Huron River Report 2005 Summer

7/28/2019 Huron River Report 2005 Summer

1/12

Summer 2005

Huron River ReportThe Newsletter of the Huron River Watershed Council

Beautiful WaterWe Need YOU p 5HRWC Then and Now p 6State of the Huron p 11

What IS That?!?

A brief story of Barton Pond

A field guide to aquatic phenomena

Less than a hundred years ago the HuronRiver meandered through open grazing landon the site of todays Barton Pond. Forcenturies before that, a Potawatomi villageand planting field could be found oppositethe mouth of Honey Creek where fourtrails came together on rich floodplain nowcovered by the pond. The story of thetransformation of the river is a fascinatingone, with two principal actors: GardnerStewart Williams, the gifted engineer whodesigned the multiple-arch Barton Damand supervised its construction; and AlexDow, the president of the Eastern MichiganElectric Co. (later Detroit Edison), whoenvisioned a series of dams that would usethe middle Huron to generate hydroelec-tric power and at the same time createopportunities to develop lakeside commu-nities.

Barton Dam, constructedbetween 1912 and 1915, wasthe first of seven damsreaching downstream as faras Belleville. Williamsactually designed andpurchased much of theland for two more dams, atDelhi and Dexter, that werenot built because ofchanging economicconditions. The projectedimpoundment aboveDexter would have hadapproximately six timesthe area of Barton Pond. A choice stretchof river, designated country-scenic underthe Michigan Natural Rivers Act (1970) andhighly valued by canoeists and kayakers,not to mention fishermen and naturalists,

would have been submerged.

The extensive documentary and photo-graphic record left by Gardner Williams,now in the University of Michigans BentleyHistorical Library, reveals what wasinvolved in transforming the river. In order

to build the dam and create what he called

Lakes and streams dont always look orbehave the way we expect. Somethingthat, at first glance, looks like pollutionactually might be a natural phenomenon.

Water can be full of strange colors,unidentified blobs, and swimming creatures,all part of the variation and diversity of theaquatic world.

There are all kinds of cool, weird, andfascinating things waiting to be discoveredin your nearby lake or stream. Go find outwhats living in your world, and what makesit unique.

OILY SHEENSAn oily sheen thatreminds you ofrainbow puddles

in an asphaltparking lot mightbe from spilledpetroleum. A spillof just one gallonof oil is enough toform a film acrossthe surface of afour-acre lake.

continued on page 4

continued on page 3

Before Barton Pond. Gardner Stewart Williams Papers, Bentley

Historical Library, University of Michigan

Oily sheens on the waters surface may result from the decomposition

of organic matter. photo: Catherine Schmitt


2/12

Summer 2005 Huron River Report

Featured Articles

Beautiful Water.............................coverA brief story of Barton Pond

What IS That?................................coverA field guide to aquatic phenomena

We Need YOU........................................5Volunteers crucial to HRWC success

Storming Down aLovely Valley...........................................5New publication about Millers Creek

From Then To Now...............................6HRWC at 40

Page 2

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t sT a b l e o f C o n t e n t sT a b l e o f C o n t e n t sT a b l e o f C o n t e n t sT a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

* = Adopt-A-Stream Monitoring Site

Indicates geographiclocation connected to

article.

2005 EVENTS2005 EVENTS2005 EVENTS2005 EVENTS2005 EVENTSWisdom from the Ancients...............10Classical philosopher recognized the values

of conservation

More events and updates on the web at: www.hrwc.org

The NEW Center is located at1100 N. Main Street in Ann Arbor.Call (734) 769-5123 or visit the HRWC website for directions.

Other News

Know Your Board Rep........................8Jan BenDor, Pittsfield Township

Business Partner Spotlight:Visteon Corporation...............................9

A Nip and a Tuck...................................10

Makeovers for HRWC web site and strategicplan

Business Members................................10

State of the Huron.................................11Highlights of a successful day

Thank You!............................... back cover

page 9page 9page 9page 9page 9

covercovercovercovercover

page8page8page8page8page8

Thursday, Jun 16, 1:00-5:00PM

NEW CenterThursday, Jun 23East LansingProtecting Michigans Wetlands,Options for Local GovernmentsWorkshopThe Michigan Department of Environ-mental Quality, East Michigan Environ-mental Action Council, and Tip of theMitt Watershed Council are offeringtraining workshops to help localofficials, planning commissioners, localcitizens and other decision-makersunderstand the valuable role local

governments can play in wetlandprotection. The workshops willhighlight the following topics: wetlandtypes, wetland functions and values,

benefits of local wetland protec-

tion, how to develop a wetlandsordinance, discussion of a modelordinance, additional land use toolsfor wetlands protection, wetlandsinventory maps, and how to getstarted

Registration fee is $35 and advanceregistration is required. Registrationforms available at www.emeac.orgor call (248) 258-5188 or [email protected].

