Muskegon River Watershed Assembly

THE MAPLE RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT IS A HIGH-IMPACT, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZED BY A DIVERSE PARTNERSHIP OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), TRIBAL, AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT AIMS TO RESTORE AND REOPEN A DORMANT 4.6-MILE RIVER CHANNEL DISCONNECTED FROM THE MUSKEGON RIVER DURING MICHIGANS LOGGING ERA IN THE 1800S. THROUGH FEASIBILITY STUDIES, COMMUNITY VISIONING, CULVERT REPLACEMENTS, AND DAM REMOVAL, A RESTORED MAPLE RIVER WILL BRING WATERSHED-WIDE BENEFITS. FOCUS IS BEING GIVEN TO ASSIST IN EXPANSION OF AN ANISHINAABE WILD RICE STAND, CLIMATE RESILIENCY, AND IMPROVED EMERGENCY SERVICES THROUGH INCREASED AGRICULTURAL AND ROADWAY FLOOD CONVEYANCE, RE-ESTABLISHMENT AND RECONNECTION OF A FISHERY LOST FOR OVER A CENTURY, AND SUPPORT FOR DIMINISHING PROPERTY VALUES IN TWO UNDER-SERVED AND IMPOVERISHED RURAL TOWNSHIPS. THIS PROJECT IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN REMOVING TWO UNDERSIZED ROAD CROSSING CULVERTS AND REPLACING THEM WITH FULL SPANNING, OPEN BOTTOM BRIDGES. THE BRIDGES WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE MAPLE RIVER CLOSER TO ITS HISTORIC CHANNEL AND MOVE WATER MORE EFFECTIVELY TO ACCOMMODATE FLOW THROUGH THE HISTORIC CHANNEL, IMPROVE RESILIENCY TO FLOODING, AND ALLOW FOR RECREATIONAL WATERCRAFT PURSUITS. THE COMPLEX NATURE OF THE PROJECT REQUIRES A BROAD RANGE OF PARTNER SKILLS AND ABILITIES WHO WILL COLLABORATE WITH FIVE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS DURING THE FOUR-YEAR PROJECT. ENCOMPASS CONSULTING LLC WILL SERVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED ASSEMBLY TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT AND WILL COLLABORATE WITH JMB ASSOCIATES AND A DESIGN CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE PERMITTING, SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, AND MONITORING. TWO DESIGN CONTRACTORS, YET TO BE SELECTED, WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SYNERGISTICALLY DEVELOPING ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PLANS WITH THE PROJECT TEAM AND REPLACE THE CULVERTS WITH APPROPRIATELY SIZED AND POSITIONED BRIDGES. THE FINAL PRODUCTS OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL INCLUDE: COMPLETED FEASIBILITY, ENGINEERING, AND DESIGN PLANS FOR REPLACEMENT OF TWO ROAD STREAM CROSSINGS AND A HYDROLOGICAL STUDY TO DETERMINE WATER CONVEYANCE IN THE RECONNECTED RIVER CHANNEL.

THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE (GLRI) AND THE GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT, PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW 112-74. THIS

THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE AND THE GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT, PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW 113-76. THIS PROJEC

MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED RUNOFF REDUCTION USING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

