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Statement
of Purpose:
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Objectives of this nonpoint source pollution grant include
the:
- Identification of water quality concerns in Portage,
Arcadia and Axtell Creeks,
- Education of the public about the character of these
watersheds and ways to protect them,
- Production of a Watershed Management Plan for the creeks,
incorporating stakeholders' needs.
| One of the first steps in accomplishing
these objectives is to gather information about the
nature and health of each watershed. Historical information
is gathered from published sources and local agencies,
and new information is gathered from field surveys.
Population, land use and wetland locations are but a
few of the types of information to be gathered for this
project. One form of information retrieval being utilized
for this project is the Natural Features Inventory (NFI). |
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What is a Natural Features Inventory?
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A NFI is a collection of information
pertaining to the biological, hydrological and social
elements of an area. As such, the nature of the inventory
is flexible and can take many forms. Information can
be collected by field investigations, interviews, questionnaires,
a literature search or other methods. Inventories can
vary, as they are tailored to suit the particular needs
of the intended users. To view a NFI that was conducted
for an area watershed, Davis Creek, click here. |
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What is the purpose of this Natural Features Inventory?
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to develop a Watershed Management Plan, the purpose
of this NFI is to collect information relating to the
condition of the riparian (that which adjoins a body
of water) areas (or riparian zone) in the watershed.
Undisturbed, vegetated riparian land can protect surface
water bodies from pollutant loading. For example, vegetated
stream banks prevent erosion from contributing sediments
and other pollutants, such as phosphorus, to the water
and provide shade to the water and aquatic biota. Vegetated
riparian lands also provide habitat for wildlife. |
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The types of vegetation growing in the riparian zone, the
width of the riparian zone and other features can provide
clues about the health of the waterbody. Additionally, the
identification of rare or endangered native plants and animals
can help watershed managers prioritize areas for preservation.
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How is this Natural Features Inventory being conducted?
Information for this NFI is being collected both from field
surveys and from published sources of data. Many organizations,
such as the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Michigan Department
of Natural Resources, have compiled inventories of the plant
and animal life in this area. With a large study area and
limited time frame, field personnel cannot visit all of
the riparian land to conduct new surveys. Therefore, selected
areas, such as the locations of storm sewer outfalls or
the headwaters of a water body, are chosen for site visits.
With this study, field visits are conducted to collect four
types of information:
- the width of the riparian zone and the dominant vegetation
growing in it
- any apparent pollutant loading, such as stream bank
erosion, road side litter or storm sewer outfalls
- the feasibility of using the site to collect future
water quality samples
- photographs to document the appearance and state of
the site
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For some regions of the study area, previous studies
have collected information on fauna (bird, mammals,
insects, etc.) along with flora (plants) in the area.
However, only dominant vegetation is being documented
during these field visits, due to the large area covered
and the impact riparian vegetation has on water quality.
Vegetational information collected through this study
will be supplemented by previously documented floral
and faunal information. Therefore, all available, obtainable
information will be integrated to provide an understanding
about the nature of the watersheds' natural resources.
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How will this information be used?
Information collected from field visits and previous studies
will be integrated to produce an assessment of the health
of the watersheds as a whole and the relative health of
various areas within the watersheds. Areas that contain
rare or endangered native species or that are relatively
undisturbed may be selected for preservation, as they perform
significant functions in the protection of our natural resources.
Areas that are disturbed or that are sources of pollutant
loading will be targeted for improvements. This information
will not stand alone, but will be utilized with other data
collected during this study, such as water quality data.
A watershed is an integrated entity, impacted by all of
our actions. Therefore, this study will use all pertinent
information collected (including historical data) to create
a Watershed Management Plan designed to protect these natural
resources (Arcadia Creek, Axtell Creek, Portage Creek and
their watersheds) for generations to come. Understanding
the character of our watersheds and the roles we play in
their health is a key component in achieving long-term sustainability
in our community.
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