October 2, 2009

The Land Management Services (LMS) team installed nearly 400 feet of riparian buffers this week at Arbutus Lake #5 Park and Mayfield Pond Park. A survey of public parks bordering lakes, rivers, and streams in the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed, done in conjunction with the Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay, was completed in 2008. The Watershed Center received a state grant to conduct the public buffer survey. The two sites located in East Bay and Paradise Townships, were selected for their lack of a sufficient riparian buffer and their visibility to recreational users. Interpretive signs will be installed this spring explaining the importance of riparian buffers to water quality.

Riparian buffers utilize native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers to provide shade and near shore habitat along these pond and river ecosystems. The shade helps keep the streams cold, increasing habitat quality for aquatic species. The deep-rooted vegetation also prevents erosion and keeps excess sediment and nutrients from entering the waterways.

The first site is located at the Arbutus Lake #5 Park in East Bay Township. The LMS team, along with Township park staff and Youth Corps work crew installed a riparian buffer along a stream that feeds the warm water of Arbutus Lake. Native trees and shrubs were planted including 220 “rescued” plants. The plants were rescued this past spring from proposed development sites prior to excavation through the Grand Traverse Conservation District’s Native Plant Rescue Program. See some pictures below!

The second site is located at Mayfield Pond Park, owned and managed by Paradise Township, Grand Traverse County. This park is the site where the famous Adams Fly was created in 1922. The Adams Fly is a dry fly well-known world-wide by fly fishing enthusiasts. Mayfield Pond is stocked with trout annually and is fed by Swainston Creek, a coldwater trout stream. This section is also designated as “Wild & Scenic” by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Natural Rivers Program. The riparian buffer is being installed along the southern edge of the Pond and along Swainston Creek to provide shading to reduce thermal pollution. See some pictures below!

Feel free to stop by these locations to check out the latest and greatest work of the LMS team!