Kathy Evans, Program Manager

West Michigan Shoreline Regional

Development Commission

Great Lakes Conference, October 2011

Brian MajkaSenior Restoration

EcologistCardno JFNew

Muskegon Lake Restoration: A Success Story

Overview

•Historic Impacts•Public Involvement and Grass Roots Efforts•Turning Ideas into Project•Long Term Maintenance and Stewardship•Upcoming Projects

Muskegon Lake—A History

Muskegon Lake Shoreline during the Lumber EraMuskegon Lake Shoreline during the Lumber Era

Muskegon Lake - a History of Impacts

Post World War II Industrial EraPost World War II Industrial Era

Muskegon Lake – a History of Impacts

Muskegon Lake Area of Concern

Muskegon Lake is a 4,232-acre drowned river-mouth lake, connected to Lake Michigan by a navigational channel. It was designated an AOC in 1985, and is one of 14 AOCs in Michigan.

Beneficial Use Impairments

•Beach Closings•Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption •Eutrophication or undesirable algae •Restrictions on drinking water consumption, or taste and odor •Degradation of fish and wildlife populations •Degradation of aesthetics •Degradation of benthos •Restriction on dredging activities •Loss of fish and wildlife habitat

Public Involvement and Grassroots Efforts

Community Stakeholders Community Stakeholders - - Seeking Federal Cleanup Partners Seeking Federal Cleanup Partners

- Setting Goals and Priorities - Setting Goals and Priorities

Public Involvement in Public Involvement in Great Lakes Legacy Act CleanupsGreat Lakes Legacy Act Cleanups

State of the Lake Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) Award presented to City of Muskegon and Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership for the Ruddiman Creek GLLA Project in 2006.

204,000 lbs of chromium, 126,000 lbs of lead, 2,800 lbs of cadmium, 320 lbs of PCBs and 260 lbs of benzo (a) pyrene.

$10.6 ml – Great Lakes Legacy Act & Clean Michigan Initiative

Muskegon Lake Division Street Outfall Muskegon Lake Division Street Outfall CleanupCleanup

Great Lakes Legacy Act/Great Lakes Restoration InitiativeGreat Lakes Legacy Act/Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Muskegon Lake lost approximately 27% of its open water natural resources due to filling from the disposal of sawmill and foundry waste and land development. Broken concrete was commonly used to fill and stabilize the shoreline. Approximately 74% of the shoreline was hardened

Marine Debris – Sawmill and Marine Debris – Sawmill and Foundry Waste, Broken ConcreteFoundry Waste, Broken Concrete

Marine Debris – Sawmill and Marine Debris – Sawmill and Foundry Waste, Broken ConcreteFoundry Waste, Broken Concrete

A Community Vision Leads to aA Community Vision Leads to aFish and Wildlife Restoration Plan Fish and Wildlife Restoration Plan

The Plan Guides Local Planning for The Plan Guides Local Planning for On-the-Ground Restoration Projects On-the-Ground Restoration Projects

Community Involvement Community Involvement Setting AOC Restoration Setting AOC Restoration

TargetsTargets

Shovel ReadyShovel Ready MLWP Set Targets and Developed the Fish and Wildlife MLWP Set Targets and Developed the Fish and Wildlife

Restoration Plan in 2008Restoration Plan in 2008

WMSRDC held a Community Forum in 2008 and identified 3 WMSRDC held a Community Forum in 2008 and identified 3 public and 7 private landowners, willing to restore habitatpublic and 7 private landowners, willing to restore habitat

Great Lakes Commission partnered with WMSRDC to apply Great Lakes Commission partnered with WMSRDC to apply for the NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program for the NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program (GLHRP) and NOAA expanded restoration in the Great (GLHRP) and NOAA expanded restoration in the Great Lakes Region with the Great Lakes Habitat and Coastal and Lakes Region with the Great Lakes Habitat and Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration and ARRA ProgramsMarine Habitat Restoration and ARRA Programs

Over 50% of the restoration needed to restore habitat in the Over 50% of the restoration needed to restore habitat in the AOC will be complete in 2012AOC will be complete in 2012

NOAA Coastal & Marine NOAA Coastal & Marine Habitat Restoration & ARRA Program Habitat Restoration & ARRA Program and Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program and Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program Project Goals: Ecological benefits for fish and wildlife Progress on the restoration of beneficial uses and removal of BUIs

through restoration and scientific monitoring JJob creation and retention Improvement of short- and long-term economic conditions Public involvement and community outreach

Grant Project Team:

Grant Administrator Input Economic Public Project Management Oversight & Scientific OutreachContracts, Reporting Guidance Monitoring