Thursday, Jul 21, 5:30-7:30PM

HRWC Board of DirectorsMeetingNEW CenterCall Laura at (734) 769-5123 x2 forlocation.


3/12

Summer 2005Huron River Report Page 3

Beautiful Watercontinued from cover

Barton Lake, Williams had to negotiatefor land and flowage rights; arrange for thecutting and removal of timber (including1,450 cords of hardwood and 14,350 linearfeet of logs); and negotiate with OlmstedBros., the Boston landscape architects who

landscaped Barton Hills, to grade and fillthe approaches to the Barton Dampowerhouse and create a beach. Permis-sion had to be secured to raise FosterBridge up to five feet, relocate telegraphlines, and lay a temporary spur track for theMichigan Central Railroad. Then therewere surprises, like a letter from anattorney for Walter Tubbs requestingcompensation for the loss of three and ahalf acres of flooded farmland.

As the waters rose, residents would haveseen the emergence of a manmade

landscape in which the hilly north shore ofthe river took on new prominence, and aninviting lake with grassy, lightly-woodedshores replaced the broad valley and itsgrazing cattle. A promotional booklet forBarton Hills Country Homes published bythe Huron Farms Company in 1931 boasts ofbeautiful water and views of the pictur-esque Huron River Valley; a map highlightsthe recreational potential of Barton Pond(with a prominent sailboat and swimmingdock) and shows housing sites arranged tooffer views of the water. Williamss lake

had become by then the more understatedpond, and a previously undefined land-scape was now Barton Hills, the site ofwhat has developed into a unique andhighly desirable residential area. Access toBarton Pond has been regulated from itsbeginnings, with motorboats banned; aproposal for a public boat launch on thesouth shore was defeated in the 1980s.

Barton Pond today retains its scenic appealand much of the recreational potential ofits earlier years, although the days ofswimming from docks and Foster Bridgeare long past, and increasing weediness hascomplicated sailing and made fishing fromthe bank a questionable proposition. Formany years the Barton Boat Club, anindependent sailing club that rents aboathouse built in the 1920s from BartonVillage, has held regattas for snipes andlasers attracting as many as forty boats.

Five years ago the boat club discontinuedregattas for the larger snipes because their

rudders prevented them from getting outthrough the weeds. The Boat Club andresidents of Barton Hills have tried toreduce vegetation over the years. They

had some success in reducing Eurasianmilfoil through the introduction of beetlesthat feed on it, although the struggle withthis and other invasives, such as curlypondweed, as well as with proliferatingnative vegetation, remains a difficult one.They are campaigning to re-establishwinter drawdowns of the sort practiceduntil 1986 by Detroit Edison before the citytook over the operation of Barton Dam.Resumption of the drawdowns has beenthwarted by the lack of an agreementbetween Barton Village and the city about

sharing the expense, and about whethersufficient evidence exists that it will provebeneficial and not detrimental.

DNR biologists Paul Seelbach and JeffBraunscheidel regard Barton Pond as deepenough to maintain a good fishery butobserve that as the first of the series ofimpoundments on the middle Huron itcatches all the sediment coming down thestretch of the river below Baseline Lake.Like other dams on the Huron, Barton Damhas had the effect of decreasing biologicaldiversity, for example, by reducing thenumber of species of freshwater musselsand restricting the movement of fish upand down the river. For Janice Skadsen, whooversees the treatment of water drawnfrom the pond for Ann Arbors use, thereare more immediate concerns: zebramussels threaten to clog intake valves and,because they clarify the water in the pond,encourage the growth of weedbeds; and

storm water runoff, of a kind not seen tenyears ago, is dramatically altering thechemistry of the pond, decreasing alkalin-

ity and increasing bacterial growth.

Defenders of the quality of Barton Pondmust contend with an array of biological,political, and economic forces, the mostformidable of which may be the pressurefor development in the watershed,exemplified by a proposed new develop-ment of sixty-nine homes immediatelyupstream (between Tubbs and MapleRoads) that poses the threat of increasednitrogen and phosphorus loading andstorm water runoff. As a recent study

directed by Professor John Lehman of theUniversity of Michigan (described in theSpring, 2005, issue of Huron River Report)has shown, Barton Pond is more vulnerablethan had been supposed to algal blooms ofthe sort that have recently plagued Fordand Belleville Lakes.

