A group led by the Saginaw Bay Resource Conservation & Development Council (Saginaw Bay RC&D) is striving to get the word out about the Cass River Watershed’s water quality and what the community can do to restore it. The project takes place in the Cass River Watershed in Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Saginaw, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties. (Map available upon request)

Two reports that tell us about past water quality are the Cass River Biological Survey completed in 2006 by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the 2008 Rapid Watershed Assessment completed by the Saginaw Bay RC&D. Both reports provide us with a basis of what pollutants are present in the Cass River and potential causes (actions) that are impairing water quality.

The 2006 Cass River Biological Survey, taken along the main stem of the Cass River, sheds light on how wildlife and macro-invertebrates are affected by the water quality in the Cass River. It shows that there were high levels of phosphorous in the waters along the main branch, but no major blooms in algae and other aquatic plants because of a second problem – sediments. These sediments (excess soil) were mostly attributed to dredging and the straightening and widening of ditches.

The 2008 Cass River Rapid Watershed Assessment provides a summary of previous water quality testing in the Cass River. This summary revealed that the main source of problems for the Cass River is from non point source pollution – mainly phosphorous and sediments. The sediments were revealed to be coming from dredging, runoff from road crossings and agriculture, and stream bank erosion.

With all this water quality information, why do we need more?

Previous water quality testing has told us what has happened at a particular time, on a particular day.  But what if there was a drought or heavy rain storm on the day testing was done?  How would that affect water quality? The Cass River Greenway committee has received funding of $43,455 from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to perform water sampling for two-years to identify the sources of pollution in the Cass River.  Previous testing tells us the pollutants that are present in the Cass River such as sediments, nutrients, and bacteria.  Upcoming testing will tell us the sources of the pollution, or where it is coming from. Potential sources of pollution include: failing stream banks, runoff from commercial and agricultural property, and failing septic systems.

“The water testing is taking place from May 2012 – October 2013 and will serve as a complement to the watershed management plan, by producing accurate, current, and credible water quality information” stated Cass River Greenway committee chairman, Bob Zeilinger. Environmental Science Solutions, LLC has been hired to manage the project. The Cass River will be sampled above and below the communities of Bridgeport, Frankenmuth, Vassar, Caro and Cass City for phosphorous, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, nitrates, turbidity, and fecal coliform bacteria.

The need to raise awareness about the Cass River and its water quality grew out of efforts from the Cass River Greenway committee, who have organized river cleanups, and are developing the Cass River as a local tourist destination for outdoor recreation.  More information can be found online at www.cassriver.org

The Saginaw Bay Resource, Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) was awarded grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to assemble the study.  The official Watershed Management Plan is set to be completed in October 2012. Please contact Ben Belkholm at the Saginaw Bay RC&D office for more information or to get involved at 989-894-6020 or cassrivertech@gmail.com.

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Cass River Greenway

2011 Annual Report

January 6, 2012

By CRG Chairman, Robert Zeilinger

Community Membership and Agency Support:

Organized in 2007, the Cass River Greenway Committee membership includes volunteer residents and municipal leaders from cities, communities and townships along the Cass River from Cass City downstream to Bridgeport.  Expanding the volunteer base for work on the Cass River Greenway project is critical to achieving many of the committee’s goals, and we welcome additional volunteers.

The Cass River Greenway Committee is strongly supported by federal, state and county agencies whose representatives are members of the committee.  They include:  MDEQ Water Bureau, US Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA/Saginaw RC&D, Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, UM Flint-University Outreach, Saginaw Area Storm Water Authority and Saginaw County Conservation District.

Goals Developed by the Cass River Greenway Committee:

• Develop Recreation Opportunities on the Cass River and along its corridor
• Encourage Preservation of Wildlife Habitat and Critical Natural Lands
• Improve Water Quality of the Cass River

Goal – Develop Recreation Opportunities on the Cass River and along its corridor:

The design and construction of a water trail on the Cass River is our top priority for this goal.  Major accomplishments in 2011 were the completions of new canoe/kayak launches in Frankenmuth and Tuscola.  The Frankenmuth launch, located in Heritage Park, features an ADA accessible floating dock that was dedicated in June.  Major sponsors include the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Saginaw Bay WIN and Frankenmuth Jaycees.  The Tuscola launch, located on their township hall property, was completed in November.  The facility includes new restroom facilities that will be used by park users.  A spring 2012 dedication/opening is being planned.  Major sponsors include the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Saginaw Bay WIN, and Tuscola Township.  The Lower Cass River Water Trail Map can be downloaded from our web site www.cassriver.org.

On-river signage between Vassar and Frankenmuth is planned to be installed before the start of the 2012 season.  Signage for the two new launch sites is currently being designed by UM Flint – University Outreach and will be installed next spring.

Plans for a new launch in Vassar are currently on hold, pending the removal of the breached dam in Vassar.  US Fish & Wildlife Service has committed $25,000 in funding for the dam removal with the expectation of project completion within 5 years.

Preliminary discussions with area Parks & Rec Directors have begun regarding expanding the water trail both upstream and downstream of the new facilities in Tuscola and Frankenmuth.

