Montague Drain Bio-Engineering Erosion Control Project
Muskegon County,
MI
Grantee:
Muskegon County Soil Conservation District
Basin Program Funds:
$14,975
Non-federal Funds:
$13,344
Project Duration:
06/1996
-
09/1997
Status:
complete
Problem Statement
Severe gully and stream bank erosion is occurring on the upper end of the Montague
Drain at Buttermilk Creek. Approximately 525 tons of sediment are delivered
to White Lake each year from this source. It has been identified as one of the
major source of sediment to the lake by the White Lake Public Advisory Council
(PAC), the Muskegon County Soil Conservation District (MCSCD), and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA—NRCS).
Background
The goal of this project was to reduce soil erosion and the amount of resulting
sediment entering White Lake. Project personnel achieved this by building
partnerships with local units of government, local citizen groups, and state
and federal agencies. The project also included the implementation of a demonstration
bio-engineering erosion control project to remediate gully and stream bank
erosion around White Lake. This project helped raise public knowledge and
awareness about soil erosion and the negative impacts of resulting sedimentation.
Following the 1995 Montague Drain Bio-Engineering Design, remedial
work was carried out which included vegetation, along with rock rip-rap and
filter cloth to control erosion. This design, which identified 15 sites for
treatment in a 1,400 foot reach, was a result of a project by the MCSCD and
the White Lake PAC. Project personnel included MCSCD, USDA-NRCS, and contractual
staff with assistance from White Lake PAC members and community volunteers.
The design consultant and NRCS staff assisted MCSCD staff in the application
of bio-engineering techniques to the 15 sites. MCSCD staff coordinated the
volunteer labor pool which included a Montague High School FFA/Agri-science
class, PAC members, interested volunteers, and hired individuals. MCSCD staff,
with PAC members, implemented the educational component of this project. They
promoted bio-engineering techniques to control erosion on other streams in
the White Lake watershed, increased public awareness of the detrimental effects
of sediment, and encouraged students in a local hands-on science application
of bio-engineering technology.
Activities
Project personnel, PAC members, and volunteers completed the
following tasks:
- Met with the engineering design consultant for training and consultation
in the installation of bioengineering techniques at sites identified in
the design plan.
- Identified permits needed for the project.
- Contacted private landowners for their cooperation and received permission
to access their property in order to deliver materials to the site.
- Video-taped each site along Montague Drain for use in training, public
education, project dissemination and evaluation.
- Surveyed and flagged each site as well as upland access areas for toe
stone and material delivery.
- Student involvement during National Making a Difference Day: 120 students
and 20 adults attended a talk on the issue of soil erosion and the negative
impacts of sedimentation on water quality. Following the talk, 30 students
and teachers participated in a hands-on workshop on bio-engineering design
and techniques. The students participated in preparing the site for spring
planting.
- Sent two press releases to local media to announce the project and to
highlight the collaborative approach used.
- Installed 55 tons of toe stone on the 9 sites calling for slope protection.
- Planted approximately 650 shrubs, silky dogwood and willow stakes, to
revegetate slopes on the 15 sites.
- Cleared and removed debris from 1,400 feet of the channel that was causing
stream bank erosion.
- Repaired the 6-8 foot over fall that was cutting back up the stream bottom,
through the road commission.
- Completed bio-engineering treatment to the 15 sites—670 feet of eroded
stream banks as called for in the design.
Results
A total of 26,375 people have received information on soil erosion/sedimentation
and the Montague Drain project through presentations and articles. This includes
35 White Lake Public Advisory Council members and 400 recipients of the PAC
newsletter, Lakenews; 120 students from four school districts and 20 adults
who organized "Making a Difference Day;" and, 15,000 Muskegon Chronicle subscribers
through the MCSCD Annual Report published as an insert in that newspaper. Project
news has been disseminated through the White River Watershed Partnership and
Timberland RC and D as well. Information reached an additional 10,800 people
through the a White Lake Beacon article.
A estimated total of 485 tons of soil, 485 pounds of phosphorus,
and 970 pounds of nitrogen have been saved through this project.
Contact: Kathy Dusseau, (616) 773-0008
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