Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan Portage Lake Watershed Forever Committee Meeting –June 13, 2007 Welcome I’m Laura Heintzelman, and I will be facilitating our meeting. Conversations, called focus group meetings, are being held with several different groups in the Portage Lake Watershed over the next two weeks to understand how the community uses Portage Lake and its nearby streams and land, what concerns they have, and their vision for the future. Today we are focusing on ____ interests. Other interests include. We want to hear from as many perspectives as possible because the information that we learn from you will help to provide the foundation of the Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan, a living document that will guide all types of community-designed projects that may include education, restoration, management and protection efforts within the watershed. My role is to help the group stay on topic an stick to time frames, but I will not share my personal opinion. I will stay neutral at all times. ______ will be helping me record our conversation. We may ask for input or clarification to make sure we record your point accurately. Everything you say will be confidential. All responses will be summarized and will not be attributed to any one individual. All participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas and feelings about the watershed. Differences in opinion will be respected – the purpose is to capture as many ideas as possible – not to come to consensus today.

Agenda Welcome and Introductions Study Findings and Next Steps Public Engagement Process PLWF Executive Committee and Technical Advisors Future Meeting Dates Adjourn

Phase I of Watershed Study Watershed Description (Completed) Review of Previous Studies (Completed) State of the Watershed Summary (Completed) Identification of Local Issues, Concerns, and Priorities Focus Group Discussions (Quality and Scope) Telephone Survey (Quantity and Priorities) (By July 1) Gap Analysis: What additional information is needed to meet state and federal requirements for implementation grants? (By July 1 )

Portage Lake Watershed

Physical Description Watershed—15,800 acres in size (21 miles 2) Portage Lake—2,110 acres or 13% of watershed area Portage Lake has 7 named tributaries Watershed has 3 other small named lakes 1993 Study designated 11 subwatersheds

Subwatersheds—1993 Study

Other Watershed Descriptors Demographics Land Use, Land Cover Geology, Soils, Topography Wetlands Land Ownership Portage Lake Contours, Fisheries, and Water Quality

Demographics 2000 U.S. Census Data Changes Since 1990* Total population +20% 65-Year-Olds +24% Occupied Units +16% *Based upon Onekama Township

Present Land Use, Land Cover

Changes in Land Cover: 1850s to 1978 Significant changes from dominant hardwood forests in the pre-settlement era

Geology—Sedimentary Bed Rock Manistee Co. Ranks #2 in All Time State Oil and Gas Production

Geology—Glacial Deposits Glacial Soils Support Groundwater Recharge

Current Wetlands

Changes—1860s to Present Significant losses on shoreline areas of Portage Lake

Land Ownership Very little state, federal, or other public land in watershed

Portage Lake Fisheries Portage Lake supports a wide range of naturally reproducing, resident coolwater and warmwater fish populations including largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, rock bass, hybrid sunfish, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. With the support of an annual stocking program, Portage Lake has a popular year-round walleye fishery as well as a seasonally important brown trout, coho, and chinook fishery.

Review of Previous Water Quality Studies on Portage Lake MDNR Water Chemistry Monitoring 1974 and 1985 Northwest Michigan Planning Shoreline Algal Survey 1983 MDNR Contaminant Monitoring 1990 Bacteriologic, Secchi Disk Readings, Onekama Township (1985–1992) SEG Comprehensive Study 1991 DNR Fisheries Report 1999 Onekama High School 2004–2006

Portage Lake Description Depth Contours

DNR Sampling 1974 and 1985 Dissolved Oxygen

Northwest Michigan Planning Shoreline Algal Survey 1983 Cladophora growths are attributable to the presence of septic leaching in the shoreline area adjacent to the Portage Point Inn. Phosphorus loading from runoff and atmospheric deposition were estimated to contribute more than 96% of the total phosphorus inputs to the lake. The report recommended periodic sampling to detect any changes that might occur in Portage Lake related to pollution from septic tank/tile field failures. Area in need of sewers is limited to Village of Onekama

SEG Comprehensive Study 1991

Summary of Productivity Measures from Previous Studies

State of the Subwatershed The Good News Despite all the changes, water quality and related benefits remain relatively high No local sources of toxic substances have been identified Relatively little change observed in productivity since 1976 sampling Existing habitat supports valuable fish populations in Portage Lake and tributaries Most suspected historical sources of potential human pathogens addressed

State of the Subwatershed Concerns and Potential Threats DO levels below thermocline and duration of oxygen depletion Algae growth and E. coli measurements to determine contributions from septic systems Rooted aquatic plant abundance and dominance of exotic species Future status of critical habitat Comparison with similar lakes

Comparison with Platte Lake Portage Lake

Comparison with Platte Lake Portage Lake

Comparison with Platte Lake Portage Lake

MDEQ-Approved Watershed Plans

With Oversight of Executive and Technical Advisory Committees Next Steps With Oversight of Executive and Technical Advisory Committees Identify Information Gaps Qualify for state and federal assistance to implement plan Conduct Telephone Survey of Residents Identify concerns, opportunities, and priorities Complete Focus Group Meeting with Seasonal Residents Determine any special issues related to seasonal residents Initiate Phase II of Study Fill information gaps to complete approvable watershed management plan Identify list of early implementation activities

Public Engagement Focus Groups Community Forum Targeted diverse interests 7 meetings, 73 participants Seasonal residents, June 28 Community Forum Public invited 38 participants Portage Lake Watershed Forever Committee and Meetings

Telephone Survey Field June 25, Results in July, N=400 Questions Informed by Focus Groups Results Will Tell Us: How residents use the lake How residents perceive the quality of the water What sites and resources need protection The level of support for actions to protect Portage Lake The best ways to inform residents about the lake Activities (boating, fishing, frequency, quality, ease of access) AND Conflicts (types, frequency, severity, timing) Water Quality (compared to other lakes, trend, sources of pollution) – List generated from focus groups Sites to protect, vistas, tribal sites, natural features, etc Actions for improvement (Gage support for actions discussed in focus groups)

PLWF Structure

Future Meeting Dates June 26, 2007— Executive Committee & Technical Advisor Meeting, 4-6 p.m., Media Center, Onekama School June 28, 2007—Property Owners Focus Group Meeting, 7 p.m., Farr Center, Onekama

Thank You! Your time and input are critical to making the Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan and its implementation a success.