Allegan Conservation District

Why Protect Michigan Sand Dunes?

Select here for Vegetative Assurance Permit: Vegetative Assurance Permit.pdf

Michigan’s sand dunes are one of our greatest natural features. In Michigan there are approximately 250,000 acres of sand dunes, while approximately 70,000 acres are classified as critical sand dunes. These unique natural wonders provide recreational and economical benefits to Michigan. They are also serve as an important habitat for many plants, animals, and insects. They also serve as a critical area of transition from the lakes to the inland areas. Many people believe that because Michigan’s dunes are such an awesome natural feature, that they must be protected from destruction. In fact, only one state law attempts to protect our dunes along the coast and it doesn’t necessarily provide protection from destruction for all sand dunes.

Why should we protect sand dunes? Well, the Great Lakes dunes make up the most extensive freshwater dunes in the world. Yes these dunes help protect from storm surges, but they are also important for their overall ecological and aesthetic value.

So how are sand dunes created? Sand dunes are created by a geological process called saltation. To learn more about saltation and watch an interactive clip of this process, go to the following link: Dune History
Here are a few more important links:

DEQ laws and regulations for sand dunes

History of Michigan Sand dunes

Common Landowner Questions?

Why is my property considered HREA?- Your property is located in an area that is considered a (High Risk Erosion Area) Erosion does happen naturally; however, poor development increases the rate of erosion.

Why should we protect these HREA areas? First, state law intends to reduce the overall economic and physical damage caused by inappropriate development. Second, it helps to protect all neighboring property owners. HREA regulations are intended to protect the greater good of the state by reducing the need for extra shore protection structures, costly clean-ups, and increased insurance rates. Benefits from HREA regulation include: Great Lakes have better water quality, reduction of pollution entering the great lakes, and impacts on coastal ecosystems have been reduced.

What is Regulated? Approximately 300 miles of Great Lakes Shoreline are classified as high risk erosion areas. You can determine whether or not your property is classified as HREA by taking a look at a critical dunes map of your area. If your property is considered HREA, it does not mean that existing structures or buildings need to be moved or that new structures cannot be built on the property. It just requires that you get a permit from DEQ prior to construction or movement of a permanent structure. Construction can include anything from new septic systems to new additions on a current home. It is possible to construct some structures under 225 sq. ft without obtaining a permit. These include projects such as: decks, storage sheds, and gazebos. DEQ staff can help to determine whether or not you need a permit.
Michigan Critical Dune Map
Allegan Conservation District Critical Dune Assurance Permit

Kalamazoo Water Quality Trading Project

The Allegan Conservation District and the Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi Indians have joined efforts to provide 75% cost-share for the installation of agricultural best management practices in the Kalamazoo River Watershed.

The funding for the project is provided through a Targeted Watershed Grant on the Kalamazoo River. We have installed over $80,000 in cost-shared practices in 2007. These conservation practices included a roof run-off management system, exclusion fencing, no-till payments, cover crops and manure management plans. These practices help producers to be competitive in a continuously evolving growing market. How can you gain an edge on the agricultural market and improve your crop yields and reduce fertilizer use? The Targeted Watershed Grant is the answer.

The Targeted Watershed Grant pays 75% of the cost to install best management practices that reduce phosphorous to surface waters in the Kalamazo River and Lake Michigan. Phosphorous enters our surface water attached to soil particles from agricultural fields, erosion sites, fertilizers and in animal and human waste. Your neighbor’s farm may already be taking advantage of this great opportunity to receive 75% cost-share for phosphorous reducing practices! Why not your farm?

The application process is quick and the selection process for funding is based on the geographic location of your farm. For full details call Shawn McKenney at the Allegan Conservation District 269.673.8965 x

Gun River Tree Revetment Site

The Watershed Project has provided technical assistance and installation guidelines to install a 140 foot tree-revetment project on the Gun River. This project used conifer trees anchored into the “toe” of the stream to prevent erosion from occuring and to rebuild the river bank.

Tree revetments greatly slow the current along the eroding bank; this decreases erosion and allows silt and sand to be deposited along the bank and within the tree branches. The deposited material forms a good seed bed in which the seeds of river trees such as cottonwood and sycamore can sprout and grow. The resulting trees spread roots throughout the revetment and streambank. By the time the revetment trees have decayed, the bank should be stabilized by the roots of the living trees. As an added benefit, tree revetments provide excellent fish and wildlife cover.

Riparian Buffer Strip Project

The Gun River Watershed Project will be installing a riparian
buffer strip in Gun Plain Township on the Gun River in Spring 2007. What are buffer strips? Glad you asked!

Buffer Strips slow water runoff, trap sediment, and enhance infiltration within the buffer. Buffers also trap fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens, and heavy metals, and they help trap snow and cut down on blowing soil in areas with strong winds. In addition, they protect livestock and wildlife from harsh weather and buildings from wind damage. If properly installed and maintained, they have the capacity to:

• Remove up to 50 percent or more of nutrients and pesticides.
• Remove up to 60 percent or more of certain pathogens.
• Remove up to 75 percent or more of sediment.

Buffer strips are a source of food, nesting cover, and shelter for many wildlife species. Buffers also provide connecting corridors that enable wildlife to move safely from one habitat area to another.

Buffer strips help stabilize a stream and reduce its water temperature. Buffers also offer a setback distance for agricultural chemical use from water sources.

For more information on the benefits of buffer strips

No-Till Project

The Gun River Watershed Project cost-shared the use of a no-till drill to plant crops for a Plainwell producer in the spring of 2007. Some of the benefits of no-till vs. conventional tillage are:

A producer can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre by going Low Impact from conventional tillage methods to no-till. At November 2007 diesel prices, this amounts to $7.70 per acre in production cost savings. On a farm with 1,000 acres of cropland, these savings add up to 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel per year valued at $7,700.

Currently, no-till is practiced on over 62 million acres. If the amount of no-till acreage doubled, farmers could save an additional 217 million gallons of fuel, valued at over $480 million.

No-till is a conservation practice that leaves the crop residue undisturbed from harvest through planting except for narrow strips that cause minimal soil disturbance. Crop residues are materials left in an agricultural field after the crop has been harvested. These residues include stalks and stubble (stems), leaves and seed pods. Good management of field residues can increase efficiency of irrigation and control of erosion. No-till can be used for almost any crop in almost any soil and can save producers labor costs and fuel. It’s a sound investment for the environment and the farm.

In addition to energy efficiencies and cost savings, no-till has several environmental benefits. No-till increases the organic matter in the soil, making it more stable and helping prevent soil erosion. No-till reduces greenhouse gases because it requires less fuel and sequesters (stores) carbon in the soil. Other benefits of using no-till as part of a resource management system include:
• Increased earthworm populations that improve soil quality—an average of 540,000 earthworms per acre versus 285,000 in conventional tillage
• Increased water infiltration—cutting evaporation and runoff by at least 70 percent
• Reduced tilling time per acre—by as much as two-thirds

Michigan's Qualified Forest Property Tax Program

A public act was passed last fall enabling qualifed landowners to apply for a tax exemption on qualified forest land. This exemtpion is the same that is claimed under PA116 and the Homestead exemption; therefore, you may only claim one exemtpion on your property. To qualify for the Qualified Forest Property Tax Program the land must be privately owned, a minimum of 20 contiguous acres of forest, at least 80% in productive forest, no buildings or structures present, must have an approved forest management plan, and the landonwer must report timber production annually to the Michigan DNR. For more information, see the fact sheet linked below. Also stay tuned for more information on a public meeting that is planned to be held in Allegan County about this new tax program.
Qualified Forest Property Tax Program Fact Sheet

Michigan's Carbon Trading Program

The Michigan Association of Conservation Districts has partnered with the Delta Institute and the State of Michigan to form the Michigan Conservation Climate Initiative (MCCI). This initiative allows landowners to earn carbon credits for using conservation tillage, planting trees or grasses, or capturing methane with methane digesters. Applications are currently being accepted into this program. For more information, contact your local Conservation District office or visit the website listed below.

MCCI homepage

Free Soil Testing Program

Have you ever wondered why your neighbors lawn is so green? Have you ever had your soil tested? Well, now is your chance to catch up with your neighbors lawn. A free soil testing program is now offered for your home or garden.

>100% Free soil testing for Gun River Watershed residents
>We cover the shipping charges to the lab as well as the lab analysis
>Soil Testing is for pH, lime deficiency, available phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium
>We will provide recommendations for lime and fertilizer after soil results are returned
>Your lawn can be more productive! And you can use less phosphorous!

Soil Sampling Instructions:

For a large lawn or garden, 10 to 15 sub-samples should be taken.
Take sub-samples in a random or zig zag pattern.
Avoid road edges, next to concrete foundations, walks etc.
Take samples at 4” deep for turf and 6” deep for a garden.
In a large container mix all sub-samples and air dry approximately 2 cups for soil analysis.

For more information call: Shawn McKenny at 269.673.8965

Please leave your name, address, phone number and sample site (garden, lawn etc) with soil sample.

Drop sites for dried soil samples:

GUN LAKE BUILDING SUPPLY AND RENTAL CENTER
81-124TH STREET
SHELBYVILLE, MI 49344

SHAWN MCKENNEY
ALLEGAN CONSERVATION DISTRICT
1668 LINCOLN ROAD M-40N
ALLEGAN, MI 49010

PAUL WYLIE
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION OFFICE
3255 122ND AVENUE
ALLEGAN, MI 49010

Emerald Ash Borer Update!

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed that the emerald ash borer (EAB) is present in Allegan County, in Section 27 of Gun Plain Township along M-89. The pest was likely transported to the county on firewood. The presence of this serious pest of ash trees does not mean that all Allegan County ash trees will be dead soon. The beetle does not spread very far on its own, only about ½ mile per year. To slow this spread, it is recommended to remove ash trees within ½ mile of known infestations. However there are no longer any government funds to do so. It is likely that areas within 5 miles of the known infestation will see impacts from EAB in less than 10 years. Ash trees for timber should also be removed or salvaged from these areas within that time frame to minimize EAB losses. To date, no widespread effective treatment has been found for EAB. There are some chemical treatments available to homeowners for valuable yard tree applications, but these treatments can be costly since annual applications are necessary for effective control in an infested area. The most important things all Allegan County residents can do is to be aware of the problem, talk to their neighbors, look for symptoms of the beetle and comply with the statewide and federal quarantines that restrict the movement of firewood. Suspected new EAB infestations may be reported to the MI Department of Agriculture in St. Joseph at 269-428-2575. For more information about EAB or the quarantines, visit www.emeraldashborer.info or www.michigan.gov/eab or contact Kelly Goward at the Allegan Conservation District, 269-673-8965 ×3. Another source of information is the Allegan County MSU Extension office at 3255 122nd Ave, Allegan, phone 269-673-0370, on the web at www.msue.msu.edu/allegan