GREAT LAKES RESTORAT

THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED ASSEMBLY MRWA HAS A PLAN PRIORITIZING REMOVAL OF TWELVE DAMS WITHIN THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED, INCLUDING THE ALTONA DAM THE ALTONA DAM IS ONE OF OVER ONE HUNDRED DAMS IN THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED KNOWN TO DISRUPT THE ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCY AND FUNCTION OF ONE OF MICHIGAN S MOST PRODUCTIVE WATERSHEDS ALTONA, LIKE MANY OF THE DAMS IN THE WATERSHED, IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD, NO LONGER SERVING ITS INTENDED FUNCTION, AND FAILING BEYOND THE PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS, THE ALTONA DAM REMOVAL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE ECOLOGY OF THE RIVER BECAUSE THE DAM IS IMPOSING MAJOR IMPACTS ON THE WATERSHED INCLUDING FRAGMENTATION OF HABITAT FOR BROOK TROUT AND OTHER AQUATIC LIFE, WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO WARMER WATER TEMPERATURES, LOWER DISSOLVED OXYGEN, AND DISRUPTION OF HYDROLOGIC FLOW IN 2008, THE MRWA AND PARTNERS COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE WATERSHED AND FOUND THAT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON MUSKEGON RIVER FISHES, AND THEIR HABITAT, WOULD BE DRAMATIC BECAUSE OF WARMER WATER AND MORE ERRATIC RIVER DISCHARGE THE STUDY DATA SUGGESTED HYDROLOGIC AND WATER QUALITY CHANGES THREATENED TO REDUCE USEABLE HABITAT FOR THE ICONIC BROOK TROUT THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REMOVE THE HIGH PRIORITY ALTONA DAM AND BEGIN THE SYSTEMATIC APPROACH OF HABITAT AND CONNECTIVITY RESTORATION AND TO VIBRANTLY IMPROVEMENT CONDITIONS FOR BROOK TROUT AND OTHER AQUATIC LIFE THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED WATERSHED WIDE THROUGH PROMOTING FURTHER DAM REMOVAL, ADDRESSING ECOLOGICAL IMPAIRMENTS, AND SHOWCASING SUCCESS AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM ALTONA DAM SEVERAL OTHER FISH SPECIES WILL BENEFIT FROM THE REMOVAL INCLUDING BROWN TROUT AND RAINBOW TROUT THE ALTONA DAM IS A VELOCITY AND VERTICAL BARRIER FOR AQUATIC ORGANISM PASSAGE IN THE SYSTEM FURTHERMORE, COOL AND COLD WATER HABITAT WITHIN THE LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER HEADWATERS PROVIDE THERMAL REFUGIA REMOVING THE ALTONA DAM WILL PROVIDE AQUATIC ORGANISM PASSAGE AND CONNECT VALUABLE THERMAL REFUGIA THAT WILL SERVE TO SUSTAIN BROOK TROUT AND OTHER COOL COLD WATER SPECIES IN THE FACE OF CHANGING CLIMATE REGIMES THE ALTONA DAM IS THE LAST BARRIER ON THE MAIN BRANCH OF THE LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER AND THIS PROJECT WILL RECONNECT 4 2 MILES OF INSTREAM HABITAT IN THE MAIN BRANCH WITH AN ADDITIONAL 10 MILES OF INSTREAM HABITAT RECONNECTED IN THE EAST AND WEST BRANCHES OF THE LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER THE LITTLE MUSKEGON RIVER IS A VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCE AND PRIZED RECREATIONAL AND FISHING DESTINATION FOR THE COMMUNITY THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE IN STREAM HABITAT AND CONNECTIVITY AND WILL ENHANCE RECREATIONAL AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES KAYAK AND CANOE USE OF THE SYSTEM IS HIGHLY VALUABLE AND REMOVING THE DERELICT DAM OPENS UP CONTINUOUS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE SYSTEM AND REMOVES A HAZARDOUS OBSTACLE A CANOE AND ANGLING ACCESS SITE IS PLANNED FOR THE SITE

FUNDS FOR CONTRACTING THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN OF THE ALTONA DAM REMOVAL AND WORK WITH PARTNERS ON PERMITTING.

