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Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan. Joint Executive Committee and Technical Advisor Meeting August 2, 2007. Agenda. Welcome and introductions Portage Lake Watershed Forever endowment fund update Progress report Recommended strategy for Phase II Next meeting date Adjourn.
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Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan Joint Executive Committee and Technical Advisor Meeting August 2, 2007
Agenda • Welcome and introductions • Portage Lake Watershed Forever endowment fund update • Progress report • Recommended strategy for Phase II • Next meeting date • Adjourn
Progress Report Overview • Summary of public engagement • Phase I report transitioning into watershed plan • Plan updates and other follow-up • Summary of meeting with MDEQ
Public Engagement Update • Focus Groups • Seasonal resident meeting—June 28 • Final summary of 8 focus groups and community forum on website • Nearly 150 people participated in total, representing diverse interests • Informed household survey instrument and the watershed plan • Portage Point Summer Resort Corp. Annual Meeting
Public Engagement Update • Household Survey • Targeted year-round and seasonal residents • 228 completed, 28% of households in watershed • Collected information about: • How residents use surface water in the watershed • Water quality concerns • Goals for improvement/protection • Where residents get information
Household Survey • Activities: • Boating • Swimming • Fishing • Most rated overall water quality as excellent/ good and better than other lakes • Concerns: • Invasive, exotic species • Failing/poorly maintained septic systems • Lack of understanding about how actions impact water quality
Household Survey • Protection goals: • Lake Michigan sand dune and beach areas • Natural features that help maintain water quality (e.g., wetlands and buffer strips) • Protection actions: • Addressing unplugged and abandoned hydrocarbon and mineral wells • Getting more students involved • More effective planning for future growth by local leaders
Household Survey • Respondents get information from local newspaper (not local cable, radio, Internet, e-mail, or newsletters) • Most trustworthy information sources • Neighborhood/lake association • Manistee County Health Department • University Extension, professors, and scientists
Household Survey • Other tidbits • 38% of respondents live on Portage Lake/river/stream • 74% are full time residents, 26% are seasonal residents • 80% of respondents maintain a grass lawn • 93% have a washing machine • 45% have a garbage disposal • 72% have a dishwasher • 81% of respondents are served by a septic system: • 84% have had their system inspected and/or pumped out in the last five years • Nearly half (41%) of septic systems are less than 10 years old.
Watershed Plan Updates • Phase I report is transitioning into watershed plan • We are addressing questions and comments raised at last meeting and meeting with MDEQ • Updated draft plan posted on website by August 31, 2007
Updated Land Use Source: Center for Geographic Information, Michigan Department of Information Technology, 2001.
Land Use/Cover Projections SOURCE : The Computational Ecology and Visualization Lab/Michigan Statue University Land Policy Institute, 2007 Based on MDNR – Michigan Resource Information (MiRIS) data
General Soils Map SOURCE: United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service, Grayling Area Office, 2007.
Location of Oil and Gas Wells SOURCE: Center for Geographic Information, Michigan Department of Information Technology, 2007.
Underground Storage Tank Sites SOURCE: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 2007.
Threatened, Endangered and Species of Concern SOURCE: Michigan Natural Features Inventory - MSU Extension, Watershed Element Data.
Additional Updates • Additional characterization of water quality data for tributaries • Hydrology and precipitation data • Additional information on invasive species • Connection to Great Lakes • Plant, animals, diseases • MDNR fish stocking data since 2000 • Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Walleye Recruitment Assessment data
Additional Updates • Information about water well nitrate levels and uncapped wells • Air quality information (Tribe not currently monitoring toxics or nutrients) • Additional data from Onekama Schools water quality monitoring (pre-2004 and 2007 data) • Onekama Township 2006 water quality monitoring data (will not be included in plan)
Additional Follow Up • Beach monitoring during times of heavy use—assisting Onekama Township with a 2007 interim monitoring strategy • Additional dissolved oxygen profiles during summer stratification—MDNR completed July 16 • Information on how to identify Eurasian water milfoil (posted on website)
Eurasian Water Milfoil SOURCE: Wisconsin DNR, 2004.
Meeting with MDEQ • Purpose: Discuss approval requirements • Participants: PSC, PLWF, MDEQ • Summary • Agreed on components and general outline • Not anticipated that additional data collection will be required • Recommend consideration of inventory work by committees, if there is a need and can be led by volunteers • Additional needs for monitoring/inventorying can be identified as action items in plan
Meeting with MDEQ • Additional information needed • More detailed description/info on tributaries • Hydrology and precipitation • Chart of designated and desired uses, sources, and causes • Estimates of known or suspected pollutant loadings • List and map critical areas for designated and desired uses, organized by threat or opportunity • Analysis of how/if local programs, projects, and plans could further watershed plan goals and objectives
Meeting with MDEQ • Additional information needed • Development of long-term goals, measurable short-term outcomes, and tasks—including time frame and cost estimate for each task
Meeting with MDEQ • General comment: The primary purpose of the plan is to help the community identify what should be done next—and why—to protect the Portage Lake Watershed • MDEQ review could take 45–60 days per draft, including Lansing review • This meeting provided foundation for finalizing Phase II strategy
Phase II Strategy • Identify and prioritize potential threats, pollutants, sources, and causes for designated and desired uses • Establish long-term goals for protecting designated and desired uses • List and map critical area for meeting goals for designated and desired uses • Establish measurable objectives and identify management measures and other actions to help achieve goals
Phase II Strategy • Inform, educate, and engage the public • Analyze how/if local programs, projects, and plans could further plan goals and objectives • Develop an evaluation process to track plan progress • Assemble the Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan and submit to MDEQ Total cost = $50, 015
Additional Recommendations Although not requirements of approvable watershed plans, the following are viewed as priority needs: • Portage Lake Watershed Forever website ($5,800) • Comprehensive water quality monitoring strategy ($3,000)
Phase II Time Line • Elements of Phase II are already under way • Draft plan submitted to Executive Committee and Technical Advisors by September 30 • Draft plan submitted to MDEQ by October 31 (after review by EC, TA, PLWF Committee)
Request for Committee Assistance • Goals: • Community engagement • Leveraging local talent/building capacity • Cost efficiency • Priority inventory needs • Website • Analysis of local programs, projects, plans • Fund raising for near-term needs • Additional ideas?
Next Meeting Date Goal–Setting Session Joint Executive Committee and Technical Advisor Meeting September 4, 2007 4:00–6:00 PM Manistee County Road Commission Community Meeting Room
Thank You!Your time and input are critical to making the Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan and its implementation a success.