Betsie River Watershed Restoration Committee Meeting Notes

Betsie River Watershed Restoration Committee
Meeting Notes – Draft #2
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 from 1pm to 3pm at the Weldon Township Hall in Thompsonville
Facilitator: Don Tanner
Notes taken by: Kimberly Balke
Committee Members Present:
Donald R. Tanner, River Guide and Betsie Landowner
Kimberly Balke, Conservation Resource Alliance
Ed Hoogterp, Crystal Lake Association & Watershed Plan Writer
Max Bromley, Springdale Township & Betsie River Landowner
Ron Hitesman, Weldon Township & Betsie River Landowner
Stacy Daniels, Crystal Lake & Watershed Association
Mark Tonello, MDNR Fisheries Division
Richard Anderson, Betsie River Landowner & Iron Fish Distillery
Casey Ressl, Conservation Resource Alliance
Amy Ferris, Crystal Lake Township
John Ransom, Benzie Conservation District
Charles Mayer, Betsie River Landowner
Chris Sullivan, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
Gary Sauer, Benzie County Commissioner
Craig Meredith, Betsie River Sportsman’s Club
Ron Evitts, Colfax Township & Betsie River Landowner
Agenda:
Introductions were made, meeting notes from October 2015 were approved, and the meeting proceeded as follows:
River Care Financial Report
The 4th quarter River Care financial report 2015 is attached. There was a $35 contribution from Bill Cragg (CRA sent a
thank you) and no expenditures this quarter leaving a balance of $2,206.96. There is $3,299.54 in the Betsie
endowment.
Crystal Lake/Betsie River Watershed Plan Update
Ed H. reported the following:
• Goal is for the draft plan to be submitted to MDEQ for review in late March 2016. Scott Gest is finalizing maps,
and the maps are available on the Networks Northwest website.
• Some priority areas in the plan include Bellows Park & Beulah Beach that have e. coli issues, severe road stream
crossings, an Elberta brownfield, moderate/severe streambanks, and protection of steep slope areas.
Invasive Plant Species Work
Katie G. was unable to attend. The Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program awarded the network a grant and so they
will be treating more areas this year.
Sustain Our Great Lakes
The CRA grant is entering its final year. The MDNR State land & Neetz streambank stabilization and woody debris work
was completed, plantings will happen this spring (Kim B. ordered from Benzie Conservation District). The Red Creek
crossing site is being design by NRCS (in cooperation with Grand Traverse Band EQIP funds) with a recommendation to
move the stream slightly north and better skew the new culvert to fit the stream. MDNR Special use permit has been
applied for by Benzie Road Commission and tree removal will occur before the seasonal Northern Long Eared Bat
restrictions go into effect (April 1). Construction is slated for summer 2016. Post-monitoring for aquatic insects,
amphibians and reptiles at the Nessen Rd./Little Betsie and Gudemoos/North Platte will be completed in April or May
2016. Craig M. noted that the VanNord and adjacent streambank is increasing in erosion severity; Kim B. had observed
that last summer during the streambank inventory and will visit that site as a possible optional woody debris site since
one of the Dair Creek landowners does not want to do allow woody debris placement in the former impoundment under
this grant.
Recreation
Don Tanner reported that recently MDNR, Networks Northwest, Sean Dupperon, Anne Bourne and he met to discuss the
Benzie County Waterways Program application which was denied funding. Networks Northwest (NN) ended up
submitting a scope of work and revised cost proposal to MDNR to do a waterway trail plan for the Betsie watershed
(including both Benzie & Manistee Counties). Kim B. touched base with Elizabeth Calcutt
(elizabethcalcutt@networksnorthwest.org) with NN in early April after this meeting and NN is in final stages of approval
and signing a memorandum of understanding with MDNR for $5,700 for this planning effort. Ideally and hopefully, more
grant funds may be sought by partners in the fall. There are a number of state land sites on the Betsie where informal
access is causing erosion. Kim B. noted that Springdale Township in Manistee County has identified the informal access
sites on state land at County Line/Moore Rds. and Dzuibanek/Kurick Rds. as top priorities in their recreation plan.
Land Protection
Chris Sullivan reported that the Railroad Point property closing documents are complete and the Crystal Lake outlet
property acquisition is in process utilizing FEMA dollars. Chris S. has been in discussions with a couple other landowners
in the watershed regarding land protection. It was noted that sadly Bill Johnson passed away; Bill and his wife own a
considerable amount of land on the Betsie adjacent to highway 669. It was confirmed after this meeting by Chris
Sullivan and Mark Tonello that the Wistrand 40 acre property on Dair Creek has indeed been purchased by the State of
Michigan for $105,000 and was recorded in Benzie County on January 5, 2016.
Betsie River Fishery
Mark Tonello was pleased to report that MDNR Crystal Lake fishery assessment is complete (the previous one was from
1955) and approved by all pertinent MDNR levels; it is available online at
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/SFR2015-202_518620_7.pdf. The Betsie River creel survey report is close to
production and print.
River Gauges
Max Bromley is going to work on a sole permit application for all stream gauges (data currently tracked on
crowdhydrology.com) with John Ransom, Benzie Conservation District as the applicant, and the Betsie River Care fund
will cover the $50 permit fee.
Events
• Benzie Conservation District is hosting the volunteer aquatic insect survey on May 14 at several locations in the
Betsie and Platte watersheds.
• Benzie Conservation District is hosting the annual river clean up on June 11.  Check their website at
www.benziecd.org for details on these events!
Other
• Colfax Township is working with Benzie County Road Commission to raise funds to replace Nostwick Bridge.
