1. 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.

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

3. 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 )

4. Portage Lake Watershed

5. 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

6. Subwatersheds—1993 Study

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

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

9. Present Land Use, Land Cover

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

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

12. Geology—Glacial Deposits
Glacial Soils Support Groundwater Recharge

13. Current Wetlands

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

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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. Portage Lake Description Depth Contours

19. DNR Sampling 1974 and 1985 Dissolved Oxygen

20. 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

21. SEG Comprehensive Study 1991

22. Summary of Productivity Measures from Previous Studies

23. 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

24. 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

25. Comparison with Platte Lake
Portage Lake

26. Comparison with Platte Lake
Portage Lake

27. Comparison with Platte Lake
Portage Lake

28. MDEQ-Approved Watershed Plans

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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)

32. PLWF Structure

33. 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

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