Made possible through a Michigan Department of Environmental QualityCoastal Zone Management Grant with local support from our project partners.
Water Trail Planningfor
Lake Superior and the St. Mary’s RiverKick-Off MeetingDecember 3, 2014
Presentation Overview• Welcome & Introductions• Who we are• Water Trails Definition and Review• Community Benefits• Project Overview• Project Scope• Project Schedule• Project Partners Roles and Responsibilities• Project Outcomes
ExploreM123.com Video Clip
Welcome & IntroductionsEllen Benoit, Assistant Director EUP Regional Planning & Development Commission
Wendy Hoffman, Transportation Planner Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Ruth O’Gawa, President Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy
About the EUP Regional Planning & Development Commission
Created by legislation in 1968 (Public Act 281 of 1945)
One of 14 State designated Planning & Development Regions in Michigan
Governed by a 19 member board
Planning expertise located in one place and applied to the needs of large and small scale units of government
Serves village, city, township and county governments as they plan for the future
Implement state and federal initiatives
Federally designated Economic Development District (EDD)
State recognized Rural Transportation Planning Organization
Located in Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Region is primarily grant/contract funded, through State, Federal and Local programs and projects.
Economic Development Planning
Community and Recreation Planning
Transportation Planning GIS/Mapping – Data Collection/Analysis, trails, transportation networks, map creation, GIS/GPS technical assistance and more!
Solid Waste & Recycling Planning
Grant Writing
State Data Center
MI Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs Mini-Grant Program Administration
Recreation plans (required by DNR to obtain Trust Fund grants)
Programs and Services
Anishinaabeg (Original People)Sault Tribe’s ancestors were Anishinaabeg fishing tribes whose settlements dotted the upper Great Lakes around Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, throughout the St. Marys River system and the Straits of Mackinac. Anishinaabeg gathered for the summers in places like Bahweting (Sault Ste. Marie) and broke up into family units for the winter.
About the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Water Trailsaka
BluewaysBlueways and water trails are growing in popularity and becoming valued for their recreational, educational and economic potential.
What Are Water Trails?
Water trail/Blueways are marked routes along rivers, lakes, and coastlines for boating including: signs and route markers; maps and promotion of water routes; facilities for parking, boat ramps or docks, and places to camp and picnic. Water trails are primarily designed for small watercraft such as canoes, sea and whitewater kayaks, rafts and drift boats.
Heritage water trails are routes on navigable waterways designed and implemented to foster an interactive historical education experience.
Benefits Economic Benefits - non-motorized boating has grown in popularity in
recent years in the state of Michigan. This increase in participation translates into financial benefits for communities that provide access to water trails. Water trails as a recreation destination provide rural communities with income to local boat liveries and outfitters, motels and bed and breakfasts, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and shops.
Recreational Value and Health Benefits -The recreational value of water trails are often their foremost attraction. In addition to the entertainment values of recreation, there is a significant health and fitness benefit as paddling involves exercise. This health benefit accrues to the individual, and, in the form of reduced health-care costs, to society as well.
Conservation/Stewardship Benefits - Water trail activities can support the conservation of the aquatic and shore land ecosystems. Trail builders and activists are a respected constituency who advocate for resource protection, and participate in resource restoration. By promoting minimum-impact practices, water trails embrace the "Leave No Trace" code of outdoor ethics that promote the responsible use and enjoyment of the outdoors.
Educational Benefits - Water trail organizations use comprehensive trail guides, signage, public outreach, and informative classes to encourage awareness of the natural, cultural, and historical attributes of the trail.
With this Water Trails Project we have the opportunity to…• Share our knowledge of our natural resources , history and
what’s unique to our area. • Create a sense of place to draw tourism, boost economic growth
and creating a safe way to locate and travel our waterways.
History of Water Trails in Michigan
State initiative to develop a state wide system of trails including water trails
EUPRP&DC Regional Trails Initiatives 2011 Lake Huron Public Access Inventory –
huronrec.com 2012 Lake Michigan Public Access Inventory –
michiganwatertrails.com
Goals & ObjectivesWe propose a series of interrelated tasks
toward the completion of a contiguous Water Trail and geographic database for the Lake Superior shoreline from Grand Marais to Sault Ste. Marie and the St. Mary’s River shoreline from Sault Ste. Marie to DeTour Village.
Phase I Initiate partnerships to gather local
informationInventory ingress/egress sites to incorporate
into GIS Phase II
Assess and evaluate sites Develop universal language to incorporate into
local recreation plansDevelop “best practices” standards
Phase IIIDevelop and maintain website
Phase IVSustainability, conservation and
implementation
Project ScopeLake Superior Shoreline – Grand Marais to
Sault Ste. Marie
St. Mary’s River – from Sault Ste. Marie to DeTour Village
Tasks and TimelineTASK Oct. - Dec,
2014 Jan.-Mar, 2015Apr.-June,
2015 July-Sept., 2015Oct.-Dec,
2015 1. Reach out to partners/stakeholders
2. Quarter 1 Kickoff Meetings: DeTour, Bruce Twp., Sault Ste. Marie, Paradise, Luce Co.
3. Gather and develop list of sites to inventory/information to gather/potential water trails
4. Identify Best Practices Available Locally (National Water Trail Designation Criteria).
5 Develop Standardized Language for the Water Trails as well as Specific Recommendations for County and/or Jurisdictional Recreation Plans
6. Start collecting historical/cultural stories/inventory/ Local meetings
7. GIS Maps/Product development/Website development
8. Data verification/revisions
9. Promotion/Products produced/distributed/Final Meeting
Project Partners Roles & Responsibilities
Identify/Verify/Assessment local access pointsHistorical/Cultural Information and StoriesSafety/Environmental/Sensitive Areas
ConcernsLocal planning committees set up to advise
on website information and sustainability, promotional brochure, branding
Identification of local nearby attractions to include – hiking trails, museums, shopping, lodging, eating, etc.
Project OutcomesGIS Database on water access sitesInteractive Web-siteSample language to use in local recreation
plansDevelopment of “Best Practice” StandardsA basis for future planning and recreation
development
ConclusionSign In Sheet/Contact Information
EUPRP&DC Website address:eup-planning.org
Contact informationEllen Benoit – [email protected] (906) 635-1581Wendy Hoffman – [email protected] (906) 635-6050
Questions?Thank you.
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