MUSKEGON LAKE WATERSHED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN NOVEMBER 2005 PROJECT NO. G01513WM FISHBECK, THOMPSON, CARR & HUBER, INC. Engineers ● Scientists ● Architects 1515 Arboretum Drive, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Telephone: 616-575-3824 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................5 The NPDES Phase II Storm Water Program ........................................................................................5 Development of the Muskegon Lake Watershed Management Plan....................................................6 Public Participation................................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 1 - DESCRIPTION OF WATERSHED........................................................................................9 1.0 Study Area .............................................................................................................................9 1.1 Geology and Topography ....................................................................................................10 1.2 Soils .....................................................................................................................................10 1.2.1 Hydrologic Soil Groups ..................................................................................................11 1.3 Hydrology.............................................................................................................................12 1.4 Population............................................................................................................................13 1.5 Land Use .............................................................................................................................13 1.6 Natural Features..................................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 2 - REPORTED CONDITION OF WATERSHED .....................................................................18 2.1 Biological and Sediment Contaminant Surveys ..................................................................18 2.1.1 Ruddiman Creek and Unnamed Tributary (West Branch) .............................................18 2.1.2 Ryerson Creek ...............................................................................................................19 2.1.3 Little Bear Creek and Unnamed Tributary .....................................................................19 2.1.4 Bear Lake.......................................................................................................................19 2.1.5 Muskegon Lake..............................................................................................................20 2.2 MDEQ Hydrologic Studies...................................................................................................20 2.2.1 Bear Creek Watershed...................................................................................................20 2.2.2 Ryerson Creek Watershed.............................................................................................21 2.3 Watershed Management Plans ...........................................................................................21 2.3.1 Bear Creek and Bear Lake Watershed ..........................................................................21 2.3.2 Muskegon River Watershed...........................................................................................22 2.4 Sediment Investigations ......................................................................................................23 2.4.1 Muskegon River, Four Mile, and Ryerson Creek...........................................................23 2.4.2 Ruddiman Creek ............................................................................................................24 2.4.3 Muskegon Lake..............................................................................................................25 2.5 Health Consultations............................................................................................................26 2.5.1 Ryerson Creek ...............................................................................................................26 2.5.2 Ruddiman Creek ............................................................................................................27 2.6 Community Action Plan .......................................................................................................27 2.7 Total Maximum Daily Load Reports ....................................................................................28 2.8 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II Storm Water Program Outfall Screening ............................................................................................................................................30 2.9 Superfund Sites on the National Priorities List ....................................................................31 CHAPTER 3 - DESIGNATED USES OF THE MUSKEGON LAKE WATERSHED....................................32 3.1 Designated Uses .................................................................................................................32 3.2 Impairments to Designated Uses ........................................................................................38 3.2.1 Point Source Pollution....................................................................................................38 3.2.2 Nonpoint Source Pollution..............................................................................................39 3.2.3 Prioritization of Pollutants...............................................................................................45 3.2.4 Sources and Causes of Impairments.............................................................................46 CHAPTER 4 - GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................54 6/4/2007 i Z:\SURFACE WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT\NPS\WATERSHED_PLANS\ELECTRONIC_PLANS\MUSKEGON RIVER\STORM WATER PLAN\MUSKEGON_WMP_NARRATIVE3_FINAL.DOC TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 5 - IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ........................................................................................60 5.1 Best Management Practice Recommendations ..................................................................60 5.2 Cost/Benefit of and Commitments to Implementing Best Management Practices..............61 5.3 Methods of Evaluation .........................................................................................................61 CHAPTER 6 - SUSTAINABILITY................................................................................................................71 6.1 Muskegon Area Storm Water Committee............................................................................71 6.2 Muskegon Lake Public Advisory Committee .......................................................................71 6.3 Muskegon River Watershed Assembly................................................................................72 BIBLIOGRAPHY .........................................................................................................................................73 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Participating Watershed Stakeholder Groups..................................................................7 Table 2 E-mail Distribution List .....................................................................................................8 Table 3 Communities Located in the Muskegon Lake Watershed ...............................................9 Table 4 Threatened, Endangered, and Species of Special Concern in Muskegon County .......14 Table 5 High Quality Natural Communities in Muskegon County...............................................17 Table 6 Beneficial Use Impairments of Muskegon Lake.............................................................27 Table 7 Designated Uses for Surface Waters in the State Of Michigan.....................................32 Table 8 Met, Impaired, or Threatened Designated Uses of the Muskegon Lake Watershed.....33 Table 9 Pollutants of the Muskegon Lake Watershed ................................................................40 Table 10 Pollutant Prioritization for Muskegon Lake ....................................................................44 Table 11 Pollutant Prioritization for Muskegon Lake’s Tributaries................................................44 Table 12 Sources and Causes of Pollutants Impacting Designated Uses ...................................46 Table 13 Goals and Objectives of the Muskegon Lake Watershed..............................................53 Table 14 Implementation Activities ...............................................................................................61 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Study Area Figure 2 Quaternary Geology Figure 3 Topographic Relief Figure 4 Topographic Slope Figure 5 Soils Series Groups Figure 6 Prime Farmland Figure 7 Hydrologic Soil Figure 8 Population Density Figure 9 Population Change Figure 10 Presettlement Vegetation Figure 11 Land Cover 6/4/2007 ii Z:\SURFACE WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT\NPS\WATERSHED_PLANS\ELECTRONIC_PLANS\MUSKEGON RIVER\STORM