PLOT

INFO

: D:\W

ORK\

0630

2\MAP

_DOC

UMEN

T\NPS

INVE

NTOR

Y.MX

D D

ATE:

12/0

9/200

8 US

ER: M

CL

Lake Allegan

Dumont Lake

Miner Lake

Hutchins Lake

Green Lake

Swan Creek Marsh

Big Lake

Monterey Lake

Selkirk Lake

Crooked Lake

Silver Lake

East Lake

Round Lake

Miller Lake

Mud Lake

Sink L

ake

Boot Lake

Pratt Lake

Swan Creek Pond

Wetmore Lake

Ely LakeSchnable

Lake

Round Lake

Geneva Lake

Lake Sixteen

Fenner Lake

Goose Lake

Hill Lake

Littlejohn Lake

Herlan Lake

Hicks Lake

Pickerel Lake

Big Spec Lake

Perch Lake

Mill Pond

Huckleberry Lake

Shagnasty Lake

Caruthers Lake

Round Lake

Little Tom Lake

Buskirk Lake

Ingerson Lake

Jackson Lake

Little Spec Lake

Titus Lake

Indian Lake

School Section Lake

Doans Lake

Wetheral Lake

Aubil Lake

Miner Lake

Three Corner Lake

Round Lake

Bass Lake

Cady Lake

Moore Lake

Shipp Lake

Mud Lake

Pickerel Lake

Angel Lake

Sager Lake

McIntire Lake

Leggett Lake

Squaw Lake

McDermott Lake

Gun Lake

Fish Lake

Barlo

w La

ke

Long Lake

Duncan Lake

Cobb Lake

Chief Noonday Lake

Hall Lake

Baker Lake

Crystal Lake

Bassett Lake

Mill Pond

Lime Lake

Hardwood Lake

Fawn Lake

Blue Lake

Bullhead Lake

Williams Lake

Leeks Lake

Adams Lake

McDonald Lake

Canterbury Lake

Snow Lake

Orr Lake

Horseshoe Lake

England Lake

Little Payne Lake

Shaw Lake

Tamarack Lake

Duncan Creek

Emmons La

ke

Krafts Lake

Hilton Lake Hanna Lake

Ross Lake

Lake Macatawa

Mud Lake

Bay Meadows Lake

East Branch Rush Creek

Macat

awa R

iver

Pine Creek

Brower Drain

Hulet Drain

Black

Creek

Black River

Rush Creek

Sharps Creek

Thornapple River

Plaste

r Cre

ek

Buck Creek

Orangeville Creek

Duncan Creek

Thornapple River

Kalamazoo River

Kalamazoo River

Little Rabbit River Red Run

Rabbit River

Black Creek

Miller Creek

Mann Creek

Miner Creek

Buskirk Creek

Greggs Brook

Green L

ake Cree

k

Jaard

a Drai

n

Weick Drain

Sand Creek

Dumont

Creek

Silver Creek

South B

ranch

Black River

Fenner Creek

Black

Rive

r Drai

n

Selkirk Creek

Truax Drain

Nichols Drain

Tanne

ry Cre

ek

Dorr &

Byron

Drai

n

Haney Drain

Big Dailey Bayou

Pigeon Creek

Rossman Creek

Feit

Drain

Rabbit River

Gun R

iver

Rossman Cree

k

Bear

Creek

Mille

r Cree

k

Swan

Cree

k

Miller Creek

Pigeon

Creek

Kalam

azoo

Rive

r

Rabb

it Rive

r

Black River Drain

Bear Creek at MouthRabbit River

at Gage #04108600

Black Creek ( 90 )

Miller Creek ( 87 )

Lower Rabbit River ( 92 )

Red Run Drain ( 81 )

Green Lake Creek ( 84 )

Silver Creek ( 91 )

Middle Rabbit River West ( 89 )

Little Rabbit River ( 82 )

Upper Rabbit River ( 85 )

Bear Creek ( 83 )

Buskirk Creek ( 86 )

Middle Rabbit River

East ( 88 )

NPS INVENTORY LOCATION

NORT

H

0 12,000Feet

DATA SOURCES: BASE MAP, MICHIGAN CENTER FORGEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, FRAMEWORK V.5A.

©Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved

LEGENDRABBIT RIVER WATERSHED2007-2008 INVENTORY LOCATION2000-2008 INVENTORY STREAM

Alleg

an C

ounty

Drai

n Com

miss

ioner

Alleg

an C

ounty

, Mich

igan

Rabb

it Rive

r Wate

rshed

Man

agem

ent P

lan

G06302

12PROJECT NO.

engineers

architectsscientist

constructors

FIGURE NO.

Hard copy isintended to be11"x17" when

plotted. Scale(s)indicated and

graphic quality maynot be accurate for

any other size.

fishbeck, thompson,carr & huber, inc.

PLOT

INFO

: D:\W

ORK\

0630

2\MAP

_DOC

UMEN

T\SAM

PLIN

GLOC

ATIO

NS.M

XD D

ATE:

12/0

9/200

8 US

ER: M

CL

Lake Allegan

Dumont Lake

Miner Lake

Hutchins Lake

Green Lake

Swan Lake

Kalamazoo Lake

Swan Creek Marsh

Big Lake

Monterey Lake

Selkirk Lake

Crooked Lake

Lower Scott Lake

Silver Lake

East Lake

Upper Scott Lake

Round Lake

Miller Lake

Lake Sixteen

Mud Lake

Sink L

ake

Boot Lake

Schermerhorn LakePike Lake

Pratt Lake

Swan Creek Pond

Wetmore Lake

Ely LakeSchnable

Lake

Round Lake

Geneva Lake

Lake Sixteen

Fenner Lake

Goose Lake

Hill Lake

Littlejohn Lake

Herlan Lake

Goshorn Lake

Hicks Lake

Osgood Lake

Pickerel Lake

Big Spec Lake

Perch Lake

Mill Pond

Middle Lake

Huckleberry Lake

Shagnasty Lake

Caruthers Lake

Silver Lake

Round Lake

Little Tom Lake

Buskirk Lake

Ingerson Lake

Jackson Lake

Kelly Lake

Little Spec Lake

Gilligan Lake

Titus Lake

Indian Lake

Sheffer Lake

School Section Lake

Doans Lake

Wetheral Lake

Aubil Lake

Miner Lake

Three Corner Lake

Foster Lake

Round Lake

Bass Lake

Cady Lake

Moore Lake

Shipp Lake

Mud Lake

Tannery Creek

Pickerel Lake

Goshorn Creek

Angel Lake

Sager Lake

McIntire Lake

Leggett Lake

Squaw Lake

McDermott Lake

Scott Creek Drain

Tannery Creek

Pine Lake

Gun Lake

Pine LakeCrooked Lake

Crooked Lake

Cloverdale Lake

Fish Lake

Barlo

w La

ke

Guernsey Lake

Long Lake

Otis Lake

Duncan Lake

Cobb Lake

Chief Noonday Lake

Shelp Lake

Hall Lake

Baker Lake

Elliston Lake

Stewart Lake

Holcomb Lake

Loomis Lake

Crystal Lake

Bassett Lake

Warner Lake

Deep Lake

Wiley Lake

Mill Pond

Glasby Lake

Lime Lake

Hardwood Lake

Fawn Lake

Blue Lake

Turner Lake

Bullhead Lake

Williams Lake

Dagget Lake

Leeks Lake

Adams Lake

McDonald Lake

Barry #3

Canterbury Lake

Snow Lake

Barry #4

Orr Lake

Horseshoe Lake

England Lake

Little Payne Lake

Shaw Lake

Tamarack Lake

Barry #30

Duncan Creek

Barry #13, 14, or 15Barry #13, 14, or 15

Campau Lake

Campbell Lake

Buck Lake

McEwen Lake

Kettle Lake

Emmons La

ke

Krafts Lake

Barber Lake

Riley Lake

Quiggle Lake

Hilton Lake Hanna Lake

Morse Lake

Blodgett Lake

Cobb Lake

The Big Spring

Truax Lake

Clarke LakeWilson Lake

Ross Lake

Camp Lake

Underwood Lake

Wet Water Lake

Buck Creek

Lake Macatawa

Pigeon Lake

Rushmore LakeKenowa Lake

Georgetown Park Lake

Mud Lake