All impoundments have finite lifespansbecause of the continuing influx of sedi-ments and nutrients. Given its relativedepth, Barton Pond should last longer thanmost, but its quality will be stronglyaffected by the extent to which develop-ment fills in the remaining green space inthe watershed and by the success of effortsto educate the public about the need tominimize harmful runoff. The wonder withwhich people must have greeted theemergence of Barton Pond in the early 20th

century has been replaced by an awarenessof the increasing effort it will take to

preserve what makes such a resource soappealing.

John Knott

The beginnings of Barton Dam, 1912. Gardner Stewart Williams Papers, BentleyHistorical Library, University of Michigan


4/12

Summer 2005 Huron River ReportPage 4

What IS That?!?continued from cover

But what about when you are in the woodsfar from any roads, or walking along theundeveloped shore of a lake? Oily sheenscan also come from natural sources. Somebacteria (Leptothrix discophora)that livein waterlogged places get their energy from

iron and manganese, and as these harmlessbacteria grow and decompose, the ironmay appear oily or form red or orangefilms, fluffs, and coatings. Leptothrixcanalso excrete manganese, which looks likeblack slime.

How to tell the difference betweenpetroleum spills and natural oil sheens?Poke the sheen with a stick. If the sheenswirls back together immediately, itspetroleum. If the sheen breaks apart anddoes not flow back together, it is from

bacteria or other natural source.

The breakdown of organic matter (plantand animal material) also can leave an oilysheen on the water surface. In the springand summer, a dark cloud in the wateraccompanied by an oily sheen could be theouter skeletons of insect cases left behindfrom a hatch of aquatic insects. The larvaeof mayflies and some other aquatic insectsmolt and shed their skins as they leave thewater and become flying adults. The skinsare called exuvia. Exuvia can be seenfloating on the water or can accumulate onwave-swept shores, where they aresometimes mistaken for fish kills . You canfind dragonfly skins attached to docks,

plants, and objects near shore. As exuviadecompose, an oily film sometimes formson the water surface. A diatom bloom canalso leave oil behind as the algal cells die.

FOAM

Foam is often seen along lake shores andon streams and rivers. Most foam is naturaland does not indicate pollution. Foamforms when water is mixed with air, such asby a waterfall or waves breaking againstshore. Plants and animals release organiccompounds as they decompose, and thesecompounds lessen the surface tension ofwater and create bubbles.

Biodegradable detergents and reduction ofpollution from wastewater treatmentplants have reduced the occurrence of

pollution-related foam. If the foam smellsfragrant or perfumey, it may be from anearby spill or waste discharge pipe.Natural foam may smell fishy or earthy, andmay be white, off-white, or brownish, andbreaks apart easily when disturbed.

ORANGE SLIME OR FLUFFOrange stuff is produced by a group ofbacteria that use iron as an energy source.This is the same group of bacteria thatcreate oily sheens. Masses of bacteriaexcrete slimy or fuzzy-looking material asthey grow and reproduce, and the slimebecomes coated with rusty iron hydroxide.This is usually a natural phenomenon and isgenerally associated with acidic soils.

However, in large amounts (orange fluffthat fills a stream bed) iron bacteria mightindicate pollution.

In some areas, iron-rich groundwater mayseep to the surface, and the iron drops out

as it becomes exposed to air. In this case,the iron will appear as an orange crust orstain, and will not be fuzzy-looking.

ALGAE BLOOMSGreen or bluish-green scum or film on thesurface of a lake, pond, or stream might bea bloom of blue-green algae (not reallyalgae but a group of organisms calledcyanobacteria). Lots of algae can also colorthe water green.

Dont mistake floating plants like duck-

weed and water meal for algae. Duckweed(Lemna spp.) look like miniature lily pads,with a flat, round floating leaf and a tinyroot. Water meal (Wolffia spp.) also floatsbut does not have a root; it is a roundgrain-like plant, about the size of a poppyseed.

The presence of algae in a lake or streamdoes not mean the water is polluted. Adiverse community of algae is healthy.Algae are an important source of food andoxygen for other plants and animals in thewater.

Sometimes, certain conditions might favora species that is normally rare in a lake orstream. With the right temperature, light,and nutrients in the water, the rareorganism might multiply rapidly, forming abloom. When an algae bloom is persistentor occurs routinely, too many nutrients maybe entering the water. Nutrients (especiallyphosphorus) fertilize a lake just as theyfertilize your lawn or garden, causingmicroscopic plants in the lake to grow.

