Hiawatha Drain County Drain or Habitat Restoration?

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Janis Leonard
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1 Michigan Water Environment Association 2018 Conference June 25, 2018 Dana Burd, PE Melanie Manion, Ottawa County Natural Resources Supervisor Hiawatha Drain County Drain or Habitat Restoration? Joe Bush, Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner

2 Spotted Salamander Eggs One of these things is not the like the other

3 Lake Michigan Detention Storage Berm Little Pigeon Creek Vernal Pond Pierce Street Stanton Street Coastal Plain Marsh What is the Hiawatha Drain? Petitioned by Grand Haven Charter Township in 2009 Two square miles 2.6 miles of habitat corridor swale 0.4 miles of enclosed storm water piping Three water storage areas An outfall to Little Pigeon Creek.

4 Why a County Drain? 2009 flooding occurred in extreme conditions. Abnormal rain and snow melt. Two 4 rain events (one in April and one in June). It happened and will happen again. Ottawa County is fast growing. Perception of risk is low - People forget, build houses too low, or in the path of historical overland flooding Think of what s happened in SW Michigan recently.

5 Why Habitat? White-tailed deer Fowler s Toad Black rat snake Wild turkey Public space Holistic view of watershed Recognize the opportunity Joe led collaboration Wanted to get it right Eastern Box Turtle Wood frog (Mifsud)

6 Joe Bush, Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner Collaboration & Future Outcomes

7 Environmental Design Team Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner Ottawa County Parks - Melanie Manion, Natural Resources Supervisor Herpetologist David Mifsud, HRM Botanist William Martinus Wetland/Aquatic Biologist Stu Koegge, GEI Coastal Zone Management OGL, NOAA, DEQ Prein & Newhof

8 Environmental Partners Parks had received a CZM Natural Features Inventory Grant that afforded the design team a higher level of understanding about the site. Parks contributed to special consultants. Project was supported with letters, conversations, and input from many partners.

Future Outcomes of the Hiawatha Drain Flood management benefits Native grass establishment Project corridor becomes a Habitat Corridor Swale Coastal Plain Marsh Basin Vernal Pond

9 Future Outcomes of the Hiawatha Drain Flood management benefits Native grass establishment Project corridor becomes a Habitat Corridor Swale Coastal Plain Marsh Basin Vernal Pond Basin Habitat Structures built throughout become populated Parks uses site for environmental programming Site used for translocation of rare and threatened species (herps and seeds)

10 Google airport turtle pants Detroit News live turtles taped to his person. Specifically, Xu had 41 turtles taped to his legs and 10 hidden between his legs,"

11 Coastal Plain Marsh Vernal Pond Swale Design Habitat Structures Breeding, Nesting, Foraging Hibernaculum Brush Piles, Cover Logs, Root wads Rock Pile/Refuge Sites Native Plantings Natural Resources & Habitat Improvements

12 Photo from: Vernal Pool Patrol Program Training Manual 2016, MSU MNFI

13 Pine Plantation Oak Savanna Groundwater Level Fluctuations Coastal Plain Marsh Areas

Coastal Plain Marshes Existing pocket marshes Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain plant species Occur in sand deposits of glacial outwash Diverse and abundant rare plant species

14 Coastal Plain Marshes Existing pocket marshes Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain plant species Occur in sand deposits of glacial outwash Diverse and abundant rare plant species Hydrologically sensitive Seedbank relies on fluctuating water table Dormant seeds for several years at a time Ecoregional Map Distribution of Coastal Plain Marsh (Albert 2008)

15 Basin # 1 Coastal Plain Marsh Area

16 Basin # 1 Coastal Plain Marsh Area

17 Basin # 1 Coastal Plain Marsh Area

18 Basin # 1 Coastal Plain Marsh Area

19 Hiawatha Drain Vernal Pond Vernal pond section view Wet ¾ of year, dry in July/August Variety of depth zones (no fish) Bare sand areas/island for nesting shallow side slopes, Max depth 5 feet

20 Photos from: Vernal Pool Patrol Program Training Manual 2016, MSU MNFI

21 Basin # 2 Vernal Pond Area

22 Basin #2 Vernal Pond Area

23 Basin #2 Vernal Pond Area (During Dewatering)

24 Basin #2 Vernal Pond Area Vernal Pools seasonal or ephemeral pools Shallow depressions wet only ¾ of year Dry up by late summer or early fall No breeding fish populations

25 Building Habitat into Design Variety of Habitat Zones Shallow slopes Wet and dry for life cycle Structures placed to allow access to water Seasonally dry in August to avoid establishment of wet plant species

26 Habitat Corridor Swale

27 Habitat Corridor Swale

29 HRM: Hibernaculum

Habitat Resources Snag or Perch Pole Brush Pile Emergent Cover

Pool Patrol Program Training Manual 2016.

of the Midwestern US. Technical Publication HMG-1 2 nd Ed.

30 Habitat Resources Snag or Perch Pole Brush Pile Emergent Cover Log David Mifsud HRM Michigan Amphibian and Reptile Best Management Practices MSU Extension and Michigan Natural Features Inventory Vernal Pool Patrol Program Training Manual PARC Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwestern US. Technical Publication HMG-1 2 nd Ed. Wisconsin DOT (photos) and Michigan DNR Information on Habitat Structures. Biebighauser Guide to Creating Vernal Pond. Cover Log Root Wad

31 Animals woodcock (Dewitt) wood frog eggs (Mifsud)

32 Native Plantings meadow beauty (Martinus) big bluestem Yellow-eyed grass

33 Programming Volunteer Activities Seed Relocation and Monitoring Herp Rescue/Relocation School Programming big bluestem Yellow-eyed grass

34 Thank you.

Florida s Ephemeral Ponds and Pond-Breeding Amphibians

Florida s Ephemeral Ponds and Pond-Breeding Amphibians What are Ephemeral Ponds? Ephemeral ponds are small, isolated wetlands that dry periodically. These ponds can be deep, sand-bottomed depressions with