Gerald R. Ford International Airport Storm Water De-Icing Management Project
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Volume 24, No. 4 | Winter 2015 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONERS GERALD R. FORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT STORM WATER DE-ICING MANAGEMENT PROJECT PLUS+ WINTER CONFERENCE PREVIEW – GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT Replace Your Divots NTH helps restore dump site to pristine park land BEFORE AFTER NTH Consultants, Ltd. Infrastructure Engineering and Environmental Services (800) 736-6842 www.nthconsultants.com BAY CITY (Main Office) CLARKSTON GRAND RAPIDS LANSING TOLEDO 2 | VOL 24, NO. 4 | WINTER 2015 Fourth Quarter 2015 | Volume 24, No. 4 | www.macdc.net CONTENTS Michigan Association of 4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE County Drain Commissioners 6 SECTION 196A - OBSTRUCTION Executive Board Members REMOVAL Roger Zilke, President Berrien County 12 MACDC WELCOMES NEW DRAIN 269.983.7111 ext. 8261 [email protected] COMMISSIONERS Brian Denman, First Vice-President Gratiot County 989.875.5207 [email protected] 14 MICHIGAN PIPELINE SAFETY David Thompson, Second Vice-President Monroe County 734.240.3101 [email protected] ADVISORY BOARD WILL HELP PROTECT GREAT LAKES, NATURAL Jackie Fitzgerald, Secretary Mecosta County 231.592.0103 [email protected] RESOURCES Robert J. Mantey, Treasurer Tuscola County 989.672.3820 [email protected] 16 PIPELINES HOPE GOP OR COURTS Douglas D. Enos, Immediate Past President Midland County FIX NEW WETLANDS RULE 989.832.6772 [email protected] Joe Bush, Legislative Committee Chair Ottawa County 18 GERALD R. FORD INTERNATIONAL 616.994.4530 [email protected] AIRPORT COMPLETES $20 Phil Hanses, Northwest District Chair Clinton County MILLION STORM WATER DE-ICING 989.224.5160 [email protected] MANAGEMENT PROJECT Cameron Cavitt, Northern District Chair Cheboygan County 231.627.8493 [email protected] 22 MACDC 117TH ANNUAL WINTER John Pekkala, Upper Peninsula District Chair Houghton County 906.482.4491 [email protected] CONFERENCE PREVIEW Greg Alexander, Northeast District Chair Sanilac County 810.648.4900 [email protected] 24 LONGITUDINAL PEAK STONE TOE PROTECTION: REPAIR AND PREVENT Evan Pratt, Southeast District Chair Washtenaw County 734.222.6860 [email protected] BANK EROSION Mike Hard, Southwest District Chair Branch County 517.279.4310 [email protected] 28 ASSOCIATE MEMBER NEWS Michael Gregg, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 30 IONIA COUNTY DRAIN 517.373.9802 [email protected] COMMISSIONER JOHN M. BUSH RETIRES is published four times a year. It is funded by the Mich igan Association of County Drain Commissioners, 32 CALENDAR OF EVENTS and with advertising revenues. The Michigan Asso cia tion of County Drain Commis sioners is a non profit, statewide 35 THANK YOU ADVERTISERS association. EDITOR GCSI Association Services COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Michelle LaRose, Chair Jim Nash Linda Brown Evan Pratt Cameron Cavitt Steve Roznowski Mike Gregg Claire Schwartz Stacy Hissong No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher and the MACDC. All articles submitted will be CONTACT FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION considered for publication and accepted at the approval of the 120 N. Washington Sq., Suite 110A, Lansing, MI 48933 editor and the Committee. The editor reserves the Phone: 517.484.9761, Fax: 517.371.1170 right to edit submissions for accuracy, clarity and length. | MACDC.NET | 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ROGER H. ZILKE Berrien County Drain Commissioner Hello Friends… On the home front, the Winter Conference is set now. Programs and speakers are in place and I look It seems a little off that at the end of the year, forward to seeing you all at the Grand Traverse >before an election for Drain Commissioners Resort in February. Please get your registrations and Water Resource Commissioners, that my in at your earliest opportunity. And thanks to all message starts by welcoming even more newly committee members for your time and effort. appointed commissioners. Speaking of Winter Conference, we re-welcome Welcome to Jennifer Escott of Lenawee; Robert GCSIAS as Conference Coordinators. Their firm Rose of Ionia; and Rex Wolfsen over in Roscommon. was chosen out of the four firms that submitted All of you pick up the reins of some “long serving” proposals in response to the RFP. Our Association public servants, with outstanding careers. You may has already enjoyed a renewed vigor and need a little tissue in those shoes for a while, but enthusiasm on their part. I can personally say the shoes will fit better every week! we (board members) are experiencing improved communication and information sharing that “The fight is on”, I think? The EPA’s release of the heretofore, was somewhat sporadic. “Waters of the US” has prompted lawsuits, by last count, from thirteen states and at least one state In closing, let me wish you all (in whatever faith farm bureau (our own) that are challenging the you choose) a very Merry Christmas and a most new rules. In at least some of the states, temporary prosperous New Year! injunctions have been issued to