Allegan Conservation District

Project Facts!

The following are goals and projects completed by the Watershed Project over the past three years!

•Updated master plans to reflect water quality protection in all seven municipalities
•Riparian Overlay District Ordinance adopted by all seven municipalities within the Watershed
•Funnel Ordinance for water quality protection adopted by three municipalities
•How to use a Watershed Management Plan for Land Use Planning Document
•Water Quality Zoning in Review Document
•Municipality support for water quality improvements and protection
•Working relationship with local Planning Commissions and the Allegan Conservation District

The Project has also met the following education goals!

•Twelve Rabbit River Hoppinings Newsletters were produced and disseminated
•Watershed signage, including educational signs at BMP sites and road signs to reference the geographic boundaries of the watershed
•Permanent Student Stream Monitoring Program within the Allegan County Math and Science Center and the Allegan Conservation District
•The Watershed Project partnered with Monterey Township to disseminate a Land Use Planning Survey for Water Quality. Results were in full support of preserving water quality and in full support of land preservation.
•Live macro-invertebrate education display

St. Margaret

Martin High School

Outlook Academy

Black Angus Livestock Farm

Working with a livestock producer in Watson Township, the Watershed Project has completed 2 Livestock Stream Crossings, 2000lf of Exclusion Fencing and 2 Livetsock Access Points. These practices have reduced sediment and organic matter from reaching the stream due to the current unlimited livestock access in the headwaters to Miller Creek and the Butternut Drain. The stream located on site is a coldwater tributary of the Upper Rabbit River which is a priority for preserving the Salmanoid fish population.

Pollutant Load Reductions:
Sediment: 40 tons
Phosphorous: 33lbs
Nitrogen: 7lbs

Land Use Planning in the Rabbit River

The Land Use Planning Project has been a great success in the Rabbit River Watershed. The Project has cost-shared the development of numerous model ordinances which are available to all townships to adopt with funding from the Project.

The Project has funded the adoption of three Lake Funnel Ordinances with Leighton, Hopkins and Monterey Townships. The City of Wayland has adopted a Water Overlay Ordinance and Monterey, Leighton and Hopkins Township are soon to follow. The Project is continuing to work with all seven townships to amend master plans and zoning ordinances to protect water quality. We hope to continue the Land Use Planning Project with other watersheds in the near future including the Gun River and Black River Watersheds.

You can view our model ordinances in the Land Use Download Section.

For more information on model ordinances and land use planning workshops please call the Allegan Conservation District.

Watershed Planning Links

Low Impact Development Information
Watershed Planning
EPA Model Ordinances

Dorr Township Park Streambank and Rain Garden Project

One of the newest improvements at the Dorr Township Park is a bio-retention basin or rain garden, located at the northern ball field. This basin controls surface water runoff from the ball park and the surrounding area as well as provides a viewing area for Michigan Native Plant Species.

We also completed a streambank restoration project just north of the 142nd street culvert. This site has lost more then 20 yards of sediment over the past year and is threatening to undermine the boardwalk along the river. We utilized native plants and bio-engineering practices to reduce the erosion at this site.

Pollutant Load Reductions
Sediment: 5.4 tons/ac
Phosphorous: 5.36lbs
Nitrogen: 11.85lbs

Livestock Crossing Project

Uncontrolled livestock access to surface water can lead to excessive sedimentation and phosphorous loads in rivers and lakes. The Watershed Project worked with a local producer to provide limited livestock access to the Knuth Drain in Allegan County. Previous to the project livestock had unrestricted access to the drain and were causing erosion and sedimentation problems.

Total Project Cost: $5925.00
Pollutant Load Reductions
Sediment: 4.5 tons/ac
Phosphorous: 5lbs
Nitrogen:1lb

Sandy Pines Golf Course/ Pigeon Creek Bufferstrip Project

The Sandy Pine Golf Course Buffer Strip Project included a total of 15,000 native plant plugs and many busy hands planting plugs over a 7 day period in July, 2006. Special thanks to all our volunteers and to Jim Spray and Max Gibbs from the Sandy Pines Resort for all their efforts and their concern for water quality in the Rabbit River. By fall 2007 the golf course will be a great place to see native plants in action and of course a great place for a round of golf!

Sandy Pines Golf Course
Pigeon Creek Buffer Strip Project
15,000 Native Plugs
Total Project Cost: $12,365.00

Pollutant Load Reductions
Sediment: 3.25ton/ac
Phosphorous:31.25lbs
Nitrogen: 6.25lbs

Rabbit River Streambank Restoration Site CMI#9

This rock rip-rap stream restoration project in Salem Township was a Clean Michigan Iniative Project. The Project was coordinated by the Allegan Conservation and Kalamazoo Conservation District in partnership with the Allegan County Road Commission. Over 300 feet of streambank was armored and protected using rock rip-rap and a small section of stream was left in a more natural state using a tree revetment. Special thanks to Bill Nelson and Georganne for their time and patience during the Project duration.

Total Project Cost: $107,000
Pollutant Load Reductions
Sediment: 45.8 tons
Phosphorous: 22.3lbs
Nitrogen: 77.9lbs