project prioritization and stream restoration success

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