Excerpted with permission from: Schmitt,Schmitt,Schmitt,Schmitt,Schmitt,Catherine.Catherine.Catherine.Catherine.Catherine. 2005. A Field Guide to Aquatic

Phenomena. Senator George J. Mitchell

Center for Environmental & Watershed

Research (Orono, ME) and the Maine

Department of Environmental Protection

(Augusta, ME). Pilot website at http://

www.umaine.edu/waterresearch/

FieldGuide/default.htm

A layer of foam accumulates in a stream pool. photo: Cathe rine Schmitt


5/12


We Need YOUVolunteers crucial to HRWC success

Volunteers always have been key toHRWCs successful work to protect theriver. Many people, of all ages and from allwalks of life, work together or indepen-dently to contribute to our efforts. Severalexciting volunteer opportunities are on the

horizon that are personally rewarding,educational, and just plain fun! Read on tolearn about the many interesting ways thatpeople are helping and how you can getinvolved.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIESMost of the outdoor opportunities aregroup activities organized by the Adopt-A-Stream program that you can join withno prior training. Total time required isusually six hours, often on a Saturday.During River RoundUps in April and

September, you can look for the interestingcreatures living in the river (without evengetting wet!). You can join a team to mapand measure stream habitat in the summer.With a little training, you can measurestream flow rates or the amount ofsediment carried by a stream. Somevolunteers even precisely measure channelshape using surveying equipment. One ofthe most popular events, which onlyrequires four hours, is searching for winterstoneflies in January.

HRWC is also seeking volunteers to assistwith planting native vegetation at twoartificial wetland/stormwater demonstra-tion sites that we will be constructing thissummer in Wixom. This opportunity isgreat for individuals, families, or youthgroups that enjoy getting dirt under theirfingernails for a few weekend hours. Nogreen thumb required.

ONE-TIME INDOOR ACTIVITIESHRWC has a number of openings for one-time indoor activities involving individualprojects, most of them at your choice of

time and pace. We have a number of books ready to be

entered into our simple library catalogsystem and then placed on the shelves.Also, the catalog needs to be purged ofreferences to items that are no longer onthe shelves.

People are needed to help at our Adopt-A-Stream monitoring events (2 4 hourseach), including greeting participants or

organizing and putting away equip-ment.

We have equipment in a storage shedthat needs organization and inven-tory, which will require hours or days,but on your schedule.

An interesting project inviting yourcreativity is to work with teacherswho want to help children learnabout water issues in the Huronwatershed. You could spend time in aclassroom or near a stream, or youcould organize HRWC materials forteachers use. The amount of timespent would be your decision.

Volunteers are needed to assist in aproject to organize and digitize theHRWC photo archive.

We often need volunteers to join amailing party on the occasion of aspecial mailing.

ONGOING INDOOR ACTIVITIESA number of on-going activities wouldbenefit enormously from the services ofvolunteers.

We constantly gather new data to beentered into the HRWC mailingdatabase.

Assistance with administering ourLocal Area Network is needed. This

requires a person with expertise ininformation technology, particularlyserver management.

Any GIS experts out there who wouldbe willing to be available for periodiccalls for technical assistance, or totake on a project now and then,would benefit us greatly.

Clearly, there are so many ways in whichyou can help HRWC to protect yourwatershed. With opportunities indoorsand out, for a few hours or longer, andinvolving a variety of tasks, youre sureto find something that fits yourinterests and skills. We look forward tohearing from you! For more informationabout these opportunities, contact JoanMartin at [email protected] or (734)769-5971.

HRWC presents The Millers Creek Report:Storming Down a Lovely Valley, both onthe website (www.hrwc.org) and in aprinted version. Millers Creek flows along

Huron Parkway in northeast Ann Arbor. Thisreport includes the fascinating history ofthe watershed a location of NativeAmerican activity, the UndergroundRailroad and early Ann Arbor enterprise.The creek provides a dramatic example ofthe effects of unmanaged stormwater.Sections of the report describe localhistory and current conditions of the creekspecific to the neighborhoods in thewatershed, as well as pinpointing specificopportunities for improvement. The latterinclude potential service projects forscouts or school groups.

Storming Down aLovely ValleyNew publication about

Millers Creek

Joan Martin

illustration: Patricia Beals


6/12


From Then: Before It All Began

The Huron River is considered to

be the cleanest urban river inMichigan. Much of the credit forthis status goes to the Huron RiverWatershed Council and thepeople who foresaw the need forits protection. Even though theCouncil has no enforcementpowers, it has accomplished itsgoals through the use of technicaldata, factual information andcitizen stewardship to influence

decisions made by various local

agencies.The origin of the Council goes backto 1956 when a drought periodcaused severe water shortages in theDetroit Metropolitan area. A contro-versy between Wayne County andDetroit resulted in a National Sanita-tion Foundation study to surveypresent and future water resourcesand demands in the area.

