Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan
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Authors
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay
Issue Date
2003
Type
Technical Report
Language
en_US
Subject
Antrim County, Michigan , Grand Traverse County, Michigan , Kalkaska County, Michigan , Leelanau County, Michigan , City of Traverse City, Michigan
Alternative Title
Abstract
The overall mission for the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan is to provide
guidance for the implementation of actions that will reduce the negative impact that pollutants
and environmental stressors have on the designated watershed uses. The envisioned endpoint is
to have Grand Traverse Bay and all lakes and streams within its watershed support appropriate
designated and desired uses while maintaining their distinctive environmental characteristics and
aquatic biological communities.
Using suggestions obtained from stakeholder meetings conducted throughout the watershed and
examples from other watershed management plans, the project steering committee developed six
broad goals for the Grand Traverse Bay watershed. By working to attain these goals and their
corresponding objectives, threatened watershed designated uses will be maintained or improved.
The watershed goals are as follows:
- Protect the integrity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems within the watershed.
- Protect and improve the quality of water resources within Grand Traverse Bay and its
watershed.
- Establish and promote land and water management practices that conserve and protect the
natural resources of the watershed.
- Enhance the amount and quality of recreational opportunities and support a sustainable
local economy.
- Establish and promote educational programs that support stewardship and watershed
planning goals, activities, and programs.
- Preserve the distinctive character and aesthetic qualities of the watershed.
In an effort to successfully accomplish the goals and objectives, specific and tangible
recommendations, called implementation tasks, were developed based on the prioritization of
watershed pollutants, sources, and causes while also looking at the priority areas in the
watershed. The implementation tasks represent an integrative approach, combining watershed
goals and covering more than one pollutant at times, to reduce existing sources of priority
pollutants and prevent future contributions.
Implementation tasks were summarized by the pollutant and/or source it relates to. In this way,
organizations may work on a specific issue (i.e., urban stormwater or shoreline restoration) that
may contribute more than one type of watershed pollutant and meet more than one watershed
goal. The categories are as follows: Shoreline Protection and Restoration; Road Stream
Crossings; Agriculture; Hydrology; Habitat, Fish and Wildlife; Stormwater; Wastewater; Human
Health; Wetlands; Invasive Species; Land Protection and Management; Development; Zoning
and Land Use; Groundwater; Monitoring; Desired Uses; and Evaluation.
Additionally an Information and Education Strategy was developed with specific
recommendations which highlight the actions needed to successfully maintain and improve
watershed education, awareness, and stewardship for the Grand Traverse Bay watershed. It lays
the foundation for the collaborative development of natural resource programs and educational
activities for target audiences, community members, and residents.
Description
Citation
Publisher
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay