Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan

1. Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan Portage Lake Watershed Forever Committee Meeting –June 13, 2007

2. Agenda • Welcome and Introductions • Study Findings and Next Steps • Public Engagement Process • PLWF Executive Committee and Technical Advisors • Future Meeting Dates • Adjourn

3. Phase I of Watershed Study • Watershed Description (Completed) • Review of Previous Studies (Completed) • State of the Watershed Summary (Completed) • Identification of Local Issues, Concerns, and Priorities • Focus Group Discussions (Quality and Scope) • Telephone Survey (Quantity and Priorities) (By July 1) • Gap Analysis: What additional information is needed to meet state and federal requirements for implementation grants? (By July 1)

4. Portage Lake Watershed

5. Physical Description • Watershed—15,800 acres in size (21 miles 2) • Portage Lake—2,110 acres or 13% of watershed area • Portage Lake has 7 named tributaries • Watershed has 3 other small named lakes • 1993 Study designated 11 subwatersheds

6. Subwatersheds—1993 Study

7. Other Watershed Descriptors • Demographics • Land Use, Land Cover • Geology, Soils, Topography • Wetlands • Land Ownership • Portage Lake Contours, Fisheries, and Water Quality

8. Demographics2000 U.S. Census Data

9. Present Land Use, Land Cover

10. Changes in Land Cover: 1850s to 1978 Significant changes from dominant hardwood forests in the pre-settlement era

11. Geology—Sedimentary Bed Rock Manistee Co. Ranks #2 in All Time State Oil and Gas Production

12. Geology—Glacial Deposits Glacial Soils Support Groundwater Recharge

13. Current Wetlands

14. Changes—1860s to Present Significant losses on shoreline areas of Portage Lake

15. Land Ownership Very little state, federal, or other public land in watershed

16. Portage Lake Fisheries • Portage Lake supports a wide range of naturally reproducing, resident coolwater and warmwater fish populations including largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, rock bass, hybrid sunfish, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. • With the support of an annual stocking program, Portage Lake has a popular year-round walleye fishery as well as a seasonally important brown trout, coho, and chinook fishery.

17. Review of Previous Water Quality Studies on Portage Lake • MDNR Water Chemistry Monitoring 1974 and 1985 • Northwest Michigan Planning Shoreline Algal Survey 1983 • MDNR Contaminant Monitoring 1990 • Bacteriologic, Secchi Disk Readings, Onekama Township (1985–1992) • SEG Comprehensive Study 1991 • DNR Fisheries Report 1999 • Onekama High School 2004–2006

18. Portage Lake DescriptionDepth Contours

19. DNR Sampling 1974 and 1985Dissolved Oxygen

20. Northwest Michigan Planning Shoreline Algal Survey 1983 • Cladophora growths are attributable to the presence of septic leaching in the shoreline area adjacent to the Portage Point Inn. Phosphorus loading from runoff and atmospheric deposition were estimated to contribute more than 96% of the total phosphorus inputs to the lake. • The report recommended periodic sampling to detect any changes that might occur in Portage Lake related to pollution from septic tank/tile field failures. • Area in need of sewers is limited to Village of Onekama

21. SEG Comprehensive Study 1991

22. Summary of ProductivityMeasures from Previous Studies

23. State of the Subwatershed The Good News • Despite all the changes, water quality and related benefits remain relatively high • No local sources of toxic substances have been identified • Relatively little change observed in productivity since 1976 sampling • Existing habitat supports valuable fish populations in Portage Lake and tributaries • Most suspected historical sources of potential human pathogens addressed

24. State of the Subwatershed Concerns and Potential Threats • DO levels below thermocline and duration of oxygen depletion • Algae growth and E. coli measurements to determine contributions from septic systems • Rooted aquatic plant abundance and dominance of exotic species • Future status of critical habitat • Comparison with similar lakes

25. Comparison with Platte Lake Portage Lake

26. Comparison with Platte Lake Portage Lake

27. Portage Lake Comparison with Platte Lake

28. MDEQ-Approved Watershed Plans

29. Next Steps With Oversight of Executive and Technical Advisory Committees • Identify Information Gaps • Qualify for state and federal assistance to implement plan • Conduct Telephone Survey of Residents • Identify concerns, opportunities, and priorities • Complete Focus Group Meeting with Seasonal Residents • Determine any special issues related to seasonal residents • Initiate Phase II of Study • Fill information gaps to complete approvable watershed management plan • Identify list of early implementation activities

30. Public Engagement • Focus Groups • Targeted diverse interests • 7 meetings, 73 participants • Seasonal residents, June 28 • Community Forum • Public invited • 38 participants • Portage Lake Watershed Forever Committee and Meetings

31. Telephone Survey • Field June 25, Results in July, N=400 • Questions Informed by Focus Groups • Results Will Tell Us: • How residents use the lake • How residents perceive the quality of the water • What sites and resources need protection • The level of support for actions to protect Portage Lake • The best ways to inform residents about the lake

32. PLWF Structure

33. Future Meeting Dates • June 26, 2007— Executive Committee & Technical Advisor Meeting, 4-6 p.m., Media Center, Onekama School • June 28, 2007—Property Owners Focus Group Meeting, 7 p.m., Farr Center, Onekama

34. Thank You!Your time and input are critical to making the Portage Lake Watershed Forever Plan and its implementation a success.