At the same time, new industrial and

subdivision development was occur-ring in Ann Arbor and

easternWashtenaw

County. Water supply was sufficient,

but pollution in the river was agrowing problem, especially in thenarrow part below Ann Arbor. TheState Health Department studied thequality of the river and decided torestrict expansion of any sewagetreatment plants.

The Washtenaw County PlanningDepartment was concerned aboutthe impact of this policy on futuredevelopment and asked the State

Water Resources Commission tostudy the utilization of water in thewatershed to help resolve water useand pollution concerns. Among thefindings of the report,Water Re-

source Conditions and Use inthe Huron River Basin,

was arecommen-

dation that anagency was

needed to

evaluate thequality of the

Huron River on acontinuing basis.

Public Act 200 of1957 provided the

basis for the localunits of government to

establish a cooperativeinformation, research

and consultative agencyto tackle multi-jurisdic-

tional problems. Anagency, the Huron RiverWatershed Intergovernmen-

tal Committee (HRWIC), wasformed in April 1958. Four

counties, eight cities/villages,

1959:AnnArborNews

PLANRIVERSFUTURE:WilliamG.HayesofPittsfieldTownship,WallaceBowmanofthe

WashtenawCountyPlanningCommissionandWilliamScheel,chairmanoftheWashtenaw

BoardofSupervisors,arekeyfiguresintheHuronRiverWatershedIntergovernmental

Committee. Thecommittee,withScheelaschairman,wasformedlastyear.

The Huron River Watershed Council is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This article is the first in a

series about the History of HRWC. To begin, this article chronicles the early origins of HRWC leading up to

the formation of a watershed council.


7/12


To Now: HRWC at 40

and twenty townships joined. Thepurpose of the HRWIC was tostudy mutual problems relating towater management and use in theHuron River Watershed. Its

objective was to sponsor a seriesof studies that would lead torecommendations for review andaction by member governmentalunits.

The studies focused on the bio-logical and chemical characteris-tics of the river; groundwatergeology and hydrology, andirrigation needs. Based on thesestudies, an engineering firm washired to analyze waste disposaland water use in downstreamportions of the Huron. Twoimportant recommendations weremade:1) the level of treatment by existingsewage treatment plants neededto be increased; and2) an agency should be establishedto coordinate development of apollution control program in thewatershed.

At the same time, the technicaladvisory committee of the HRWICpublished A Water Use PolicyDevelopment Program that alsostrongly recommended the needfor an organization to maintainsurveillance of the Huron. Enablingstate legislation was needed andUM Professor Lyle Craine andothers worked to get the LocalRiver Management Act (Act 253 of1964) passed.

In 1965, seventeen governmentalunits petitioned the Water Re-sources Commission to establishthe Huron River Watershed Coun-

cil (HRWC). The petition wasgranted and in April 1965 the firstWatershed Council in Michigan wasformed. The office was moved fromthe Washtenaw County Building to

415 W. Washington in Ann Arbor andJerome Fulton, a UM graduatestudent, was hired as a part-timeExecutive Secretary.

Members of the first Council in-cluded twenty-four units of govern-ment.The functions of the Council wereto:

1) conduct studies;2) give reports;3) request the Water ResourcesCommission to survey the water-shed to establish minimum levelsof stream flow;4) recommend

graphic going here

establishment of a River Manage-ment District when needed;5) advise agencies of problems andneeds of the watershed;6) cooperate with federal, state,

and local agencies;7) employ an executive secretaryand such other personnel asneeded and within budget;8) form sub-committees or advi-sory committees as needed; and,9) seek special project funds as

needed.

Find out what happens next. Readthe next issue of the Huron RiverReport, due out this Fall.

Laura Rubin

Anearlyp

recursoro

ftheHuro

nRiverRe

port.

continued from previous page


8/12

Jo LatimoreWatershed [email protected]

Joan MartinAdopt-A-Stream [email protected]

Suzy Morse

Planning Workshops [email protected]

Ellen OffenDirector of [email protected]

Kris Olsson

Watershed [email protected]

Cynthia Radcliffe

[email protected]

Chris RiggsWatershed [email protected]

Elizabeth Riggs

Watershed [email protected]

Laura RubinExecutive [email protected]

Debi WeikerWatershed Program [email protected]

Jennifer Wolf

Marketing [email protected]

Susan WooleyOffice [email protected]

Page 8

HRWC STAFF

CITY OF ANN ARBOR

Shirley Axon

Dave Borneman

Eunice Burns (Exec. Comm.)