Tiffany Lake

Bay Meadows Lake

Sloan Pond

Pintail Pond

Rush Creek

East Branch Rush Creek

Macat

awa R

iver

Rush Creek

Pine Creek

Post Drain

Harlem Drain

Brower Drain

Hulet Drain

Rush

Cre

ek

Black

Creek

Harlem Drain

Rush Creek

Rush Creek

Rush Creek

Black River

Buck Creek

Rush Creek

Pine Hill CreekSharps Creek

Pine Hill Creek

Thornapple River

Buck Creek

Buck Creek

Plaste

r Cre

ek

Thornapple River

Buck CreekRush

Cree

k

Buck Creek

Plaster Creek

Buck Creek

Orangeville Creek

Duncan Creek

Bass

ett C

reek

Thornapple River

Thornapple River

Kalamazoo River

Kalamazoo River

Little Rabbit River Red Run

Rabbit River

Black Creek

Miller Creek

Mann Creek

Miner Creek

Buskirk Creek

Greggs Brook

Swan Creek

Green L

ake Cree

k

Jaard

a Drai

n

Weick Drain

Sand Creek

Dumont

Creek

Silver CreekScott Creek Drain

South B

ranch

Black River

Fenner Creek

Black

Rive

r Drai

n

Selkirk Creek

Gun River

Truax Drain

Nichols Drain

Tanne

ry Cre

ek

Dorr &

Byron

Drai

n

Haney Drain

Swan Lake Drain No 3

Big Dailey Bayou

Pigeon Creek

Rossman Creek

Feit

Drain

Rabbit River

Gun R

iver

Rossman Cree

k

Bear

Creek

Silve

r Cree

k

Kalamazoo River

Mille

r Cree

k

Swan

Cree

k

Miller Creek

Pigeon

Creek

Kalam

azoo

Rive

r

Rabb

it Rive

r

Black River Drain

Bear Creek at MouthRabbit River

at Gage #04108600

Black Creek ( 90 )

Miller Creek ( 87 )

Lower Rabbit River ( 92 )

Red Run Drain ( 81 )

Green Lake Creek ( 84 )

Silver Creek ( 91 )

Middle Rabbit River West ( 89 )

Little Rabbit River ( 82 )

Upper Rabbit River ( 85 )

Bear Creek ( 83 )

Buskirk Creek ( 86 )

Middle Rabbit River

East ( 88 )

Dorr

Wayland

Hopkins

Martin RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING

SAMPLING LOCATIONS

NORT

H

0 12,000Feet

DATA SOURCES: BASE MAP, MICHIGAN CENTER FORGEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, FRAMEWORK V.5A.2004 MDEQ BIOLOGICAL SURVEY.

©Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved

LEGENDRABBIT RIVER WATERSHED

USGS SAMPLING LOCATIONMDEQ SAMPLING LOCATION

MDNR SAMPLING LOCATIONS

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

EXISTING SAMPLING LOCATIONS

HOPKINS WASTEWATER SEWAGE LAGOON/WAYLAND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

RECOMMENDED SAMPLING LOCATIONS

ALLEGAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPT LOCATIONSALLEGAN CONSERVATION DISTRICT BMP LOCATIONSALLEGAN CONSERVATION DISTRICT CRITICAL AREA

ALLEGAN COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER CRITICAL AREAALLEGAN COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER TMDL AREA

ALLEGAN CONSERVATION DISTRICT TMDL AREA

Alleg

an C

ounty

Drai

n Com

miss

ioner

Alleg

an C

ounty

, Mich

igan

Rabb

it Rive

r Wate

rshed

Man

agem

ent P

lan

G06302

13PROJECT NO.

engineers

architectsscientist

constructors

FIGURE NO.

