Evaluation of Erosion Control Best Management Practices in Streams

-Conservation Resource Alliance-
Funding: Great Lakes Commission Soil Erosion and Control
Project Overview: This project seeks to evaluate the use of erosion control methods in northwestern Michigan. The project will provide evidence to conservation organization in order to quantify, evaluate, and make decisions about erosion control practices in their stream restortion programs.
Partners: The Watershed Center, NMC Water Studies Institute, Grand Traverse Conservation District
For more information contact Kimberly Balke at the Conservation Resource Alliance: 231-946-6817.

Elk River Tributaries Restoration Project

-Antrim Conservation District-
Funding: DEQ Section 319 Grant
Project Overview: This project will install erosion control Best Management Practices on various tributaries in the Elk River Chain of Lakes system (the largest subwatershed to Grand Traverse Bay watershed). Other tasks involve public access improvements, installation and education regarding forested riparian buffers, and working with local townships to draft and implement ordinances that provide for water quality protection.
For more information contact the Antrim Conservation District: 231-533-8363.

Finding Common Ground:  Exploring Opportunities for Joint Municipal Planning around Grand Traverse Bay 

-Northwest Michigan Council of Governments-
Funding: DEQ Coastal Management Grant
Project Overview: This project will work with and help educate local officials about planning options for water resource protection. The pilot area for this grant is the thirteen townships, one city, and three villages bordering Grand Traverse Bay. Workshops will be held to train and inform the participants regarding legislative options and opportunities; maps of the region; local ordinance assessments; facilitated strategies on joint planning; technical assistance; capacity building; sample model ordinances, joint planning amendments, and overlay districts.
Timeline - Start: Jan 2005 End: March 2006
For more information, please contact Patty O'Donnell, Regional Planner, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, 231-929-5039 or podonnel@nwm.cog.mi.us. Or you can visit the project website.

Torch Lake Water Quality Monitoring Project 

-Three Lakes Association-
Funding: DEQ Clean Michigan Initiative
Project Overview: This project will build a water quality model for Torch Lake that will help predict the impacts of various changes to the lake's ecosystem, including increased phosphorus inputs from future sources such as new sewage collection and treatment systems, marinas, residential development, failing septic tanks, or other ecological changes. The initial effort will focus on Torch Lake, but the model will also include Clam Lake and Lake Bellaire. The Watershed Center is assisting Three Lakes Association by providing our Baykeeper tugboat as a monitoring platform.
Partners: Local Governments, NMC Water Studies Institute, The Watershed Center
For more information contact Tim Hannert, Executive Director, Three Lakes Association.

Purchasing Conservation Easements in the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed

-Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy-
Funding: DEQ Clean Michigan Initiative
Project Overview: This grant will provide funding for the Conservancy to purchase conservation easements in the Elk River Chain of Lakes and Boardman River subwatersheds, the two largest subwatersheds to Grand Traverse Bay.
For more information contact the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy: 231.929.7911.

Wild-Link

-Conservation Resource Alliance-
Funding: Various Sources
Project Overview: CRA will be expanding their WildLink Program further into the Grand Traverse Bay watershed.
For more information on this program, visit the WildLink website.

Coaster Brook Trout Spawning Habitat Project 

-Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians-
Funding: Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Others
Project Overview: This project seeks to find suitable habitat in Grand Traverse Bay for the reintroduction of coaster brook trout. In this early phase of the project, aerial photography will be used in conjunction with side-scan sonar technology to search for possible sites in the bay with suitable spawing habitat for coaster brook trout.
For more information contact the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.