Discovery Report
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Discovery Report Muskegon Watershed, Michigan HUC 04060102 Clare, Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Osceola, Roscommon, and Wexford Counties. December 2017 Project Area Community List Alphabetical Listing Community Name Community Name Community Name Community Name Township of Aetna, Mecosta Co. Township of Aetna, Missaukee Co. Township of Ashland Township of Austin Township of Backus Township of Barton Township of Bear Lake Township of Beaver Creek Township of Big Prairie Township of Big Rapids City of Big Rapids Township of Blue Lake Township of Boon Township of Bridgeton Township of Brooks Township of Butterfield City of Cadillac Township of Caldwell Township of Cato Township of Cedar Township of Cedar Creek, Muskegon Co. Township of Cedar Creek, Wexford Co. Township of Chase Township of Cherry Grove Township of Chippewa Township of Clam Lake Township of Clam Union Township of Colfax Township of Colfax Township of Croton Township of Dalton Township of Dayton Township of Deerfield Township of Denton Township of Egelston Township of Ellsworth Township of Ensley Township of Enterprise City of Evart Township of Evart Township of Everett Township of Forest Township of Franklin Village of Freeman City of Fremont Township of Frost Township of Fruitland Township of Garfield, Clare Co. Township of Garfield, Kalkaska Co. Township of Garfield, Newaygo Co. Township of Gerrish Township of Goodwell Township of Grant, Mecosta Co. City of Grant Township of Grant, Newaygo Co. Township of Green Township of Greenwood Township of Haring City of Harrison Township of Hartwick Township of Hatton Township of Hayes Township of Henderson Village of Hersey Township of Hersey Township of Higgins Township of Highland Township of Hinton Township of Holland Township of Holton Village of Howard City Township of Lake, Missaukee Co. Township of Lake, Roscommon Co. City of Lake City Township of Laketon Village of Lakeview Township of Le Roy Township of Lincoln, Clare Co. Township of Lincoln, Osceola Co. Township of Lyon Township of Maple Valley Village of Marion Township of Marion Township of Markey Township of Martiny City of Mcbain Village of Mecosta Township of Mecosta Township of Middle Branch Township of Millbrook Township of Moorland Village of Morley Township of Morton City of Muskegon Township of Muskegon City of Muskegon Heights Township of Nester City of Newaygo City of North Muskegon City of Norton Shores Township of Norwich, Missaukee Co. Township of Norwich, Newaygo Co. Township of Orient Township of Osceola Village of Pierson Township of Pierson Township of Pine Township of Pinora Township of Pioneer Township of Redding City of Reed City Township of Reeder Township of Reynolds Township of Richfield Township of Richland Township of Rose Lake Township of Riverside City of Roosevelt Park Township of Roscommon Township of Selma Township of Sheridan, Mecosta Co. Township of Sheridan, Newaygo Co. Township of Sherman, Newaygo Co. Township of Sherman, Osceola Co. Village of Stanwood Township of Summerfield Township of Surrey Township of Sylvan Township of West Branch Township of Wheatland Township of Wilcox Township of Winfield Township of Winterfield Muskegon Watershed Discovery Report i Table of Contents I. General Information .............................................................................................................. 1 II. The Discovery Process ........................................................................................................ 10 III. Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 11 IV. Flood Study Needs, Levees, and Other Study Information ................................................ 13 V. Mitigation Needs and Mitigation Planning ......................................................................... 24 VI. Compliance, Training, Communication, and Outreach ...................................................... 28 VII. Appendices and Tables ....................................................................................................... 30 List of Tables Table 1. FIS Effective Dates ............................................................................................................ 2 Table 2. CNMS Values .................................................................................................................... 3 Table 3. Significant Flooding in the Muskegon Watershed (1975–2017, based on FEMA disaster declarations, updated 6/1/17) ............................................................................................................ 3 Table 4. NFIP Participation Status ................................................................................................... 5 Table 5. CAV/CAC .......................................................................................................................... 7 Table 6. MHMPs: Status and Availability ....................................................................................... 8 Table 7. Community Rating System ................................................................................................ 9 Table 8. Discovery Data able ......................................................................................................... 11 Table 9. Available Risk MAP Project Data .................................................................................... 12 Table 10. Flood Study Needs Table ............................................................................................... 13 Table 11. USGS Stream Gages ...................................................................................................... 17 Table 12 Mitigation Needs by Community .................................................................................... 20 Table 13. Mitigation Needs and Assistance ................................................................................... 26 List of Figures Figure 1. Discovery Meeting Map .................................................................................................. 19 List of Appendices Appendix A - Community Profiles ................................................................................................. 31 Appendix B - Watershed Discovery Contact Information ........................................................... 139 Appendix C – Post-Meeting Maps ............................................................................................... 150 Appendix D – Engagement Packets ............................................................................................. 160 ii Muskegon Watershed Discovery Report I. General Information The Muskegon Watershed is located in north-central Michigan and has a drainage area of approximately 2,738 square miles, making it one of the largest in the state. There are 12 counties and 133 communities within the Muskegon Watershed. Of these counties, substantial portions of Roscommon, Missaukee, Clare, Osceola, Mecosta, Newaygo, and Muskegon Counties fall within the watershed, as well as smaller portions of Kalkaska, Crawford, Wexford, Lake, and Montcalm Counties. Houghton Lake in Roscommon County is the northernmost source of the Muskegon River. The lake is a popular boating and fishing location, and it supports the communities of Prudenville and Houghton Lake. Flowing southwest, the Muskegon River runs approximately 216 miles and drains into Lake Michigan. Over the course of the river, elevation drops by 575 feet between its source and its mouth. There are numerous small tributaries that feed into the Muskegon River along its length, including Butterfield Creek, Winters Creek, Paris Creek, and Cranberry Creek. Clam River, Middle Branch River, and the Hersey River also intersect with the Muskegon River. The southwestern portion of the watershed, where the river connects to Lake Michigan, is the most densely populated urban area within the watershed. The cities of Muskegon, North Muskegon, Norton Shores, and Roosevelt Park make up a large part of this density. Muskegon County is the most populated of the counties in the watershed with an estimated 2016 population of 173,408. Other major urban centers are Cadillac, Big Rapids, and Reed City. As of 2014, the largest industry in the watershed is manufacturing, making up 17.6 percent of the total job market according to Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics of the US Census Bureau. The next highest markets are Health Care and Social Assistance at 15.0 percent, and Retail Trade at 14.4 percent. There are an estimated 64,226 jobs within the watershed’s boundaries. Land use in the watershed is split evenly between agriculture and forests. One of these forests is Roscommon State Park, found within Roscommon County, which is a common area for recreation. The more densely populated, southern portion of the watershed is relatively urban. Organizations have formed to advocate for water safety and preservation throughout Michigan. The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA) was formed by a group of volunteers in 1998 and was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2000. According to its website, the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly is dedicated to the preservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of the Muskegon River, the land it drains, and the life it supports, through educational, scientific and conservation initiatives. Muskegon Watershed Discovery Report 1 Regulatory Mapping The majority of the Muskegon Watershed