Involvement

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

NOAA Project Restoration Goals:NOAA Project Restoration Goals: Percent of BUI Target Met:Percent of BUI Target Met: Soften 10,007 feet of Hardened Shoreline - 42% Soften 10,007 feet of Hardened Shoreline - 42% Restore 11.6 acres of Emergent Wetland - 16% Restore 11.6 acres of Emergent Wetland - 16% Restore 15.6 acres of Open Water Wetland - 82%Restore 15.6 acres of Open Water Wetland - 82% Remove/Improve 23.6 acres of Unnatural Lake Fill - 19%Remove/Improve 23.6 acres of Unnatural Lake Fill - 19%

Muskegon Lake Today- Toward Recovery

Turning Ideas and Partnerships into ProjectsTurning Ideas and Partnerships into Projects

PeoplePeople Technical analysisTechnical analysis BudgetsBudgets GoalsGoals Successful projects Successful projects

must hit on social must hit on social AND AND environmental environmental aspectsaspects

Education, Education, Education, Education, EducationEducation

Site Analysis•Fetch/Depth Across Fetch•Run-up•Orientation•Vegetation•Adjacent Structures•Boats•Ice•Multiple property owners/sites around lake•Anecdotal knowledge is key

D’Alcorn Site--Shoreline

D’Alcorn Site--Shoreline

Grand Trunk--Wetlands

•7 Acres Restored7 Acres Restored•Unnatural Fill Removed. Unnatural Fill Removed. •Emergent and Open Water Emergent and Open Water Wetland Restored. Wetland Restored.

Grand Trunk--Wetlands

Grand Trunk--Wetlands

Ruddiman Creek Mouth

Ruddiman Creek Mouth

Ruddiman/Amoco RestorationRuddiman/Amoco Restoration

Lakeshore Trail between Lakeshore Trail between Ruddiman Mouth and AmocoRuddiman Mouth and Amoco

Heritage Landing--Shoreline

Construction

Challenges•Achieving balanceAchieving balance•Balancing Balancing technical, social, technical, social, and environmentaland environmental•Philosophical—to Philosophical—to restore or to restore or to create?create?•You can’t please You can’t please everyoneeveryone

Long Term Maintenance, Long Term Maintenance, Monitoring, and StewardshipMonitoring, and Stewardship

Volunteers Monitor HabitatVolunteers Monitor Habitat Bird Studies Bird Studies Canada’s Volunteer Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP)Canada’s Volunteer Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) Local Student Monitoring ProgramsLocal Student Monitoring Programs

Landowner Management PlansLandowner Management Plans

AWRI Pre-Post Restoration AWRI Pre-Post Restoration Monitoring – Fish and MacrophytesMonitoring – Fish and Macrophytes

Typha angustifolia* (0) Lythrum salicaria* (0) Utricularia vulgaris (6)

Ceratophyllum demersum (1)Myriophyllum spicatum* (0)

Nymphaea sp.Potamogeton pusillus (4)

Potamogeton crispus* (0)

Potamogeton perfoliatus (6)Elodea canadensis (1)

Vallisneria americana (7)

250-400 m Vallisneria americana (7)

Grand TrunkTransect Length: 0-400 m

0-20 m

40-225 m

Volunteers and Students Volunteers and Students Monitor Wetland Restoration Monitor Wetland Restoration

SitesSites

Stewardship Maintenance Stewardship Maintenance Spotted Knapweed & White CloverSpotted Knapweed & White Clover

BeforeBefore VolunteersVolunteers After VolunteersAfter Volunteers

Grand Trunk Restoration Grand Trunk Restoration Partners Annual Stewardship Partners Annual Stewardship

Day Day - May 13, 2011- May 13, 2011

Future ProjectsFuture Projects

Muskegon Lake Watershed Muskegon Lake Watershed PlanPlan

Muskegon River 319Muskegon River 319 Bear Creek 319Bear Creek 319 Muskegon Lake Phase Muskegon Lake Phase

II StormwaterII Stormwater Ruddiman Creek Ruddiman Creek

TMDLTMDL What’s left?What’s left? Ryerson, Green Ryerson, Green

Creek, Four Mile Creek, Four Mile Creek, DSO sub-basinCreek, DSO sub-basin

Historic Zephyr Photo Historic Zephyr Photo Located between Muskegon River and Bear Creek Located between Muskegon River and Bear Creek

in Muskegon Lake AOC in Muskegon Lake AOC

Muskegon River and Bear Creek Muskegon River and Bear Creek Contaminated Soils and Surface WatersContaminated Soils and Surface Waters

Muskegon Lake - A History and a Future of Muskegon Lake - A History and a Future of Public Involvement and Public Involvement and

Volunteer StewardshipVolunteer Stewardship