Hard copy isintended to be11"x17" when

plotted. Scale(s)indicated and

graphic quality maynot be accurate for

any other size.

fishbeck, thompson,carr & huber, inc.

Appendix 1

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. Engineers • Scientists • Architects • Constructors 1515 Arboretum Drive, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Telephone: 616-575-3824

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS

FOR THE

RABBIT RIVER WATERSHED

DECEMBER 2006 PROJECT NO. G06302

TABLE OF CONTENTS

J:\06302\REPT\WMP\APPENDICES\APPENDIX_1\PPP_RABBIT_2007_1023.DOC i

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS FOR THE RABBIT RIVER WATERSHED ....................................... 1General Information ............................................................................................................................... 1Building the Team ................................................................................................................................. 1Communication During the Planning Phase ......................................................................................... 2Developing Educational Messages ....................................................................................................... 4Timeline ................................................................................................................................................. 5Coming to Agreement ........................................................................................................................... 5Adaptive Management .......................................................................................................................... 6

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Rabbit River Watershed Map Figure 2 Schedule for Developing Watershed Management Plan LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Building The Team

03/30/2009 J:\06302\REPT\WMP\APPENDICES\APPENDIX_1\PPP_RABBIT_2007_1023.DOC

1

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS FOR THE RABBIT RIVER WATERSHED

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Rabbit River Watershed (Watershed) covers 187,200 acres of land in Allegan, Barry, Ottawa, and

Kent counties. The Watershed Implementation Project is a voluntary community-driven watershed project

which identifies the problems, needs, and solutions for the management of the Watershed. A diverse

Rabbit River Steering Committee (Committee), coordinated by the Allegan County Drain Commissioner,

works on various levels with government agencies and private landowners to improve water quality and

the quality of life in the Watershed.

This Public Participation Process (PPP) has been developed to raise community awareness of the word

and concept “watershed,” to promote stewardship of water resources as a model of good citizenship, and

to solicit participation in the development of the Watershed Management Plan (WMP). All community

members should understand that they live, learn, and work in a watershed and that they rely on its water

as a basic resource. The Watershed is an important element of “place” and efforts will be made to

encourage people to identify with their own watershed just as they identify with their local municipality or

school district. Citizens must also understand that what they do on land can have a direct impact on the

present and future quality of surface and ground water in their watershed. The goal is to elevate public

understanding of these connections and to encourage actions that maintain the highest water quality and

a healthy watershed ecosystem.

BUILDING THE TEAM

A description of the outreach and awareness activities and programs taking place in the Watershed has

been provided by the participants of the Committee. This Committee is responsible for the outreach effort

for soliciting public participation in the development of a Rabbit River WMP. Table 1 provides information

on the identified stakeholders in the Watershed. Categories of stakeholders include government

agencies, natural resource and environmental organizations, citizen groups, businesses,

planning/development organizations, and education/outreach organizations. The mechanisms for

soliciting participation in the development of the WMP will include websites, newsletters, newspaper

articles, letters and personal invitations, press releases, watershed signage, presentations, and e-mail

distribution lists. Those responsible for implementing the mechanisms are identified in Table 1.

03/30/2009 J:\06302\REPT\WMP\APPENDICES\APPENDIX_1\PPP_RABBIT_2007_1023.DOC

2

COMMUNICATION DURING THE PLANNING PHASE

Many groups and organizations in the region are currently involved in watershed planning. Efforts will be

made to coordinate educational activities with the larger regional activities of the Kalamazoo River Total

Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Committee, the Kalamazoo Storm Water Management

Group, the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council and any other endeavor that can drive water quality and

watershed improvements. The Steering Committee will work with the organizations above and utilize their

documents to develop the Rabbit River WMP, ensuring that it satisfies the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency 9 elements.

The successful development of a WMP keeps citizens and local governments continually informed about

the status of the WMP. Mechanisms for communication, listed in Table 1, will be used to reach the

stakeholders, and have their voices heard, since not all will be able to attend every Committee meeting.

