THE BOARDMAN LAKE WATERSHED STUDY GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MICHIGAN December 2003 The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, Ball Environmental Associates and Great Lakes Environmental Center Funding provided by: Coastal Zone Management Act, administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Michigan Coastal Management Program, administered by the Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Science and Services Division and Cone Drive Operations, Inc. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...............................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION AND STUDY AREA ............................................................................6 PROJECT TASKS .........................................................................................................7 COMMERCIAL HISTORY IN THE WATERSHED ..............................................................8 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AND SIZE .............................................................................9 PROJECT GOALS.......................................................................................................11 PREVIOUS STUDIES ..................................................................................................12 BOARDMAN RIVER NATURAL RIVER PLAN .......................................12 BOARDMAN RIVER WATERSHED REPORT..........................................12 BOARDMAN RIVER RESTORATION AND PROTECTION PLAN...............13 MDEQ SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION SURVEY REPORT .......................13 GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER SEDIMENT REPORT...........15 GRAND TRAVERSE BAY WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN..........................................17 METHODS ........................................................................................................18 BOARDMAN LAKE WATERSHED BOUNDARY DELINEATION...............18 HISTORICAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY ................................................18 LAND USE SURVEY ..........................................................................19 HISTORIC WETLAND LOSS ................................................................21 IMPERVIOUS SURFACE ANALYSIS.....................................................21 AVIAN AND HERPETOLOGICAL SURVEYS .........................................23 AQUATIC MACROPHYTE ASSESSMENT..............................................24 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSESSMENT ................................25 SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT ........................................................26 RESULTS ........................................................................................................30 LAND USE SURVEY ..........................................................................30 HISTORIC WETLAND LOSS ................................................................30 IMPERVIOUS SURFACE ANALYSIS.....................................................30 AVIAN AND HERPETOLOGIAL SURVEYS............................................31 AQUATIC MACROPHYTTE ASSESSMENT............................................33 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSESSMENT ................................35 SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT ........................................................36 2 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................37 List of Tables TABLE 1 MDNR HERPTELOGICAL SURVEY RESULTS, BOARDMAN LAKE WATERSHED TABLE 2 AQUATIC PLANT SPECIES LIST TABLE 3 BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE SAMPLING RESULTS TABLE 4 SEDIMENT ANALYSIS RESULTS TABLE 5 MACROPHYTE AND MACROINVERTEBRATE, SITES 2-4 TABLE 6 NUTRIENT SAMPLING RESULTS TABLE 7 MICHIGAN 10 METALS SAMPLING RESULTS TABLE 8 SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT SAMPLING LOCATIONS/ANALYSIS PARAMETERS List of Figures FIGURE 1 BOARDMAN LAKE WATERSHED STUDY AREA MAP FIGURE 2 1961 AERIAL PHOTO MOSAIC FIGURE 3 2003 DIGITAL ORTHOPHOTO FIGURE 4 (A-B) SOUTH AIRPORT ROAD WETLAND LOSS ANALYSIS FIGURE 5 (A-B) IMPERVIOUS SURFACE ANALYSIS MAP FIGURE 6 AQUATIC MACROPHYTE AND BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE SAMPLING SITE LOCATIONS FIGURE 7 MACROPHYTE SURVEY SAMPLING SITE LOCATIONS FOR TRANSECTS 1-12 FIGURE 8 (A-D) SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT LOCATIONS List of Appendices APPENDIX A BOARDMAN LAKE WATERSHED LAND USE/LAND COVER MAP APPENDIX B BOARDMAN RIVER REPORTS BOARDMAN RIVER WATERSHED REPORT, SEPTEMBER 1991 BOARDMAN RIVER RESTORATION AND PROTECTION PROJECT, 1999 BOARDMAN RIVER NATURAL RIVER PLAN, 1976 AND 2002 3 MDEQ SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION SURVEY REPORT GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER SEDIMENT REPORT APPENDIX C ENVIRONMENTAL DATA RESOURCES, INC. RADIUS