l. Project Title: Pere Marquette River Rehabilitation Project
2. Contact
Tom Rozich
Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), 8015 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601, USA
Tel.: (616) 775-9727, ext. 6072; FAX: (616) 775-9671
3. Agencies Involved
Pere Marquette River Watershed Council
U.S Forest Service (Huron-Manistee National Forests)
Soil Conservation Service (Mason-Lake Conservation DiStrict)
Northwest Michigan Resource Conservation and Development Council
Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited
Michigan Department of Natural Resources - Fisheries Division
4. Restoration Goal
Rehabilitate river channel to provide salmonid spawning habitat, an adequate invertebrate food source and refuge habitat degraded by a large sediment bedload primarily from turn of the century 1ogging and associated human activities.
5. Project Type
Stabilization of eroding sandbanks and road crossings, augmentation of refuge habitat, and physical removal of sediment bedload.
6. Background and Rationale
The Pere Marquette River is one of Michigan's rivers which was utilized to float logs to market. The lumber companies systematically removed log jams and other large woody debris from the river channel, rolled logs down the river banks, and floated them downstream. These activities introduced large amounts of sediment, especially sand, to the streambed.
Research conducted by the Hunt Creek Research Station proved removal of this sediment would increase salmonid production several hundred fold (Alexander and Hansen 1983). A streambank erosion site inventory was conducted by Northwest Michigan RC&D, Inc. in 1986 and provided the documentation to get the project started. This inventory identified 189 individual erosion sites and an estimated cost of $1.5 million. An inventory of the road/stream crossings followed in 1993 and was also conducted by Northwest Michigan RC&D, Inc.
In 1987, a partnership agreement was signed by the aforementioned agencies, based on the initial inventory, to rehabilitate the Pere Marquette River. Fundinq in the amount of $1 000 000 was pledged by the Fisheries Division - Michigan DNR.
7. Regulatory Considerations
a) Obtain an Inland Lakes & Streams (Act 346) permit from Land water Management Division - Michigan DNR.
b) Obtain a Soil & Sedimentation permit from Lake County.
c) File an Environmental Assessment (by U.S. Forest Service) as the Pere Marquette River is a National Scenic River and State Natural River.
8. Criteria
Major emphasis was placed on streambank stabilization as the majority of the sediment was originating from the 189 identified sites. The project commenced in the headwaters and proceeded downstream on a worst first basis, with only sandbanks being stabilized. Clay banks, with particle size of less than 125 mm, do not add detrimental sediment to aquatic systems.
9. Project Design
The entire toe of the eroding bank would be stabilized from below the waterline to four feet above the ordinary high water mark with fieldstone (natural) rock 15-30 cm in diameter. On many of the banks LUNKER structures (Vetrano 1988) were added as fish habitat. Following rock placement, plantings were made just above the rock, woody debris was placed on the bank to exclude human and animal traffic, collect leaf litter, and cool the predominantly south facing slopes. In addition, road crossings are being upgraded (in cooperation with County Road Commissions) and recreational access points (pedestrian and boat) are being improved to reduce sediment input. Sediment basins (sand traps) were also dug and maintained at key locations (Hansen 1973; Hansen et al. 1983).
10. Implementation
The project commenced the summer of 1987 and has continued through 1994. To date, a total of 132 erosion sites, having 7 724 m have been stabilized with 15 208 m3 of fieldstone rock rip-rap and LUNKER structures. Some whole tree revetment has been used on clay banks and inaccessible locations. Finally, some conifer reforestation along tributary streams is being done to restore riparian forests and provide a source for large woody debris recruitment.
11. Degree of Environmental Intervention
The fieldstone rock was placed both by hand and by drag lines, excavators, and front end loaders. Fieldstone rock was used as it is native and found throughout the streambed. Native vegetation was used in revegetation areas above the fieldstone. The rock was overwhelming at first, but began to green up by the end of the summer of placement. Within 2-3 years, the rock rip-rap had a cover of annual plants.
12. Cost
Fisheries Division - MDNR $863 096
U.S. Forest Service - (Dept. of Ag.) $221 648
Local Match $188 000
Trout Unlimited $40 000
$1 312 744
Most of the work was done by contractors through a bid procedure, but some was done by the Michigan Youth Corps and Dept. of Corrections labor crews.
13. Biological Assessment
Mark and recapture salmonid population estimates by electrofishing were done prior to the bank stabilization and will continue. Young-of-the-year brown trout populations have increased several hundred percent (some years) from near zero in the treated zones, while they have remained near zero in untreated zones. Visual observations of stream morpholoqy are also made annually.
14. Measures of Success
The long-term goal of increased brown trout populations will be measured by electrofishing over the next decade. Early indications are that populations will increase substantially and eliminate the need for supplemental stocking of hatchery brown trout.
Success Rating (early results): 4
15. Key References
Alexander, G.H., and Hansen, E.A. 1983. Sand sediment in a Michigan trout stream Part II. Effects of reducing sand bedload on a trout population. N. Amer. J. Fish. Manage. 3: 365-372.
Alexander, G.R., and Hansen, E.A. 1986. Sand bedload in a brook trout stream. N. Amer. J. Fish. Manage. 6: 9-23.
Bassett, C.E. 1988. Rivers of sand: Restoration of fish habitat on the Hiawatha National Forest, p. 43-48. In T.W. Hoekstra and J. Capp [editors]. Integrating Forest Management for Wildlife and Fish. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NC-122, North Central Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN.
Hansen, E.A. 1971. Sediment in a Michigan trout stream, its source, movement, and some effects on fish habitat. USDA Forest Service Research Paper NC-59, North Central Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN.
Hansen, E.A. 1973. In-channel sediment basins - a possible tool for trout habitat management. Progr. Fish-Cult. 35: 138-141.
Hansen, E.A., Alexander, G.R., and Dunn, W.H. 1983. Sand sediment in a Michigan trout stream Part. I. A technique for removing sand bedload from streams. N. Amer. J. Fish. Manage. 3: 355-364.
Sedell, J.R., Swanson, F.J., and Gregory, S.V. 1984. Evaluating fish response to woody debris, p. 222-245. In Proceedings of Pacific Northwest Stream Habitat Management Workshop. California Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA.
Vetrano, D.M. 1988. Unit construction of trout habitat improvement structures for Wisconsin coulee streams. Wisc. Dep. Nat. Resour. Admin. Rep. No. 27: 35p.
Correct citation for this contribution:
Rozich, T. 1995. Pere Marquette River Rehabilitation Project, p. 255-258. In J.R.M. Kelso and J.H. Hartig [editors]. Methods of modifying habitat to benefit the Great Lakes ecosystem. CISTI (Can. Inst. Sci. Tech. Inf.) Occas. Pap. No. 1.