GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, OTTAWA COUNTY

 

STORM WATER POLLUTION

 

PREVENTION INITIATIVE

 

 

 

 

PREPARED FOR:

GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP

JENISON, MICHIGAN

 

 

 

APRIL 2006

PROJECT NO. F99511I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.      Engineers Scientists Architects Constructors

1515 Arboretum Drive, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546  Telephone: 616-575-3824

LGRW Mission Statement:  “Discover and value all water resources and celebrate our shared water legacy throughout our entire Grand River Watershed community.”

 

The Grand River’s headwaters begin in southern Jackson County and flow northwest across 260 miles to its confluence with Lake Michigan, making it the longest river located entirely in Michigan.  The WMP studies the portion of the Grand River Watershed (Watershed) below the Looking Glass River confluence, near the City of Portland.  The LGRW has a drainage area of 2,909 square miles and encompasses large portions of Ottawa, Muskegon, Kent, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry, and Eaton Counties.  Counties with very small portions of the LGRW include: Newaygo, Allegan, and Mecosta Counties.  The LGRW contains two urban areas: the Grand Rapids Metropolitan area and the Muskegon Metropolitan area, which includes the Grand Haven, Tri-cities areas.  Three major tributaries flow into the Grand River: the Thornapple River, the Flat River, and the Rogue River.  Most of the LGRW is covered by residences, urban centers, forests, and agriculture.

 

Past studies of the LGRW suggest that water quality is impacted by pollutants, originating from past and present agricultural, industrial, private, and municipal activities.  Both point and nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution impact water quality.  NPS pollution contributes sediment, nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus), and bacterial pathogens (such as Escherichia coli (E. coli)) to surface water.  Sediment becomes suspended in surface water due to stream bank erosion, runoff from agricultural fields, construction sites, and storm water runoff.  Pathogens enter surface water from septic systems, concentrated wildlife, farm animals, and pets.  In addition, lawn and agricultural fertilizers contribute nutrients to surface water.

 

The MDEQ has identified 36 waterbodies within the LGRW that require TMDL studies.  Pollutants of concerns in these waterbodies include: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, sediment, nutrients, pathogens (E. coli), low dissolved oxygen, and untreated sewer discharges resulting in poor fish and macroinvertebrate communities and fish kills.  MDEQ biological surveys have reported that the observed urbanization, with increased impervious surfaces, is accelerating sedimentation and flow fluctuations from storm water runoff, which causes impairments to its streams.  NPS pollution from agricultural sources was cited as a source of nutrients and possibly pathogens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WMP Goals and Objectives

 

Many of the water quality concerns of the LGRW are reflected in the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP), including NPS pollution, high bacteria counts at beaches, fragmentation of wildlife habitats, and invasive species.  The recommendations described in the LaMP were reviewed for their applicability to the LGRW goals.  Goals for other existing watershed management plans already developed within the LGRW were also evaluated to recognize any unique conditions that needed to be addressed.  The goals developed for the Upper Grand River Watershed were assessed to ensure that conflicting recommendations would not be made.  The goals of the LGRW were determined after discussing the sources and causes of the impairments in the LGRW and coordinating with these other studies and reports.  The following overall goals are based on improving or restoring the designated uses and attaining compliance with established TMDLs:

 

1)      Restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem by enhancing river environments in their natural states for present and future generations.

 

2)      Maintain and improve water quality by promoting sound land management decisions.

 

3)      Assess relationships between water quality and storm water runoff by developing guidelines for storm water management to reduce impacts of urbanization.

 

4)      Preserve and restore, coldwater fisheries, and reintroduce indigenous game fish species where possible.

 

5)      Provide for flood protection, minimize risk of flooding, and assess necessity of flood control improvements.

 

6)      Ensure public safety in recreational opportunities in surface waters.

 

7)      Protect healthy habitats for native aquatic life and wildlife.

 

Desired uses reflect how the community wants to use the LGRW and what activities should be promoted.  The ideas discussed by the Steering Committee, the Grand River Forum members, and local officials resulted in five categories: Recreational use, planning and development, wildlife habitat, educational opportunity, and water consumption.

 

Critical areas of the LGRW were identified as those areas having specific NPS pollution concerns that need to be addressed with appropriate BMPs.  Specific goals and objectives were associated with each critical area.  The objectives required to meet the specific goals are based on addressing the identified causes of the sources of NPS pollution in the LGRW.

NOTES:

 

AGREEMENT:

 

LGRW : Lower Grand River Watershed

 

WMP : Watershed Management Practices

 

NPS : Non Point Sources

 

TMDL : Total Maximum Daily Load

 

MDEQ : Michigan Department of Environmental Quality