MANISTEE RIVER MANGEMENT PLAN River Management Plan 12 January 2007 Thomas J. Rozich River Management Plan 12 January 2007 MANISTEE RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN Thomas J. Rozich Introduction This plan is a companion document to the Manistee River Assessment (Rozich 1998). The river assessment describes physical characteristics and biological communities of the Manistee River as well as unique resources found within the watershed. The purpose of the assessment is to: identify opportunities and problems related to the aquatic resources and fisheries within the watershed; provide a mechanism for public comment into fisheries management decisions; and serve as a reference document for those seeking information regarding the Manistee River. The Manistee River Assessment was drafted by Fisheries Division personnel, underwent a significant period of peer and public review and comment, and was completed in June 1998. The Manistee River Assessment is a comprehensive document with a long-term focus and is intended for use by others beyond Fisheries Division; it identifies options that include items not within the responsibility of Fisheries Division. The Manistee River Management Plan is intended as a document for use by Fisheries Division with the purpose of guiding the Division’s management actions within the watershed over the short term. It is intended that the actions identified as priorities, after being weighed against other Division priorities, will appear in annual work plans. This is a working document. Therefore it will receive an annual review and update for progress made and tasks completed. Prioritization of Actions The Management Options contained within the River Assessment are consistent with the mission of Fisheries Division, which is to protect and enhance public trust in populations and habitat of fishes and other forms of aquatic life, and promote optimum use of these resources for benefit of the people of Michigan. In particular, the Division seeks to: protect and maintain healthy aquatic environments and fish communities and rehabilitate those now degraded; provide diverse public fishing opportunities to maximize the value to anglers; and foster and contribute to public and scientific understanding of fish, fishing, and fishery management (Fisheries Division 2000). Selection of Management Actions from the Management Options list is also consistent with and is guided by the objectives found in the Fisheries Division Strategic Plan (Fisheries Division 2000). Both the Management Options in the Assessment and the selection of Management Actions in the Plan follow the recommendations of Dewberry (1992). Actions that protect and restore headwater streams, riparian areas, and floodplains are give priority because the reconnection of streams and floodplains is critical to the health of the entire river system. The river system is viewed as a whole, for many important elements of fish habitat are driven by whole-system processes. Actions to protect, preserve, and rehabilitate resources take precedence over actions to improve an area or resources above and beyond the original condition. A number of mitigating factors will alter strict adherence to this order of priorities. Examples of such factors are selection of actions which may: 1 Manistee River Management Plan 12, January 2007 Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources 1) result in very high benefit for relatively low expenditure of effort or cost; 2) leverage Fisheries Division’s resources by capitalizing on existing energy or opportunity within a specific community or segment of the watershed; 3) reflect significant outside interest or support; 4) provide the Division with an opportunity to participate in partnerships; 5) continue an ongoing project; 6) appear in another Fisheries Division plan (e.g., Lake Sturgeon Rehabilitation Strategy and Fishery Status Reports); 7) fulfill a legal requirement (e.g., FERC related actions); 8) involve public health concerns; or address concerns for threatened and endangered species. Selected Management Actions This list was developed from the Management Options section of the Manistee River Assessment. A copy of the Management Options section is attached as an appendix to this document. An individual action item may not address an entire Management Option, as many of the Options are wide in scope and long-term. Rather, an action item will accomplish a portion of a Management Option or take a short-term step towards accomplishing a long-term goal. For each selected Management Action, this Plan identifies the Management Option being addressed and gives a brief explanation of the factors considered in selecting this action as a priority. Each Action also includes a schedule for up to five years for the accomplishment of the action items. This schedule contains information required for completion of annual work plans. These Actions are listed in order of priority, with the highest priority listed first. Management Action 1 Proposed Action Review and comment on all plans that have the potential to affect or alter groundwater flows in the Manistee River watershed. Currently the Manistee River has very stable flows, ranking among the best in the country. Development that changes or affects the hydrologic cycle through land use changes, channelization, water withdrawal, dam construction, increasing the amount of impervious surface, etc., should be closely scrutinized. Management Option Category: Geology and Hydrology Option: Protect wetlands, floodplains, and sandy uplands that act as water retention areas for groundwater recharge from adverse activities. Option: Improve management of water in designated drains by working with drain commissioners on existing management. Reasons for Selection Groundwater and surface water inflows determine an aquatic community of a river. Maintaining natural discharge patterns is critical to maintaining healthy biological communities, and controlling pollution and erosion. In order to achieve this management objective, Fisheries Division should: 1) provide the Department of Environmental Quality expert advice and alternatives regarding Section 301 and 303 permit applications that could potentially degrade the Manistee River watershed hydrologic cycle; 2 Manistee River Management Plan 12, January 2007 Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2) provide expert advice to the Pine and Upper Manistee Natural rivers zoning review boards regarding requests for variances that could affect the hydrologic cycle; 3) collaborate with and support environmental or watershed groups such as the Conservation Resource Alliance, Huron Pines Resource Council & Development, Inc., Upper Manistee River Association, Pine River Association, and Trout Unlimited with their efforts to preserve the natural hydrological cycle; 4) when funding becomes available, hire a Watershed Specialist to assist Fisheries staff with DEQ application responses, Natural Rivers Zoning Board issues, collaboration with local environmental groups, and public relations. Schedule Year 2006–2010, inclusive Personnel days: Unit manager 3 days; three management biologists 3 days each Special needs: None Discretionary dollars: None Management Action 2 Proposed Action Review and comment on all Department of Environmental Quality permit applications to promote natural methods of bank stabilization, ensure wise development, and protect wetlands. Management Option Category: Geology and Hydrology Option: Protect wetlands, floodplains, and sandy uplands that act as water retention areas for groundwater recharge from adverse activities. Management Option Category: Biological Communities Option: Preserve and protect wetlands within the floodplain of the watershed, with no mitigation that would increase fragmentation of the floodplain. Reason for Selection To protect and maintain healthy aquatic environments and stable flows. In order to achieve this management objective, Fisheries Division should: 1) provide the Department of Environmental Quality expert advice and alternatives regarding Section 301 and 303 permit applications that could potentially degrade the Manistee River watershed hydrologic cycle; 2) when funding becomes available, hire a Watershed Specialist to assist fisheries staff with DEQ application responses, Natural Rivers Zoning Board issues, collaboration with local environmental groups and public relations. Schedule Year 2006–2010, inclusive Personnel days: Unit manager 3 days; three management biologists 15 days each 3 Manistee River Management Plan 12, January 2007 Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Management Action 3 Proposed Action Assist the City of Manton to obtain funding for an engineering feasibility study to put Cedar (Manton) Creek into a natural channel, create an off-line pond, and remove the old dam structure. In August 2000, the City of Manton council unanimously passed a resolution supporting this action. Management Option Category: Channel Morphology and Dams Barriers Option: Restore high gradient areas by removing hydroelectric (Tippy and Hodenpyl) and other dams, especially those no longer being used or serving little purpose (Manton Millpond, Copemish, and Goose Creek dams). Management Option Category: Biological Communities Option: Rehabilitate fragmented segments of the river system by removing dams and barriers. Reasons for Selection Restore degraded fish habitat and improve summer water temperatures for coldwater species below the dam. In order to achieve this management