prevent the EPA from implementing the “rules”. Stay tuned on this! See you in Traverse City! MACDC Annual Winter Conference February 10 - 12, 2016 Grand Traverse Resort Acme, Michigan Conference Preview - pg. 22 4 | VOL 24, NO. 4 | WINTER 2015 Serving the Government ® Market in: ARCHITECTS. ENGINEERS. PLANNERS. • Engineering • Surveying • Master Planning • GIS Leaders rely on OHM Advisors’ proven public • Drafting and private sector expertise and forward thinking to create thriving places for people. • Environmental For more information: Arne Larsen, P.E., Civil Engineering Group Mgr. 616-392-5938 OHM-Advisors.com twitter.com/OHMadvisors facebook.com/OHMadvisors HollandEngineering.com | MACDC.NET | 5 SECTION 196A – OBSTRUCTION REMOVAL n By: Steven K. Roznowski, Spicer Group, Inc. In January of 2015, a new section was located and any properties which must be added to Chapter 8 of the Drain Code. crossed to access the site. Lastly, the statute Section 196a provides a mechanism requires that a professional engineer certify >for Drain Commissioners to perform work to that the obstruction has caused or is causing remove obstructions on watercourses that have one of the following problems on an established not been established as county drains. The new county or intercounty drain: section outlines specific criteria that make an • Flooding or imminent risk of flooding obstruction eligible for removal. Upon passage • Increased erosion of Section 196a, the MACDC organized a • Channel instability committee to outline the process for undertaking • Reduction in capacity that may cause obstruction removal in non-county drains and to flooding make recommendations for best management • Other damage practices (BMPs) applicable to these projects. This committee included representatives from Figure 1 MDARD, MDEQ, MDNR, Trout Unlimited, drain offices, and various engineering, legal, and environmental consultants. The recommendations of this committee were presented this fall at each of the district meetings. OBSTRUCTIONS ELIGIBLE FOR REMOVAL The first aspect of the new law covered in these presentations was the list of specific requirements for obstruction removal. The law allows for the following types of obstructions to be removed on non-county drains: • Ice • Fallen trees • Logjams • Other debris Additionally, since there is no existing right-of-way, permission must be obtained from landowners on whose property the obstruction is 6 | VOL 24, NO. 4 | WINTER 2015 Figure 2 The committee stressed that the obstruction committee was careful to note this form only removal under Section 196a, though occurring certifies that an obstruction meets the criteria on a non-county drain, must be for the benefit outlined in the law. Completion of the form does to a county or intercounty drain. The committee not necessarily mean that an obstruction should presented an engineer’s certification form be removed. It is recommended that any drain (figure 1) that they had developed to comply with commissioner or drainage board contemplating the statute. This form, which must be signed an obstruction removal project carefully and sealed by a licensed professional engineer, consider the cost-benefit of such a project. is intended to provide documentation and This initial certification is only the first step in certify that the requirements of the statute have a lengthy process. The committee developed a been met, allowing for a particular obstruction flow chart (figure 2) to provide a convenient way to be removed. During their presentation, the of identifying the steps needed to complete a project. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Since the obstruction removal under Section 196a is on non- county drains, it is possible or even likely, that the watercourse’s main function is not drainage. Other uses could include anything from habitat and environmental enhancements to recreational activities. Therefore, it is important that these other uses be considered when defining a project. Woody material in drains is often an impediment to flow. | MACDC.NET | 7 OBSTRUCTION REMOVAL CONTINUED Removing too much woody debris from a waterway can eliminate habitats for fish and other macroinvertebrates. Generally, woody material in drains is thought of generally better to leave it in place. However, as an impediment to flow. However, it can also if wood accumulates to the point that excessive provide habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates, erosion or flooding is occurring, it represents a decrease erosive velocities, and provide other problem that should be addressed. benefits. Typically, the benefit versus detriment balance of woody material depends on the The primary BMP discussed during the quantity of wood in the channel. If high flows committee’s presentations was the “Clean and can easily pass around or through the woody Open Method.” Using this method, the middle material and it is not causing erosion, it is third of an obstruction is cut to allow for the The “Clean and Open Method” is considered a BMP for obstruction removal. 8 | VOL 24, NO. 4 | WINTER 2015 passage of water, with material embedded in MDEQ in advance of any project. This helps the channel and near the banks left in place.