Pine River-Van Etten Lake Watershed Management Plan

September 2008

Prepared by:

Huron Pines

501 Norway St. Grayling, Michigan 49738 (989) 348-9319

Funding provided by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Listing of Tables 5

Listing of Maps 7

Project Partners 9

Executive Summary 9

Chapter One: Getting to Know the Pine River-Van Etten Lake Watershed 1-1

I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PINE RIVER-VAN ETTEN LAKE WATERSHED 1-1 A. Geography 1-1 B. History of the Region 1-3 C. Demographics 1-3 D. Local Land Use Zoning and Planning 1-4 1. In General 1-4 2. Analysis of Local Planning and Zoning Efforts 1-6 E. Bedrock and Glacial History 1-11 F. Climate, Topography and Soils Associations 1-11 G. Groundwater Flow 1-13 H. LandUse/Land Cover 1-14 I. Wildlife Resources 1-17 J. Fisheries Resources 1-17 K. Hydrology 1-19 L. Dams 1-20 M. Water Chemistry 1-20 N. Recreation Resources 1-22

II. PREVIOUS STUDIES 1-22

III. DESIGNATED USES AND WATERSHED CONCERNS 1-24 A. Designated Uses 1-24 B. Watershed Concerns 1-27 C. Known and Suspected Pollutants 1-31 D. Sources of Pollutants 1-32 E. Desired Uses 1-34

Chapter Two: Critical Area 2-1

I. INTRODUCTION 2-1

Chapter Three: Nonpoint Source Inventories 3-1

I. INTRODUCTION 3-1 A. Nonpoint Source Pollution 3-1 B. Road/Stream Crossing Inventory 3-1 1. Introduction 3-1 2. Methods 3-1 3. Results 3-2 C. Streambank Erosion Inventory 3-2 1. Introduction 3-2 2. Methods 3-3 3. Results 3-3 D. Agricultural Inventory 3-4 1. Introduction 3-4 2. Methods 3-4 3. Results 3-6 E. Shoreline Development Inventory 3-7 1. Introduction 3-7 2. Methods 3-8 3. Results 3-8 F. Van Etten Lake Water Quality Study 3-9 1. Introduction 3-9 2. Methods 3-9 3. Results 3-10 G. Other Watershed Water Quality Information 3-13 1. Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program Monitoring 3-13 2. Volunteer E. coli Monitoring 3-14

Chapter Four: Nonpoint Source Pollutant Loading and Reductions 4-1

I. INTRODUCTION 4-1 A. Pollutant Loading 4-1 B. Critical Area Runoff and Pollutant Loading Based on Land Use Types 4-1 C. Septic System Effluent 4-3 D. Lawn Care Practices in the Riparian Zone 4-6 E. Road/Stream Crossing Pollutant Loading and Reduction Estimates 4-8 1. Inventory Sites 4-8 2. Road/Stream Crossing Pollutant Loading 4-8 3. Road/Stream Crossing Pollutant Load Reductions 4-9 F. Streambank Erosion Pollutant Loading and Reduction Estimates 4-11 1. Inventory Sites 4-11 2. Streambank Pollutant Loading 4-11 3. Streambank Pollutant Load Reductions 4-11 G. Agriculture Pollutant Loading and Reduction Estimates 4-13 1. Pollutant Loading 4-13 2. Load Reductions 4-13 H. Total Watershed Pollutant Loading and Reduction Estimates 4-15

Chapter Five: Goals and Objectives 5-1

I. INTRODUCTION 5-1 A. Implementation 5-1 B. Priority Method 5-1 C. Goals and Objectives 5-2 1. Project Goals 5-2 2. Objectives 5-2 D. Implementation Costs 5-22 E. Recommendations for Effectively Using Planning and Zoning Policies for Water Resource Protection 5-25 1. General Recommendations for Alcona County 5-25 2. Specific Notes for Individual Townships 5-26

Chapter Six: Information and Education Strategy 6-1

I. INTRODUCTION 6-1 A. In General 6-1 B. Summary of Outreach Activities 6-1 C. Community Education 6-2

Chapter Seven: Evaluation of Implementation Strategies 7-1 A. Evaluating the Success of the Watershed Planning Project 7-1 B. Monitoring Programs 7-1 1. Current Monitoring and Watershed Needs 7-1 2. Continuing Watershed Monitoring Efforts 7-3

References R-1

Attachment 1: Watershed Partnership Agreement a-1

Attachment 2: Typical Nonpoint Source Pollutants b-1

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms A-1

Appendix B: Road/Stream Crossing Inventory B-1

Appendix C: Streambank Erosion Inventory C-1

Appendix D: Agricultural Inventory D-1

Appendix E: Shoreline Development Inventory E-1

Appendix F: Central