Chemicals..............................................................................................46 Recreational Overuse......................................................................................................46 Conclusion......................................................................................................................46 Chapter Five - Promoting Wetland Stewardship.....................................................................................47 Management Practices to Protect Wetlands..........................................................................47 Nesting Boxes and Platforms .........................................................................................48 Establish and Maintain Buffers or Greenbelts ..............................................................49 Protect and Enhance Adjacent Upland Habitat............................................................49 Fencing ............................................................................................................................51 Control Stormwater Runoff ...........................................................................................52 Septic Systems.................................................................................................................52 Use Fertilizers and Pesticides Wisely .............................................................................53 Managing Recreation......................................................................................................53 Pet Control......................................................................................................................54 Beaver Management .......................................................................................................54 Control Shoreline Erosion with Alternative Methods .................................................56 Be Aware of Activities in the Watershed .......................................................................56 Control Exotic and Nuisance Species ...........................................................................56 Wetland Protection Spotlight: Living with Walloon’s Beavers – The Walloon Lake Association..............................................................................................59 Chapter Six - Citizen Involvement in Wetland Restoration...............................................................61 Definitions..............................................................................................................................63 Identifying Potentially Restorable Wetlands.........................................................................64 Planning Wetland Restoration Projects.................................................................................67 Function-Based Planning Considerations.............................................................................72 Wetland Restoration Assistance.............................................................................................76 iii Wetland Protection Spotlight: Michigan Wildlife Habitat Foundation ...................................79 Chapter Seven