Sustainable Coastal Communities

Detroit River Renewal Continues
Michigan Sea Grant continues to play an active role in the Greater Detroit American Heritage River Initiative with partners including the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bristol Technical Consulting. Sea Grant extension educator Barry Murray represents Sea Grant in this important ongoing initiative. The initiative provides an essential role in setting priorities, partnering, facilitating and securing funding for various environmental, community development, greenways and educational programs related to the Detroit River community.

Contact: Barry Murray, (313) 961-2270.

Black Lagoon
Following decades of debate, a process facilitated by the Greater Detroit American Heritage River Initiative and Michigan Sea Grant has resulted in a new partnership of federal, state and local agencies, and private property owners to clean up the Black Lagoon, one of the most contaminated sites on the Detroit River.

The Black Lagoon site, located in the downriver community of Trenton, received the first grant from the federal Great Lakes Legacy Act through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in tandem with funds from the Clean Michigan Initiative supplied by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The clean-up process began in fall of 2004 and will be complete in early 2005. More than $6.5 million will aid in removing in excess of 100,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the Detroit River.

Contact: Barry Murray, (313) 961-2270.

Detroit River Sturgeon Habitat
When lake sturgeon look for the best place to spawn this spring, more than a few scientists will be keeping a close eye on the Detroit River.

Preparations have been in place since June 2004 with the construction of three spawning reefs in the waters off Belle Isle. Made of broken limestone, fieldstone and coal cinders respectively, the spawning reefs are part of an effort to rehabilitate lake sturgeon, a state-threatened fish species. According to biologist Bruce Manny of the USGS Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, mats to collect sturgeon eggs will be anchored on the reefs in 24 feet of water in March 2005.

“We’re going to be out there literally right after ice-out to examine the egg mats,” says Manny, which he and others will retrieve from the water’s surface.
While scientists hope to find sturgeon eggs, evidence of other fish is also likely. According to Manny, egg mats at the same location last year provided the first documented evidence of walleye spawning in the Detroit River. In the first six weeks after the reefs were in place, smallmouth bass also appeared. The reefs are already providing additional habitat for these two important sport fish. “Even if sturgeon don’t use the reefs right away,” says Manny, “other sport fish probably will.”

The reefs are one component of a sturgeon habitat, monitoring and education project, managed by Michigan Sea Grant, and funded by grants from NOAA’s Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Program, through the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program, and the Great Lakes Fishery Trust with additional support from multiple partners.

Contact: Jennifer Read, (734) 936-3622.
See: www.miseagrant.umich.edu/sturgeon

International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the only international refuge in the nation, continues to build on the successes of designation and land acquisition over the past several years. During 2004, John Hartig, former Detroit Heritage River Navigator, joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and became the Refuge Manager. Michigan Sea Grant continues to work closely with USFWS, Wayne County and many local partners and stakeholders in the development and programming of the Refuge Center and related environmental and shoreline habitat. As the Refuge matures, Sea Grant will have an ongoing outreach, education and programming role, showcasing the unique and spectacular features of the Detroit River ecosystem.

Contact: Barry Murray, (313) 961-2270.

Coastal Land Use in Michigan’s ‘Thumb’
With Sea Grant assistance, officials in Huron County’s Lake Township are pursuing sustainable solutions for coastal community growth and development. Located at the tip of Michigan’s thumb, Lake Township is one of many Michigan communities balancing the sustainability of tourism and agriculture in a lakeside setting.

As larger vacation and year-round homes replace small lakefront cottages, new and longtime residents are grappling with land use, zoning, impaired vistas and lakefront access issues. Simultaneously, agricultural operations provide competing uses that must be addressed at the local, county and state levels.
Sea Grant specialist Mike Klepinger and extension educator Barry Murray are working with township officials to address these types of coastal land use issues.
The township has begun to develop a process and ideas for providing regulatory and design guidelines to encourage sustainable solutions.

Contact: Mike Klepinger, (517) 353-5508 or Barry Murray, (313) 961-2270.

Rip Currents
Michigan Sea Grant extension educators and communicators joined forces with state, regional and national organizations in 2004 to raise awareness of rip currents in the oceans and Great Lakes. Michigan Sea Grant designed rip current brochures and beach signs, which are now in use by the program and its partners in coastal areas throughout the nation. More than 35 signs have been posted along Great Lakes beaches in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, warning swimmers of the dangers of rip currents and how to escape them. More than 110,000 copies of the brochure have been printed and distributed.

This partnership with the NOAA-National Weather Service, NOAA-National Sea Grant, and the U.S. Life Saving Association has had a positive impact on the development of consistent beach safety messages—a critical aspect of public outreach.

Michigan Sea Grant sponsored a conference on rip currents in April 2004 in St. Ignace, attended by more than 70 people from around the region. Michigan Sea Grant staff members continue to participate in the Mackinac County Water Safety Review Team and the Great Lakes Beach and Pier Safety Task Force.

This year, a conference on Great Lakes rip currents is scheduled for Thursday, June 2, 2005 at Ludington State Park.

Contact: Mark Breederland, (231) 922-4628.

Michigan Clean Marina Program
Thirty-nine Michigan marinas participated in Clean Marina workshops held in 2004. The workshops focused on best management practices for controlling pollutants associated with recreational boating operation, maintenance and storage. The forum also provided an overview of relevant environmental laws and regulations. Several marina operators are now preparing for the site inspection process, a requirement of program certification.

The Michigan Clean Marina Program is sponsored by Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

Contact: Chuck Pistis, (616) 846-8250.
See: www.miseagrant.umich.edu/cmp

Michigan Sea Grant’s Chuck Pistis, Jeff Spencer of the MDEQ and Steve Remias of the MBIA Board, were among those honored in December 2004 with the Michigan Boating Industries “Lighthouse Award” for contributions to the development of the Michigan Clean Marina Program.