Craig Hupy

Joan Lowenstein

Sumedh Bahl (alternate)John Hieftje (alternate)

ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP

Diane OConnell

VILLAGE OF BARTON HILLS

James Wilkes

CITY OF BELLEVILLE

Steven Walters

CITY OF BRIGHTON

Eric Piehl (Exec. Comm.)

BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP

Mike Slaton

BROWNSTOWN TOWNSHIP

Leonard Mannausa

CITY OF CHELSEA

Brad RobertsCOMMERCE TOWNSHIP

Vacant

DEXTER TOWNSHIP

Kathryn Bowring

VILLAGE OF DEXTER

Paul Cousins (Chair)

CITY OF FLAT ROCK

Vacant

GENOA TOWNSHIP

Kelly Kolakowski

Paul Edwards (alternate)

GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP

Fred Hanert

HAMBURG TOWNSHIP

Julie Metty_Bennett

HURON TOWNSHIP

Deeda Stanczak

Robert Stanczak (alternate)LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Jill Thacher (Vice-Chair)

VILLAGE OF MILFORD

Vacant

MILFORD TOWNSHIP

Mary Bajcz

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP

Sue Shink

OAKLAND COUNTY

Lev Wood (Exec. Comm.)

VILLAGE OF PINCKNEY

Michael Powell

PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP

Jan BenDor

SALEM TOWNSHIPDebbie Lee (alternate)

SCIO TOWNSHIP

Jean King

Gerry Kangas (alternate)

VILLAGE OF SOUTH

ROCKWOOD

Vacant

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP

Vacant

SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP

John Langs

SYLVAN TOWNSHIP

Vacant

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP

Dan Swallow

WALLED LAKE

Jessie Brewer

Loyd Cureton (alternate)WASHTENAW COUNTY

Janis Bobrin (Exec. Comm.)

Richard Norton (alternate)

Evan Pratt (Treasurer)

Ellen Scavia (alternate)

WAYNE COUNTY

Kurt Heise

WEBSTER TOWNSHIP

Eric Petrovskis (Exec.

Comm.)

W. BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

Vacant

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP

Mike McAdams

CITY OF WIXOMMichael Howell

VILLAGE OF WOLVERINE LAKE

James L. Donahue

CITY OF YPSILANTI

Edward Kluitenberg

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP

Bob Neely (Exec. Comm.)

Carolyn McKeever (alternate)

Know Your Board RepresentativeJan BenDor, Pittsfield Charter Township

HRWC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The board representative to the HuronRiver Watershed Council from PittsfieldCharter Township is Jan BenDor. She is theDeputy Clerk for the township where,among other duties, she manages the

setting up and running of elections. Jan alsoserves as the townships Storm WaterProgram Coordinator and GrantsCoordinator.

Jans priorities have long been the protec-tion of our water resources, conservingwildlife habitat and creating recreationalopportunities for the enjoyment of nature.She is a charter member of the SoutheastMichigan Land Conservancy, which hasprotected over 2000 acres in the region.The first township farmland protectionplan in Washtenaw County was written by

a task force that Jan formed while she wasa Superior Township Trustee.

With her husband and twogrown sons, she enjoys hiking,swimming, camping and sailingtheir 16-foot Hobie catamaranon Michigan lakes. She is an avid

hockey fan and playeron traveland house teams, as well as onthe backyard pond.

Jan is a firm believer in commu-nity involvement. She appreci-ates that the success of theHuron River Watershed Councilsriver restoration and protectionefforts to date reflect theCouncils ability to attract largenumbers of citizen volunteers forhands-on projects. In Pittsfield,volunteers listen for frogs and

toads, label storm drains, design greenways,plant native gardens, monitor blue birdnesting boxes, eradicate invasive plantsfrom the parks, and conduct many otherprojects.

Eunice Burns

For more information about participating,call Jan at (734) 822-3122 or HRWC at (734)769-5123.

HRWC Board Representative for Pittsfield Township,

Jan BenDor. photo: courtesy of Jan BenDor

Huron River ReportSummer 2005


9/12

Page 9

Visteon CorporationHRWC business partner spotlight

Environmental stewardship is a highpriority for Visteon Corporation, a globalautomotive supplier based in Van BurenCharter Township. As part of its commit-ment to the sustainable use of renewable

natural resources and efficient use of non-renewable natural resources, Visteon hasproudly partnered with HRWC in its effortsto monitor and manage the quality of thewater and wildlife habitat in southeasternMichigan.

When Visteon launched as an independentcompany in 2000, it established environ-mental protection as one of theorganizations seven Core Values. Withapproximately 70,000 employees and morethan 200 facilities in 25 countries and fivecontinents, Visteons efforts to protect and

improve the environment are a globalmission. That mission begins on the locallevel, with grassroots groups such asHRWC.

