Environmental Update

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• Four Township Water Resources Council receives education awards
• Ecological research in the Augusta Creek watershed
• Around the watershed...
• Local Land Conservancy working to preserve natural diversity
• City of Kalamazoo to tap Ross Township for groundwater
• Construction begins on sewer treatment plant
• Land Purchase Increases Public Access to Augusta Creek

An effective way to bring about change in your community is to voice your opinion at local government meetings. Check the list of Governmental Agencies for times and locations of meetings in your area.

Community members from four townships (Barry, Prairieville Twps. of Barry Co. and Richland and Ross Twps of KalamazooCo.) within the Augusta Creek and Gull Creek watersheds have formed a non-profit, citizen-based, watershed management council to study:

1. water resource and wetland protection
2. open space and rural character preservation
3. prime farmland preservation
4. lake shoreland and stream corridor protection
5. lake access and overcrowding.

The group received two awards:

The Watershed Steward Award from the Forum for Kalamazoo County (May, 1998)
The Positive Action for Tomorrow Award from the Barry County Futuring Committee (August, 1998)

for their work in developing an educational program to bring these issues before government leaders and residents of the watershed communities. The program, "Wise Land Use Through Economic and Environmental Partnership," focuses on sustainable land use strategies that balance economic and environmental objectives in order to preserve the communities rural character and natural resources. A video tape and related publications can be borrowed from most libraries within the four townships. For further information contact Wes Knollenberg at (616)671-4547 or email ecovision@aol.com.

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The Augusta Creek system has long been a favorite research site for professors and students from the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) of Michigan State University. Lawrence Lake along Hickory Road is one of the best studied hardwater lakes in the world, and some of the fundamental concepts in the field of stream ecology arose from studies done during the 1970's and 80's on Augusta Creek (see Publications). There are several new research projects in the watershed. The Four Township Water Resources Council received a grant from the Kalamazoo Foundation to produce a "Water Atlas". The Atlas will include water quality data and general information on all of the wetlands, lakes and streams in Ross, Richland, Barry and Prairieville townships. Suzanne Sippel will measure the water quality of these sites in Steve Hamilton's laboratory at KBS, and she will prepare the Atlas, which will be available to the public.

Kellogg Biological Station is supporting the development of a computer-based Geographic Information System (GIS) by the Department of Geography at Michigan State University (data online at http://topos.geo.msu.edu/~kbs/download2.html). The GIS includes a wealth of information such as topography, land use, roads, soils, and wetlands, and will be a valuable tool for local land-use planning. The GIS Research Center at Western Michigan University contributed data to the GIS. Steve Hamilton of KBS is initiating a 5-year study of local wetlands, including floodplains and wet meadows along streams and rivers, wetlands associated with lakes, and the numerous wetlands that occur as pools in isolated depressions across the landscape. His research will examine how the hydrology of the wetlands - the sources and turnover of water - determine their water quality and their characteristics as habitat for plants and animals. He is especially interested in understanding the values and functions that wetlands provide, and how these might be influenced by human activities.

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Michigan's Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, in conjunction with Kalamazoo Valley Trout Unlimited and MSU, renovated the Kellogg Forest pond. In late March the pond will be stocked with 150 Brown Trout and 150 Rainbow Trout. The pond will be managed for kids 16 and under only. Fisheries Division has also consulted with Trout Unlimited on a fish habitat enhancement project, which consists of half log installations in Augusta Creek in the Kellogg Forest.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Surface Water Quality Division is currently reviewing a grant proposal submitted by the Four Township Water Resources Council for efforts to protect water quality and open space in Prairieville, Barry, Ross and Richland townships. If funded, the grant could provide up to $100,000 per year for three years to begin in early 1999. A 30% local match is required. An important review criterion is local support for the goals of the proposed project. Funding originates with the federal Clean Water Act. Grant decisions will be made by late spring.

A 40 acre tract of wetlands, farmlands, and a portion of Augusta Creek in Barry Township has been placed under a conservation easement with the South West Michigan Land Conservancy. The H. Lewis Batts, Jr. Trust made the donation on December 31, 1997. This action provides long-term stewardship of this portion of the Creek and Pitchfork Valley Marsh, a significant wetland area for wildlife.

The Michigan DEQ southwest Michigan district office has an Enviroscape Model available for use by schools or organizations interested in environmental education. The 3-dimensional table-top model can be used to demonstrate nonpoint source pollution, and how it can be prevented. If there is sufficient interest a teacher training session can be arranged. The model is appropriate for groups of all ages, especially those who don't mind getting a little damp. If you are interested in using the model call Jenny Molloy at 616-692-6966. Kellogg Elementary Brownie Troop 916 went on a stream safari in Augusta Creek last July. The girls met a variety of stream critters and their habitats, and learned to identify mayflies, stoneflies and other stream creatures. They are now pros at wielding dip nets, handling crayfish without getting pinched, and removing leeches from their ankles.

