Abstract

The overall goal of the Sand Creek Watershed Project is to improve and protect the designated uses of the watershed. In order to achieve this overall goal and attain compliance with the TMDL established in Sand Creek, four goals have been established and prioritized. The primary goal of the Sand Creek Watershed Project is to restore or improve the cold water fishery. The secondary goal of the project is to protect and improve the habitats of native aquatic life and wildlife. Both goals can be achieved by reducing the amount of known pollutants affecting both of these uses. Pollutant reduction can be achieved through proper storm water management that would also serve to address harmful changes in the stream’s flow regime. The third goal of the project is to improve and protect partial body contact recreational uses, such as wading and fishing, by reducing pathogen concentrations, hydrocarbons, toxic substances, and trash. These four known and suspected pollutants also affect total body contact recreation uses, such as swimming. The fourth goal of the Sand Creek Watershed Project is to improve and protect total body contact. Structural and vegetative BMPs, policy and management BMPs, and Information and Education (I&E) activities will be needed to reduce known pollutants affecting these impaired and threatened uses.

Keywords

Sand Creek, Chester Township, Alpine Township, City of Walker, Kent County, Wright Township, Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County, Watershed, Michigan

Disciplines

Natural Resources Management and Policy

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