HRWCs activities are precisely the type ofinitiatives that Visteon looks to support todemonstrate our dedication to environ-mental responsibility and to contribute tothe communities in which we do business,said Matt Roman, Visteons manager ofenvironmental affairs.

Visteon helped fund both HRWCs MiddleHuron River Watershed Initiative andAdopt-A-Stream program. Both of theseprograms, said Roman, were a great wayfor Visteon and HRWC to work together toaccomplish mutual goals.

In addition to funding these projects, morethan 30 Visteon employees volunteered ata 2003 Huron River clean-up at FrenchLanding along the banks of Belleville Lake.

Some of Visteons other environmentalachievements include:

Being one of only three automotivesuppliers named to the Dow JonesSustainability Index, which includes morethan 300 companies from 23 countriesthat lead their industry in practicingcorporate sustainability a businessapproach that creates long-termshareholder value by embracing opportu-nities and managing risks deriving from

economic, environmental and socialdevelopments. Visteon was named tothe Index for the fourth consecutive

year in 2004.

Recognition from the U.S. Environmen-tal Protection Agency of VisteonsSheldon Road manufacturing facility, inPlymouth, for consistently surpassinglegal environmental requirements andimplementing high-quality environmentalmanagement systems. The plant is amember of the Michigan Department ofEnvironmental Qualitys MichiganBusiness Pollution Prevention Partnershipand maintains a certified wildlife habitatarea designated by the National WildlifeHabitat Council.

Visteons Monroe plant being recog-nized by the Wildlife Habitat Council forcontributing to wildlife conservation inwetlands adjacent tothe plant. The Monroeplant is adjacent toLake Erie, bordered onthe south by the RiverRaisin, on the north bySterling State Park andon the west by otherwetlands. The facilityconsists of 500 acres

with 200 acrescontaining parking lots,production areas andtwo closed hazardouswaste impoundmentssituated on a centralisland. The remaining300 acres are com-prised of intercoastalwetlands and transi-tional meadows andforests.

The planning and construction ofVisteon Village, the 265-acre corporatecampus in Van Buren Charter Township,in accordance with the guidelines of theU.S. Green Building Councils Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED). LEED provides a comprehensiveframework for achieving sustainabilitygoals based on industry-acceptedscientific standards. It emphasizes high-quality solutions for sustainable sitedevelopment, energy efficiency, watersavings, materials selection and indoorenvironmental quality.

A Visteon employee volunteers for one of the numerous

environmental stewardship activities that the company

participates in each year. photo: Visteon Corporation

Chris Walton, Visteon Corporationwith Ellen Offen

Summer 2005Huron River Report


10/12


A Nip and a TuckMakeovers for HRWC website and strategic

plan

HRWC staff and board are undertaking twobig projects that will help us to be moreeffective and reach our goals. Those goals

are being refined right now as we undertakeupdating our strategic plan. HRWC is

developing a five-year strategic plan usingour previous plan as a starting point. Aftersoliciting input from external and internalsurveys, HRWC staff and board membersheld a retreat to discuss what we do welland what we need to improve. Present andfuture opportunities and challenges werediscussed, as well as goals and measurableobjectives to guide HRWC. We will beworking on refining the plan through theFall and will share it with you if you areinterested.

In addition, we are updating our website,

www.hrwc.org, to be more user-friendly,informative, and more consistent in style.Layout and organization of the site is

complete; content will be updated in the

next few months. Watch the HRWCwebsite in the Fall for a new look and more

comprehensive information.

Business Members

Thanks to these businesses for joining or renewing their

memberships and helping to protect the Huron

BENEFACTOR

Camp, Dresser & McKee (CDM)

STEWARDSTEWARDSTEWARDSTEWARDSTEWARDCH2M HILL

SUPPORTERMAV Development CompanyAnn Arbor Area Board of RealtorsCarlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc.Smith Group/JJR LLCAyres, Lewis, Norris & MayNorfolk Development CorporationHobbs & Black ArchitectsBank of Ann Arbor

Wade-Trim

FRIENDFRIENDFRIENDFRIENDFRIENDMidWest Financial Credit UnionChelsea State BankONeal Construction CompanyDominos Farms CorporationNSF International

Wisdom fromthe AncientsClassic philosopher recognized the

values of conservation

There are mountains in Attica, which cannow keep nothing but bees, but whichwere clothed, not so very long ago, with

fine trees producing timber suitable forroofing the largest buildings.while thecountry produced boundless pasture forcattle. The annual supply of rainfall was

not lost, as it is at present, through beingallowed to flow over a denuded surface tothe sea, but was received by the earth, inall its abundance, into her bosom whereshe stored it.