Upon inquiry from Ron Evitts, Kim B. noted that it is very difficult for CRA to raise grant funds to replace bridges
with bridges as grantors typically prioritize passage of aquatic species and significant sedimentation reduction in
•
funding river projects. MDNR Natural Rivers Program and MDEQ staff have regulatory authority over what new
bridge design could/would consist of, i.e. whether piers can be allowed in the river.
Beavers have created dams on the Little Betsie upstream of the eastern most Bentley road crossing. Kim B. and
fellow staff Kira Davis observed this in early December during site visits. Kim B. let BCRC know.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is tentatively planned for Tuesday, May 17, at 1pm at the Weldon Township Hall; meeting agendas will
be mailed in advance.
Scenic view of Red Creek, a Betsie tributary, downstream of Haze Road.
River Care Working Funds Available:
- at the start of the Quarter
$ 298,668.76
Quarterly Activity Report:
$
2,171.96
$ 13,104.69
$
2,453.29
$
784.40
$
1,544.84
$
10.18
$
561.16
Regional
Betsie
Big Sable
COL
Pere Marquette
Big Manistee
Pine
Little Manistee
(River Care)
(River Care)
(River Care)
(River Care)
(River Care)
(River Care)
(River Care)
(River Care)
$ 319,299.28
Total River Care
River Care Working Funds
Quarter 4 2015 October - December
Plus Contributions Rec'd For Quarter
$
Expense
12,000.00
$
35.00
BDR, Benzie3
7,725.25
Operating Transfer to projects
$
175.00
$
1,000.00
$
-
$
250.00
$
-
$
-
$
Big Sable LWD
3,500.00
13,460.00
11,225.25
Wage & Fringe
13,084.70
558.93
37.83
13,681.46
Indirect Costs
3,378.47
144.32
9.77
3,532.56
253.61
48.88
Sub Contract
227.50
Staff Travel
227.50
1,888.36
Printing & Postage & Photos
27.85
175.38
2,366.23
0.49
28.34
Permit Fees
0.00
Meeting Expense
135.00
Newsletter & Impact Report
123.27
258.27
1,696.23
1,696.23
Office Supplies
0.00
Field Supplies, Equipment Repair
82.04
368.99
451.03
River Care Kids
0.00
Reference Materials/Maps
0.00
Training & Education
0.00
Raffle Materials
0.00
Misc River Care trademark renewal
Less Total Expenses
600.00
$
600.00
28,845.40
$
$ 281,823.36
$
-
$
4,580.13
$
96.97
$
175.38
$
$
8,699.56
$
3,356.32
$
609.02
$
-
$
-
$
368.99
$
34,066.87
$
10.18
$
192.17
$ 298,692.41
Cumulative Summary:
Equals River Care Working Funds Available
2,206.96
1,794.84
River Care Permanent Funds
Balance of Permanent Funds
$1,007,902.71
$3,299.54
$1,157.75
$0.00
$0.00
$6,277.65
$0.00
$6,277.65
$1,024,915.30
$2,710,983.93
$26,768.00
$101,772.35
$19,000.00
$192,534.89
$26,321.00
$135,350.30
$48,857.00
$3,261,587.47
Total River Care Funds
Raised to Date**
Reviewed By: ___________________________
C O N S E R VA T I O N R E S O U R C E A L L I A N C E
Leelanau County
Grand Traverse County
Benzie County
2
1
Lake Michigan
Otter Creek
3
22
Cry
4
Pla
tte
Lak
e
sta
lL
ake
Frankfort
10
5
6
7
te
at
Pl
Honor
8
r
ive
Long Lake
Lake Ann
9
11
R
12
31
13
115
Duck Lake
Betsie Lake
Green Lake
31
22
115
ir
Da
14
k
ee
Cr
18
Manistee County
16
Otter Creek Watershed
Be
20
15
Benzie County
t
sie
r
ve
Ri
21
22
19
17
Platte River Watershed
e
ttl
e
si
r
ve
Benzie County
Michigan
Ri
B
et
Li
Wexford
County
Betsie River Watershed
Benzie County River Care
TM
Completed Projects
1. Otter Creek Timber Bridge
13. Kinney Creek & Stanley Road Culvert Replacement
2. Otter Creek Grand Traverse Band Brook Trout Study
14. Dair Creek Recovery, Dam Removal & Culvert Replacements,
and Betsie River Stabilization & Instream Habitat
3. North Branch Platte River Culvert Removals (2)
4. North Branch Platte River & Gudemoos Rd Culvert
Replacement & Stabilization
15. Dair Creek & Landis Road Culvert Replacement
5. Brozofsky Creek & Platte Road Culvert Replacement
16. Misty Acres Dam Removal, Road Crossing Removal, Instream Habitat & Streambank Stabilization
6. Tamarack Trout Farm Restoration
17. Betsie River & Aiken Road Instream Habitat
7. Platte River & South Street Stabilization
18. Betsie Streambank Stabilization & Instream Habitat
8. Platte River & Burnt Mill Road Timber Bridge
19. Betsie Day Use Facility Stabilization
9. Platte River & Burnt Mill Road Instream Habitat
20. Betsie River & King Road Improvements
10. Woodcock Creek & Burnt Mill Road Timber Bridge
21. Betsie River & Long Road Abutment Removal & Stabilization
11. Platte River & Reynolds Road Timber Bridge
22. Little Betsie & Nessen Road Timber Bridge
12. Stanley Creek & Hulbert Road Culvert Replacement
P 231-946-6817 F 231-947-5441 E info@rivercare.org www.rivercare.org 10850 Traverse Hwy., Suite 1180, Traverse City, MI 49684