Several modes of communication will be used to diversify the avenues of communication given the variety

of the target audiences and the way they receive information.

Public comment about the Rabbit River WMP will be routed through the Committee to all the

stakeholders. The Committee will determine how the WMP can respond to any concerns and suggestions

and will decide on the WMPs contents. The following list of communication mechanisms will be used to

inform stakeholders about the WMP initiative, solicit input for the WMP content, communicate with the

Committee, and update the public on the project status.

MEETINGS

Bi-monthly meetings will be held by the Committee during the WMP planning process. Meetings will be

announced through press releases, signs posted on library and municipal bulletin boards, on community

websites, and through e-mail distribution lists. All Committee meetings will be open to the public and will

give attendees the opportunity for comment. A list of individuals to represent the communities will be

generated.

WEBSITE

A website format is a “living document,” in which updates can easily be communicated to the community.

Kalamazooriver.net is the current website for information about the Kalamazoo River Watershed. Access

to specific education and data resources for the subwatersheds, such as the Rabbit River Watershed, is

provided. A discussion page allows for continuous feedback, and the electronic structure allows

alterations to be made relatively easily with instant accessibility to any user logging onto the site.

03/30/2009 J:\06302\REPT\WMP\APPENDICES\APPENDIX_1\PPP_RABBIT_2007_1023.DOC

3

The Committee will arrange for the information to be submitted to the website to update stakeholders and

Committee members about the WMP planning process. The website will contain information about

upcoming meetings, meeting minutes, public outreach activities, and links to more information about

storm water quality. Once the WMP is made into a final draft, it will be posted on the website for a public

comment period. Interested parties will be able to access the WMP and make comments to the

Committee via e-mail, telephone, or written correspondence. The WMP will also be posted on other

websites as available, such as the Allegan Conservation District (ACD), and municipalities within

the Watershed.

NEWSLETTERS AND PRINT MEDIA

The ACD currently publishes a yearly newsletter for the District. This distribution will continue to relate

information about the WMP to their readers. Press releases will be made to the local papers to announce

public meetings and opportunities for public involvement. Several articles about the Watershed project

and storm water education will be printed in the local newspaper. Additional articles will be distributed to

all communities to use in their newsletters, such as the MSU quarterly newsletter and the FSA newsletter.

PRESENTATIONS

Personal invitations will be sent to some of the stakeholders listed in Table 1. Presentations at township

board meetings, community group gatherings, county commissioners meetings, the Farm Bureau Annual

meeting, the ACD annual meeting and/or local organizations will offer the attendees an opportunity to get

more information about the WMP and what implications the WMP will have for their stakeholder group.

Comments from those attending the presentations will be incorporated into the WMP before being

submitted to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Public meetings will be held to announce the beginning of the planning process and to present the draft

Rabbit River WMP to obtain input on the WMP process and recommendations. The public meetings will

be announced in a press release to local newspapers and in local government newsletters. Public

comments will be incorporated into the WMP before being submitted to the MDEQ. The draft WMP will

also be posted on the website.

BUSINESS SECTOR SPECIFIC APPROACHES

The Farm-A-Syst program, under the Groundwater Stewardship Program, addresses the agricultural

component in identifying potential environmental risks posed by their farmstead operations. Several

operators have volunteered to participate in this program with the ACD. One-on-one meetings, knocking

on doors, breakfast meetings and coffee break meetings are several ways to meet with local businesses.

03/30/2009 J:\06302\REPT\WMP\APPENDICES\APPENDIX_1\PPP_RABBIT_2007_1023.DOC

4

Other operators in the Watershed, such as greenhouse growers, will be identified to use other programs

developed by MSU Extension, such as Greenhouse-A-Syst, Field-A-Syst, and Turf-A-Syst.

WATERSHED IDENTIFICATION SIGNAGE

The placement of roadside and pedestrian signage identifying boundaries of the Watershed helps citizens

and visitors to recognize what ordinarily is missed. This is the first step toward building awareness and

interest in the Watershed. Waterway identification signs at key points of road crossings could include the

regionally used "Clean Water" logo. This water drop logo with its message, “We all live in a watershed.

