Watershed Management Planning for the River Raisin: Perspectives on changing land use, dams, water quality, and best management practice River Raisin Watershed Council Annual Dinner April 24, 2007

The watershed is divided into two main geological areas, and you can see that reflected in the presettlement landcover. The upper watershed consists of mainly glacial deposits; it’s hilly and relatively well drained. As a result it tended to support oak-hickory ecosystems, including oak savannas and similar. The lower watershed consists of lake plain, with moist clay soil. It supported mainly beech-maple forest, with patches of wet prairie and marsh land.

Location of Water Chemistry Sampling Sites Site Code Tributary RR5 River Raisin G1 Goose Creek I1 Iron Creek RR7 E1 Evans Creek RR6 SB3 Wolf Creek SB2 S. Branch Raisin B2 Black Creek RR1 RR2 S1 Saline River M1 Macon Creek RR3 LRR1 Little River Raisin RR8 B1 RR4 SB1 S2

Sampling Events and Discharge MAY OCT JUNE AUG Wet-Weather Sampling -May 17-19, 2006 -October 4-5, 2006 Dry-weather Sampling -June 13-15, 2006 -August 22-24, 2006

for the River Raisin Watershed Using Geographic Information System Scorecards to Convey Water Quality Data for the River Raisin Watershed OBJECTIVES Enable comparison of water quality performance across space, time, and environmental variables Facilitate decision-making about watershed restoration targets to address in the River Raisin Watershed Management Plan Objectives

Total Nitrogen Subwatershed Percent Cropland Sampling Event Legend Unique maps were created for each environmental variable of interest. For each site, a colored grid presented scores on different dates. Site scores were organized and labeled by subwatershed, subsheds colored by total sq miles cropland. Colors were chosen such that increasing color intensity corresponded to increasing concentrations categories. This objective seems to have been met, as initial stakeholder response to the scorecards has been very favorable.

Total Nitrogen Phosphorous Suspended Matter Conductivity Total Nitrogen Phosphorous Suspended Matter South Branch, Black, Saline, Macon, and Lower Raisin subwatersheds scored consistently high across time and variables. Same subwatersheds also contain the greatest total square miles of cropland  agricultural pollution is a major cause of water quality degradation across the basin. Given our score categories, basin is more impaired by high TN and TP levels than by TSM or conductivity. Temporal trends harder to discern.

Selection factors for suggested agricultural BMPs: Nonstructural AND Facilitate decision-making about watershed restoration targets to address in the River Raisin Watershed Management Plan Selection factors for suggested agricultural BMPs: Nonstructural AND Effectively reduce in-stream TN and TP OR Are low-risk and require low labor input OR Have been formerly recommended for adoption in River Raisin OR Have proven effective in the River Raisin OR Are supported by Farm Bill programs in basin What are BMPs? Why does plan seek to list target BMPs? Scorecards – need to mitigate agricultural pollution. Our report cards have shown that interventions aimed at reducing nutrient levels (TN and TP). Review of literature surrounding agricultural BMPs looked at in addition to efficacy at mitigating target pollutant, practical considerations are also important (farmer familiarity, support by Farm Bill programs, etc.). Nonstructural b/c preventive, not end-of-pipe. Last few factors increase familiarity and proven success important b/c suite of local factors which influence effectiveness

Suggested Agricultural BMPs Facilitate decision-making about watershed restoration targets to address in the River Raisin Watershed Management Plan Suggested Agricultural BMPs Conservation tillage Contour cropping Nutrient management plans Cover cropping Residue management Critical area planting Riparian buffers Irrigation management Rotational grazing Conservation coverage South Branch, Black, Saline, Macon, and Lower Raisin subwatersheds should receive priority for resource allocation

Impacts, Assessment, and Removal River Raisin Dams Impacts, Assessment, and Removal

Dams on the River Raisin Average age 65 years Low hazard Small size Substantial cumulative impacts

Waterloo Dam Constructed 1820, Monroe, MI Severs the Raisin River ecologically from the Great Lakes Rebuilt in 1970’s Adjacent to Veterans Park MDEQ significant hazard rating Six low head beautification dams Removal would open up 16km of habitat upstream

Ecological Impacts Fragmentation of habitat Barriers to fish, mussel, and aquatic macro-invertebrate reproduction and migration Interruption of sediment transport downstream and alteration of riverbank formation and wetlands Alteration of seasonal flow characteristics and temperature

Benefits of Dams Water supply Fire control Lake level maintenance Power supply (decommissioned) Anchoring public parks Recreational opportunities

Costs of Dams Liability of ownership Repair and maintenance Hazards to life and property

Hazard Ratings for Dams on the River Raisin Hazard Distribution 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 Hazard Rating 40 30 20 10 Frequency Hazard Ratings for Dams on the River Raisin Thirty-six Low Hazard structures Fourteen Significant or High Hazard structures

Methods Potential for removal determined by: Hazard Rating (1-3) Ecological Impact (0 or 2.5) Age of Structure (1-5) Purpose (1-5) Size of Structure (1-3)

Range of possible scores: 4 - 18.5 Analysis Score is 0 to 9.25 Good Potential for Removal Score is 9.25 > and < 14 Moderate Potential for Removal Score is = or >14 Poor Potential for Removal Range of possible scores: 4 - 18.5

Results

Conclusions The majority of dams on the River Raisin present opportunities for removal. The watershed council should focus on dams which provide significant ecological benefits given their limited resources. Stakeholder resistance to dam removal can be overcome through education, adequate outside funding, and a well developed vision of the project post-removal.