Conserving the Forests, Lakes and Streamsof Northeast Michigan
Large scale attempt Bundles different
project types Geography based Focuses efforts Broad partnership
7 miles of high-quality tributary stream reconnected
100 tons of sediment source eliminated from stream
20 acres of invasive species treated
Nearly a mile of instream habitat and buffers installed
Process of collecting data across a watershed
Systematic approach Used to guide future
project selection
If this was in your favorite watershed and I handed you $25,000 for a project, would you replace this culvert?
Talk with your neighbors and compare your site to theirs.
If you had $25,000, would you still replace your site?
Ocqueoc River Watershed
Completed by Huron Pines
State - Approved In 2006
Resource Inventories Public Involvement Zoning Review Set forth
Recommendations
Acreage: 94,394 Miles of stream: 30
miles of mainstream Land use
• Farming• Forestry• Rural• 20% public land
Geology:• Limestone bedrock• Karst formations
Public meetings Ocqueoc River
Watershed Commission• Volunteer-led steering
committee Habitat Committee
• Informal group of the “hands on” partners
Celebrated success Capitalized on
momentum Revisited the plan Wanted to “bite off
more” Discussed priorities Explored options Dissected the
watershed
Site 36 Silver Creek/Spens
Rd Sediment issues from
long steep approach Fish Passage: velocity
barrier
10 sites on Silver Creek 3 miles of stream Major Sediment issues
at 3 sites No Fish Passage at 3
sites 4 with moderate issues Bundled for 1 project:
• Context• Sites 29-37• Also includes 2
driveways
10 sites Road work for
sediment Realignment Increase capacity
of culverts
$500,000 total
Grants were submitted to Several Initial Sources
Paul H. Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited• $2,600
Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited• $1,000
Michigan Fly Fishing Club• $3,000
Began meeting with individual funders
Discussed ORWC and Habitat Committee
Letters of Support Resource Advisors
Review
Township Meetings Engineering Partner Excitement to
begin work Community Site
Tours
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Sustain Our Great Lakes• $133,510
Truly became watershed approach
Included:• Streambank erosion
control• Stream buffers• Private landowner
meetings• Invasive species
removal
6 total sites complete• 4 full replacement• 2 road resurfacing
2 crossings permitted and culverts on order
Over 400 landowner contacts
2 acres of invasive species treated or removed at 8 sites
36 tons of sediment prevented
Public meetings Consistent “stop-bys”
2 Culverts permitted and on order
Driveway work planned for 2012
Streambank erosion Instream Habitat Invasive Species Landowner
involvement
Coordinating most knowledgeable partners
Motivating and Inspiring
Teaching Learning Staying focused Believing
www.huronpines.org