You make the difference,” was first used by The City of Battle Creek. The logo and message have since

been adopted by the Kalamazoo River TMDL Committee for use throughout the Kalamazoo River

Watershed. Common use of this logo will help unify educational efforts from various projects and will build

“watershed” awareness, a primary objective of this WMP.

STUDENT GROUP ACTIVITIES

A previously very successful endeavor to pursue again in the future is the Student Stream Science

Project. The project was created to enhance educational opportunities in the Watershed by combining

resources with the Allegan Area Math and Science Center. The Watershed Coordinator visited classes of

various grade levels to teach students about the Watershed, stream habitats, and how land use affects

water quality. Volunteer groups also participated in this project, such as the Lake Associations and Cub

Scouts. School and volunteer groups were trained in macroinvertebrate sampling and

habitat assessment.

DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL MESSAGES

Identification with one’s own watershed should involve a basic understanding of the term and concept

“watershed.” Once that understanding is established, the recognition of the watershed’s characteristics

including its merits, challenges, and problems in relation to oneself can be realized. The goal is to get to

the realization of how one can become part of the solution to problems and a protector of that which

should be preserved.

This understanding and realization leads stakeholders from awareness and education to action. The

messages to the stakeholders will be developed to answer the following common questions:

Where is my watershed?

How am I connected to my watershed?

What is good in the watershed?

03/30/2009 J:\06302\REPT\WMP\APPENDICES\APPENDIX_1\PPP_RABBIT_2007_1023.DOC

5

What is impaired in my watershed?

What activities contribute to watershed problems?

What Can I Do?

TIMELINE

The WMP planning process is a continual effort that will extend through September 1, 2007, when the

final WMP is submitted to the MDEQ. Figure 2 outlines the schedule for the development and evaluation

of the components of the WMP.

The PPP is designed to solicit input and document how the public is participating in the development of

the WMP to improve water quality in the Watershed. It’s design is also intended to create awareness,

educate, and inspire the public to take action toward improving water quality in storm water runoff.

Throughout the first year of the project implementation, the Committee will be developing partnerships

with organizations and agencies that already have education services that could be adapted to fit the

needs of the Watershed project. The potential partners are identified in Table 1 and will be invited to

participate in the development of the WMP.

COMING TO AGREEMENT

The Committee, composed of representatives from different facets of the Watershed, as identified in

Table 1, will make decisions by consensus. If a disagreement persists, the different points of view will be

documented in the minutes of the meetings and discussed as necessary at the next meeting to ensure

that all members have a clear understanding of all of the viewpoints. Members will be asked to present

alternatives to points with which they differ. Meetings will be facilitated by a chairperson and difficult

topics that cannot be quickly resolved will be tabled for the next meeting. After additional discussion, if

consensus still cannot be reached, the decision will be made through orderly discussions using

Robert’s Rules of Order. A majority vote will be used if one representative from at least five of the

targeted stakeholder groups, listed in Table 1, is present.

03/30/2009 J:\06302\REPT\WMP\APPENDICES\APPENDIX_1\PPP_RABBIT_2007_1023.DOC

6

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

The PPP includes many mechanisms for engaging the public in the development of the WMP. These

mechanisms will be evaluated for their effectiveness by measuring the number and type of participants in

the planning process. The planning process covers a relatively short time frame, therefore, the evaluation

must occur early in the planning process. Evaluation can be tracked efficiently by the amount of

participation in meetings. The public meetings will be important for engaging the general public with the

ideas put forth in the WMP.

Exit surveys at the public meetings will ask attendees how they heard about the meeting. The outreach

methods that appear to be the most successful in getting the public to the meetings will be emphasized

for future public meetings. The exit surveys will also gather information from the attendees about their

satisfaction with the planning process and will ask for comments on how the process could be improved.

If inadequate public participation occurs, alternative outreach methods will be implemented until a steady

and significant participation level is attained.