Black River Watershed Management Plan MDEQ Tracking Codes 2002-0067 2005-0108 April 2005 Updated September 2009 Prepared by: Erin Fuller Black River Watershed Coordinator Van Buren Conservation District 1035 E. Michigan Avenue Paw Paw, MI 49079 (269) 657-4030 www.vanburencd.org i Table of Contents 1 Project Overview and Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1-1 2 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................................ 2-1 3 Watershed Description.................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Geographic Scope ....................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Topography ................................................................................................................................................. 3-4 3.3 Soils............................................................................................................................................................. 3-4 3.4 Ecosystem and Climate ............................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.5 Land Use and Land Cover........................................................................................................................... 3-9 3.6 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................................. 3-14 3.7 History of the Region ................................................................................................................................ 3-14 4 Natural Features of the Black River Watershed........................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Species in the Black River Watershed......................................................................................................... 4-1 4.3 Unique Natural Features.............................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.4 Biological Surveys ...................................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.5 Fishery......................................................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.6 Invasive Species .......................................................................................................................................... 4-3 4.7 National Wetlands Inventory....................................................................................................................... 4-3 4.8 Farmland ..................................................................................................................................................... 4-9 4.9 High Quality Natural Areas......................................................................................................................... 4-9 5 Community Profile .......................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Demographics.............................................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Government Officials.................................................................................................................................. 5-2 5.3 Planning and Zoning ................................................................................................................................... 5-2 6 Water Quality in the Black River Watershed ............................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Previous Studies .......................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Watershed Analysis..................................................................................................................................... 6-3 6.2.1 Aerial Photograph Review................................................................................................................. 6-3 6.2.2 Road-Stream Crossing Inventory....................................................................................................... 6-5 6.2.3 Canoe and Kayak Trips...................................................................................................................... 6-5 6.2.4 Bank Erosion Study ......................................................................................................................... 6-12 6.2.5 Impervious Surface Analysis ........................................................................................................... 6-12 6.2.6 Build-Out and Long-term Hydrologic Impact Analysis (L-THIA).................................................. 6-13 6.3 Watershed Inventory Sites of Concern...................................................................................................... 6-13 6.3.1 Road-Stream Crossing Sites of Concern.......................................................................................... 6-13 6.3.2 Streambank Erosion Sites of Concern .............................................................................................6-16 6.3.3 Agricultural Sites of Concern .......................................................................................................... 6-16 6.3.4 Residential and Municipal Sites of Concern.................................................................................... 6-16 6.4 Hydrology and Stream Morphology.......................................................................................................... 6-21 6.4.1 Hydrology Study.............................................................................................................................. 6-21 6.4.2 Stream Morphology Study............................................................................................................... 6-21 6.4.3 Channel Incision .............................................................................................................................. 6-22 6.5 Designated Uses ........................................................................................................................................ 6-22 6.6 Desired Uses and Stakeholder Concerns................................................................................................... 6-26 6.7 Sources and Causes of Pollution and Water Quality Impairments............................................................ 6-27 6.7.1 Sediment .......................................................................................................................................... 6-28 6.7.2 Nutrients .......................................................................................................................................... 6-29 6.7.3 Temperature..................................................................................................................................... 6-29 6.7.4 Bacteria/Pathogens........................................................................................................................... 6-30 6.7.5 Chemical Pollutants ......................................................................................................................... 6-30 6.7.6 Trash and Debris.............................................................................................................................. 6-30 Black River Watershed Management Plan – April 2005, updated September 2009 ii 6.8 Designated Uses, Threats, and Pollutants.................................................................................................. 6-31 7 Priority Areas................................................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.1 Priority Restoration Areas........................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Priority Preservation Areas ......................................................................................................................... 7-1 8 Implementation Strategies .............................................................................................................................. 8-1 8.1 Goals and Objectives for the Black River Watershed ................................................................................. 8-1 * Individual sites are identified by priority area in Appendix M....................................................................... 8-9 8.2 Recommendations for Implementation ..................................................................................................... 8-10 8.2.1 Recommendations for Priority Area 1 .............................................................................................8-10