BUCKHORN CREEK DAM REMOVAL

RESTORATION OF HIGH PRIORITY RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO IMPROVE INSTREAM HABITAT FOR BROOK TROUT IN PENOYER CREEK (NEAR NEWAYGO, MI) FOLLOWING THE 2019 BREACH OF AN UPSTREAM DAM. THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE STREAM REACH IS UNIFORMLY SHALLOW, SANDY, AND LACKING TROUT HABITAT. FUNDS WILL BE USED TO INSTALL LARGE WOODY DEBRIS ALONG 250 FEET OF SHORELINE CREATING POOLS AND IN-STREAM COVER FOR FISH OF MULTIPLE LIFE STAGES. THIS PROJECT IS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO RESTORE PENOYER CREEK, WHICH INCLUDES REMOVAL OF AN ADJACENT LOWER DAM AND RESTORING A HALF MILE OF STREAMBANK THROUGH REGRADING AND REVEGETATION. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE PROPERTY OWNER (A LOCAL CHURCH), LOCAL ANGLERS, MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND CONSUMERS ENERGY. CONSUMERS ENERGY IS PART OF THE BROADER RESTORATION PROJECT AS PART OF ITS 404 REQUIREMENTS FOR MITIGATION.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF BAYNE ROAD CROSSING FUNDING FOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PROPOSAL AIMS TORECONNECT 2 5 MILES OF INSTREAM HABITAT ON THE MAPLE RIVER BY REMOVING UNDERSIZED AND MISALIGNED CULVERT THE BAYNE ROAD CROSSING IS PART OF THE MAPLE RIVER SYSTEM IN THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED THE CROSSING IS SEVERELY UNDERSIZED AND PERCHED AND POSES A FULL BLOCKAGE TO FISH PASSAGE DURING MOST FLOWS BECAUSE OF THE UNDERSIZED CULVERT, DURING HIGH RAIN EVENTS THE ROAD TYPICALLY OVERTOPS WITH WATER AND HIGH AMOUNTS OF SAND ENTER THE RIVER CHANNEL THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO FUND THE DESIGN AND PERMITTING PHASE OF THE BAYNE ROAD PROJECT OUR OBJECTIVE AT THIS STAGE IS TO SOLICIT BIDS AND CONTRACT THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR ROAD CROSSING REPLACEMENT THE BAYNE ROAD CROSSING IS THE LOWERMOST OF THREE BARRIERS ON THE MAIN BRANCH OF THE MAPLE RIVER THE BARRIER AT THIS TIME IS THE FIRST FOR FISH MIGRATING IN FROM THE MUSKEGON RIVER THIS PROJECT WILL RECONNECT 2 5 MILES OF INSTREAM HABITAT IN THE MAIN BRANCH AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILES OF INSTREAM HABITAT WILL BE RECONNECTED WHEN THE OTHER BARRIERS ARE REMOVED THE MAPLE RIVER IS A VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCE AND PRIZED RECREATIONAL DESTINATION FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE MUSKEGON STATE GAME AREA THAT MAKES UP THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF THE PROJECT AREA THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE IN STREAM HABITAT AND CONNECTIVITY FOR A SUITE OF SPECIES INCLUDING SMALLMOUTH BASS ONCE THE OTHER BARRIERS ARE REMOVED THE RIVER IS ANTICIPATED TO PROVIDE BROOK TROUT, BROWN TROUT AND STEELHEAD HABITAT AND GREATLY ENHANCE RECREATIONAL AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES PERHAPS THE MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON AREA RESIDENTS WILL BE THE CAPACITY OF THE RIVER TO ACCOMMODATE HIGHER FLOW CONDITIONS WITH LESS FLOODING AND WATER CRESTING OVER THE ROAD THE ROAD HAS BEEN OVERTOPPED BY WATER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE HYDRAULIC CONSTRICTION PRODUCED BY THE UNDERSIZED CULVERT THERE ARE MULTIPLE PARTNERS READY AND WILLING TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT INCLUDING THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY WHO USE THE ROAD, THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RRESOURCES, THE MECOSTA COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION, THE LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS AND THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED ASSEMBLY

MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED HABITAT & CONNECTIVITY RESTORATION - DAM REMOVAL AND BANK STABILIZATION IN THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED.

""IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL LAKE TROUT SPAWNING HABITAT IN LAKE ERIE""

THE CLAY CLIFFS NATURAL AREA IN THE CITY OF BIG RAPIDS, MI HAS ONE OF THE MOST SEVERELY ERODING STREAMBANKS IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED THE BANK LACKS VEGETATION ON THE SLOPE, IS LARGELY DEVOID OF LARGE WOODY DEBRIS IN THE CHANNEL, AND POOL HABITAT IS BEING INUNDATED WITH SAND THE BANK IS USED AS A FOOTPATH BY VISITORS AND DAMAGED CONSTANTLY BY PROTECTING THE BANK WITH A FENCE, NATIVE VEGETATION, TOE STABILIZATION, AND INSTALLATION OF LARGE WOODY DEBRIS WE WILL ELIMINATE AN ESTIMATED 326 TONS OF SEDIMENT ENTERING THE RIVER AND WE WILL INCREASE HABITAT DIVERSITY FOR BOTH AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL SPECIES AND SPAWNING HABITAT FOR TROUT

MUSKEGON RIVER WATERSHED FISH MIGRATION BARRIER INVENTORY

A 175 FOOT SECTION OF BANK ALONG THE MUSKEGON RIVER IS SEVERELY ERODING INCREASING SEDIMENT LOADING INTO THE SYSTEM AND DESTABILIZING LARGE TREES ALONG THE BANK THIS PROJECT WILL STABILIZE THE STREAM BANK USING LARGE WOODY DEBRIS COIR LOGS AND WOOD STAKES. THESE ACTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF ONE AND A HALF TONS OF SAND INTO THE SYSTEM ANNUALLY INCREASE AND IMPROVE RIPARIAN HABITAT THROUGH TOE WOOD COIR LOG AND STAKE INSTALLATION AND RESTORE NATURAL STREAM FLOW FUNCTIONS BY STABILIZING SEDIMENT INPUTS INTO THE SYSTEM.

DAM FILE SEARCH IN LANSING AND GRAYLING, MI