MAP REPORTS APPENDIX D MDEQ FOIA LETTER APPENDIX E BOARDMAN LAKE/RIVER AVIAN AND HERPETOLOGICAL SPECIES LISTS APPENDIX F BOARDMAN LAKE/RIVER GPS LOCATION DESCRIPTIONS APPENDIX G BOARDMAN LAKE/RIVER CONTAMINATION SITES MAP/DESCRIPTIONS APPENDIX H AQUATIC MACROPHYTE SURVEY DATA SUMMARY APPENDIX I BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE SURVEY DATA SUMMARY 4 Executive Summary The physical, biological, and built infrastructure resources of the Boardman Lake watershed were identified and evaluated for potential impacts to the long term water quality of Boardman Lake and the lower reaches of the Boardman River. This study is intended to complement previous and ongoing watershed management plans within the region. This study has found: • Twenty-nine (29) contamination sites existing within the watershed were determined to represent potential threats to Boardman Lake or Boardman River. • Impervious surfaces within the Boardman Lake watershed are currently over 2.5 times the threshold known to result in degraded water quality. • Nutrient loading, bacterial contamination, heavy metal concentrations, and/or thermal pollution were documented within six tributaries to Boardman River, at seven stormwater culverts along the Boardman River and within one location on Boardman Lake. • Aesthetic impact has occurred along the banks of Boardman Lake adjacent to the former Boot Lake Dump, and along the Boardman River at the former Keystone dump. • Nutrient and bacterial pollution exist at two storm water culverts within the City of Traverse City. • An area lacking life within the bottomland of Boardman Lake exists within an area east of the ends of Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets. • Two sediment contamination “hot spots” exist within Boardman River bottomlands. Finally, it is recommended that further investigation and remedial measures be considered and undertaken in accordance with these findings. It is recommended that: • Land use planning and regulation be encouraged to explore the application of “low impact development” storm water treatment techniques. 5 • Natural and biological resources of the watershed should be further monitored and understood to promote and protect the regions economy. • Education efforts should promote the essential link between land use and water quality protection and improvement Introduction and Study Area Located in northwest lower Michigan, the Grand Traverse Bay is one of premier tourist and outdoor recreation areas in the State of Michigan. From the crystal clear waters of Lake Michigan and scenic shoreline to the small town atmosphere of Traverse City and surrounding communities, residents of the region enjoy a high quality of life while attempting to balance growth and prosperity. As local units of government plan for development and the rehabilitation and increased recreational use of the shores of Boardman Lake, the Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay in association with Cone Drive/Textron Corporation and State of Michigan Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program within the Water Division (formerly Surface Water Quality Division), Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to plan for maintenance, improvement, and restoration of water quality and increased public use and enjoyment of Boardman Lake and River north of Boardman Lake. As Grand Traverse County grows, the continued protection to the area’s natural and biological resources is an important issue to be addressed. Following the construction of South Airport Road, the southern portion of Boardman Lake, the inlet of the Boardman River into Boardman Lake, and surrounding wetlands have been significantly altered, potentially negatively impacting water quality in this area. Historic industrial uses and current expansion of service and other industry along South Airport, Cass, Barlow, and Keystone Roads poses challenges for continued development as balanced with environmental protection. Boardman Lake exists within the political boundaries of the City of Traverse City and the Charter Township of Garfield (hereafter referred to as Garfield Township). Boardman River south to Sabin Dam, which is the southern most boundary for this study, exists 6 entirely within Garfield Township. Boardman Lake has a total area of 314 acres. As determined for this study, the Boardman Lake watershed consists of 4,594 acres or 16 square miles, making it the third largest subwatershed within the greater Grand Traverse Bay Watershed. Boardman River is the major tributary into the Boardman Lake, followed by Miller and Jack Creeks. Because of the nature of historic industry, commercial enterprises and agricultural lands in the greater Grand Traverse region, water quality of the Boardman Lake watershed will likely be influenced by cooperation of local municipalities through land use planning, and state and federal environmental programs, including development and cleanup activities. Project Tasks This Boardman Lake watershed