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The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is working to preserve and protect the natural diversity and beauty of southwest Michigan. In Barry Co., south of Hastings, a conservation easement was obtained to protect 153 acres, including all of Aurohn Lake and 400 feet of frontage on Whitefish Lake. The land, owned by the Joneses, includes extensive woods and agricultural land adjacent to both lakes. Under the terms of the easement, Mr. and Mrs. Jones retain title to the land and the right to convey it in the future to others, but also allows them to protect their land, in perpetuity, against development or other uses which they deem inappropriate.

If you would like to help the SWMLC, you can contact Renee Kivikko at the main office, (616)324-1600, or use email swmlc@aol.com. To reach members of the SWMLC Barry Co. Land Protection subcommittee, call Jason Cherry at (616)945-4568 or Christopher Nagy at (616)948-9527.

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Test wells drilled east of Greer Road will provide data to determine if the aquifer between Sherman Lake and Three Lakes can sustain a draw of 6 million gallons a day. The Sherman Lake Association's concern for possible impact on surface water levels prompted City rep Bruce Minsley (616)337-8730 to speak to members on July 10 at Ross Township Hall. The water pumped will be used to supplement the City water system during peak use perionds and to help meet current growing demands in Comstock Township. The water from the Sherman Lake Aquifer will also be used to supply new developments in Richland Township. The Ross Township Board has appointed a Franchise committee to gather background information for developing language for a possible contract with the City. The Sherman Lake Association has petitioned the Ross Township Board for a public hearing.

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In area news of interest to ACWA members, work has begun on the Southwest Barry County Sewer Treatment project. The $11.43 million sewer project will serve Wall Lake, Pine Lake, Fine Lake, Crooked Lake, and the Delton business district. Trustees from the system's four townships in March approved a revised authority contract and a new sewer ordinance, which set user guidelines and costs. Sewer users will have 12 months from the time construction is completed to join the sewer voluntarily before legal action will be taken.

Each user will pay $5,500 to hook directly into the system (this is reduced by half for indirect connections such as subdivisions) and $22 per month in use and debt service fees once hooked up. While property owners are responsible for connecting, those who have already paid special assessments will receive the equipment free of charge, according to sewer authority manager Richard Pierson.

The Barry County Department of Public Works will sell sewer authority bonds totaling $12 million. Each township will pay the county for its share with money from system operations, such as new connection fees and sewer assessments (which have been in place since 1990). The amount owed by each township is determined by a formula base on what share of the system is used by that township. The Barry DPW will sell 17-year bonds for the project, a time frame representing the years the townships have to make payments.

The treatment plant is to be built north of Osborne Road in Barry Township, due south of the city of Delton (this is in the Crooked Lake drainage area). A contract was awarded in early February to Erhardt Construction Co. of Grand Rapids, the low bidder of six firms who sought the contract to build the treatment plant. The winning bid was $2,518,998. (Bids for other phases of the project, including installation of sewer lines to and around the four lakes involved, come to $9,878,418 in all. This figure does not include engineering and bond sale costs, which is expected to put the project over $12 million.) Erhardt Construction Co. has built or renovated sewage treatment plants in Otsego, Lowell, Zeeland, Grand Haven, and Nashville. They have also helped update the Grand Rapids water treatment complex.

The first bids for construction of the treatment plant, opened in November 1992, were more than $1 million higher than the winning bid. The project was resubmitted for bids after specification changes were made in the project:
- holding ponds to be used for treated water were reduced in size by half;
- the main 6,500-square-foot treatment plant building was changed from cement block to wood frame construction;
- a structure at the treatment plant site was relocated, and the half-mile driveway was changed from blacktop to gravel surface;
- some piping configurations at the treatment plant were changed from 12 inches to 8 inches. This capacity limitation may complicate the addition of more users to the system in the future.

As of early May, some construction has begun in Barry Township. Workers have begun installing sewer lines along Osborne Road between Gilkey Lake and Gurd Roads (this is part of the route that will connect Fine Lake to the treatment plant). Construction at the future site of the treatment plant has been temporarily delayed by the discovery of an active great blue heron nesting site.

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The Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved purchase of a 142-acre tract of land to protect and provide public access to Augusta Creek. The creek is considered to be one of the last good trout fishing streams in southwest Michigan.

The property, located two miles east of Gull Lake and four miles north of Augusta (see Augusta Creek map), has 4,335 feet of frontage on the creek. The proposed purchase price was $134,900 ($950 per acre). The previous owner was Frank Snyder of Charlotte.

The DNR recommended purchase of the parcel. Most of the purchase monies are to come from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

The parcel will be dedicated for angler access to the creek and for hunting, and will be administered by the DNR's Wildlife Division. The DNR describes the parcel as an upland tract with level to gently rolling terrain. It contains 80 acres of tillable land, 13.5 acres of pasture, 8.5 acres of marsh and wetlands, and 40 wooded acres of mixed, uneven-aged hardwoods. The state already owns parcels that abut the property on two sides.

The state purchased a larger block of land on both sides of the creek from an Upjohn family member a couple of years ago.