aquatic connectivity: benefitting streams and communities-ramsdell, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Aquatic Connectivity:
Benefiting Streams and Communities
Lisha Ramsdell
Program Director 1
Huron Pines is a nonprofit environmental organization established in 1973. Located in Gaylord, MI, we strive
to reach our conservation goals by connecting our region’s water, land and people.
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Huron PinesConserving the Forests, Lakes and Streams of
Northeast Michigan
We join with a variety of partners such as local governments, non-
profits, area residents and private businesses to complete our goals.
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Dams:
• Jumping Barrier
• Velocity Barrier
• Interrupts Nutrient Flow/Distribution
Barriers Impacting Connectivity:
Road/Stream Crossings:•Velocity Barriers•Jumping Barriers•Sediment Pollution Entrance Point
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Project Planning & Prioritization
Basin-Wide ConsistencyData Sharing
Resources available at: www.huronpines.org
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• No Major Dams on the Mainstream
• Coldwater Tributaries
• Natural River Designation
• Forest/Agriculture
• High recreation use
• Supports Large Fish Migrations
• Flows into Saginaw Bay (AOC)
Rifle River Watershed
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• 69 known dams-typically over 6 ft. high (red)
• 85 additional “suspect” dams-aerial survey (yellow)
• 245 road/stream crossings (green)
• 63 RSX sites were determined “not passable”
• 217 aquatic barriers
Prioritizing in the Rifle Watershed
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www.northernmichiganstreams.org
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“Whole Picture” strategy
Justifies Project Choices• Based on Unbiased Data
• Peer Review of Findings
Benefits of Prioritizing• Provides Flexibility in
Funding Usage
• Offers Suite of Projects
• “Bundling” Capability
• Educates Partners
• Tracks Regional Needs and Progress
Prioritizing Projects
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Conservation Groups
Resource Managers
(DEQ & DNR)
Local Municipalities
Private Foundations
Tribes
Private Landowners
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
U.S. Forest Service
Involve Partners Early
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Project ScopeBalancing Needs
Agree on what’s getting done• Select appropriate Best
Management Practices (BMP)
• Aquatic Passage
• Reduce Sedimentation
Other Conservation Concerns
Bring together diverse funding
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Coordinating Partners
(One Point of Contact)
Motivating and Inspiring
Teaching
Learning
Staying focused
Navigating Obstacles
Providing Leadership
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Priorities Across the Landscape
Sell the Process of Site Selection/Prioritization
Watershed-wide Impacts
Prepared for “Shovel Ready” Requests
Funding Proposals Tailored by Deliverable, NOT site