Plato: Dialogue of Critias,360 B.C.E

Thank you to the Ann Arbor Area Commu-

nity Foundation and the River Network forassistance in making these projects

happen.

Staff and board enjoy a beautiful spring day at the end of the strategic planning

session. photo: HRWC

A stretch of Davis Creek that has not lost its

clothing of trees. photo: George DeAngelis


11/12


The Huron River Watershed Council is a coalition of Huron Valley individuals, businesses and local governments established in 1965

under Michigan's Local River Management Act to inspire attitudes, behaviors, and economies that protect, rehabilitate, and sustain theHuron River system. The Watershed Council is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider membership.Services of the Council include hands-on citizen education, technicalassistance in policy development and direct river protection projects. You will find a membership form below. All contributions aretax deductible.

The Huron River Watershed Council

Yes, I want to help the Huron River Watershed Council protect and restore the Huron River.Here are my 2005 member dues, mailed to: Huron River Watershed Council

1100 N. Main St.Ann Arbor, MI 48104

$5,000 Mink $500 Blue Heron $50 Friend

$2,500 Smallmouth Bass $250 Mayfly $30 Supporting $1,000 Green Heron $100 Steward $___ Other

Name

Address City, State Zip

Phone Email

The State of the Huron 2005Highlights of a successful day

We celebrate our 40th

Anniversary with a tasty cake

from Whole Foods.

photo: Mark Akemann

Above: HRWC President Paul

Cousins presents raffle winner

Colleen Hughes with the top

prize -- a canoe donated by

Meyers Boat Company,Michicraft, and CDM. photo: Mark Akemann

Right: HRWC volunteer award

winners Noemi Barabas, Mike

Lemon, John and Tui

Minderhout, and Ron Sell

photo: Mark Akemann

Conference keynote speaker Keith

Schneider, of the Michigan Land UseInstitute, challenges the audience to

focus on smart growth principles. photo: Gregory Fox


12/12

NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGEPAIDAnn Arbor, MIPermit #435

The Huron River Watershed Council receives contributions via payroll deduction through EARTH SHARE of Michigan.

Please examine your mailing label

for your HRWC membership

expiration date and use that as areminder to renew. If there is no

date, then you may not be a current

member of the Watershed Council.

Please consider HRWC membership.

We need your support.

Thanks.

The Huron River Watershed Council1100 N. Main St., Suite 210Ann Arbor, MI 48104(734) 769-5123www.hrwc.org

Thanks to Our Supporters!We extend Special Thanks toWe extend Special Thanks toWe extend Special Thanks toWe extend Special Thanks toWe extend Special Thanks to:

Tom and Ann Gladwin, JD Lindebergand Carol Tucker, and LenoreGerstein for hosting warm, wonderfulparties to interest people in theHuron River Watershed Council andthe Huron River.

Tom and Ann Gladwin for providinga cozy, pleasant space for our

strategic planning retreat.

Roy Schrameck (ECT, Inc.), MichelleLaRose and Marcus MacDonell(OHM), Dan Swallow (Van BurenCharter Township), and Matt Best,Mike Flowers, N. Gregor, NoelMullett, and S. Thompson (WayneCounty Dept of Environment) whocompleted rapid stream assessmentsin the Lower Huron River Watershed.

John and Ruth Langs for hosting Arton the River at their lovely home on anisland in the Huron.

Mark Braun for his wonderful music atthe Art on the River event.

The Ann Arbor Art Association forthe beautiful art at the Art on the

River event.

Ron Sell for canoeing the night awayat the Art on the River event.

Wes Vivian for hosting a reception tomeet and talk with Keith Schneider,keynote speaker at our State of theHuron Conference.

Lori Beyer for reviewing our surveyingprocedures with the HRWC Geomor-phic Team.

Dave Brooks, Gary Hochgraf, John Lillie,Don Rottiers and Nancy Stokes forsurveying study sites on Mill Creek withexcellent skill.

The 21 peoplewho have adjusted theirschedules in order to carefully measureflow and maintain transducers on Fleming,Mill and Millers Creek.

Sabra Briere for organizing a delicious setof refreshments for the Fleming CreekSummit and to her several volunteers whobaked cookies.

John Allison, Janis Bobrin, Marcia VanFossen, Jerry Hancock and JohnRintamaki for sharing their techniquesand concerns for creek protection at theFleming Creek Summit.

Marianna McEvoy for designing the flierthat urges people to plant trees.

Huron River Report 2005 Summer

Documents

Transcript of Huron River Report 2005 Summer