Goal – Encourage Preservation of Wildlife Habitat and Critical Natural Lands:

The preservation of scenic vistas and wildlife habitat is important to a vibrant and healthy watershed.  In partnership with UM Flint – University Outreach, the Cass River Greenway has completed and released a Natural Lands Inventory and Assessment document.  The study involved an assessment of existing habitat lands (forests, grasslands, wetlands, etc.) and ranked them as to their value/importance to sustaining wildlife populations and environmental processes.  The scope of the study included six townships along the Cass River from Bridgeport upstream to Caro.  The townships included Bridgeport, Frankenmuth, Tuscola, Vassar, Juniata, and Indianfields.  The 18 page report and associated maps are being distributed to the parks and recreation and planning commissions of the respective communities.  The report and individual township maps are available on our web site www.cassriver.org and can be purchased from Frankenmuth Printing.

The second initiative in this area is a Phragmites control project.  Phragmites is a non-native, invasive reed that threatens the ecological health of wetlands and the shorelines of lakes and rivers.  Phragmites are extremely difficult to eradicate once they become well established, as evidenced by their total domination in many areas around the Saginaw Bay and area rivers.  To date we have not observed Phragmites on the banks of the Cass River between Vassar and Bridgeport.  However, it is present and expanding along many roadside ditches in our area.  Our intent is to eradicate Phragmites in our area before it invades the Cass River.  In 2010, a demonstration project was implemented, spraying recommended herbicides to five sites of emergent Phragmites.  The result was almost total eradication.  In 2011, a student at Frankenmuth High School completed a senior project on Phragmites Control.  As part of his project he surveyed every road in Frankenmuth and Bridgeport Townships and mapped every site of emergent Phragmites.  With the support of the Managing Director of the Saginaw County Road Commission, these sites were treated in October 2011.  Sponsors of the effort included Frankenmuth Conservation Club, Frankenmuth Township, Star of the West and Saginaw County Road Commission.  Our intent going forward includes monitoring the sites treated in 2011, developing a plan to expand control efforts into neighboring townships, and assisting property owners interested in treating Phragmites present on their property.

Goal – Improve Water Quality of the Cass River:

Improvement of river water quality is a watershed wide activity and involves a long term commitment.  In late 2010 the Michigan DEQ announced the Cass River Watershed had been selected for funding of a Watershed Management Plan project.  This is an extremely important and necessary step in developing a long term effort to improve water quality in the Cass River.  The approximately $300,000 budget grant is providing funds to support agency experts and engineering firms to complete an in-depth two year study and plan.  The resulting report, due in early 2013, will prioritize the environmental problems within the watershed, suggest remediation projects and timelines, and recommend funding sources for the projects.  Activities in 2011 have focused on completing on-the-ground surveys of existing conditions and planning for the communication and rollout activities to occur in 2012.

Also, late in 2010 the Cass River was one three river systems in the Saginaw Bay Watershed selected for a “Land Use Policy” analysis to be conducted by Michigan State University.  The objective of this study is to compare various municipal land use policies (master plans and ordinances) under various landscape conditions (agriculture, rural/developed, natural) and develop “best practice” land use policies that promote environmental stewardship practices which can be considered by municipalities state-wide.  During 2011, three meeting/workshops were held in our area to inform interested residents and engage local planning commissions.  The project completion is scheduled for late 2012.

The 3^rd annual Cass River Clean Up was held on August 13 and over 50 volunteers worked to clean up the river from Dixie Highway downstream to Bridgeport Township Hall.  Once again, trailers full of plastic, rubber, metal and glass were removed from the river and disposed of.  Next year’s clean up will take place between Vassar and Tuscola and will be hosted by Tuscola Township.

In June, 2011 the Cass River Greenway was informed our grant request for a Volunteer Stream Monitoring project was approved.  The funding source is the Great Lakes Commission and contracted through the Michigan DEQ.  The project involves recruiting volunteers to take river sediment samples and examine them for the presence and type of macro-invertebrates (bugs).  The quantity and type of macro-invertebrates is an indicator of the health of the river (water quality).  The testing will take place in 2012 between Bray Road Bridge in Tuscola Township and Beyer Road Bridge in Frankenmuth Township.

A second water quality monitoring grant was awarded to the Cass River Greenway in August, 2011.  This was a major grant ($64,000) awarded by the Michigan DEQ and involves a two year water quality study of the Cass River from upstream of Cass City to downstream past Bridgeport.  Testing parameters will include phosphates, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, nitrates, turbidity and E-coli.  The project will be managed by Environmental Science Solutions, and our area waste water treatment plants have agreed to conduct a portion of the testing.  The water sampling and testing will occur during the open water seasons of 2012 and 2013.

The grant will provide funding to develop and train a group of volunteers to monitor the water quality of the river using macroinvertebrate populations in the river. The number and diversity of the organisms allow groups to gauge the quality of water in the river. Macroinvertebrates are organisms that inhabit the river over the long term and do not change as rapidly as water chemistry. Volunteers will complete water sampling twice a year both in the spring and fall to develop the database. There are a variety of jobs to complete a water sampling.  Individuals will be needed to wade the river shore and collect samples, to sort and count the macroinvertebrates, to complete a stream habitat assessment, and to identify populations in the sampling. Training will be provided to volunteers to guarantee quality of the sampling. Sampling is completed in one-day activity with several groups sampling at different locations along the selected area of the stream.

 The Cass River Greenway Committee is developing a list of interested individuals to help with the monitoring project. If you are interested in being kept informed of the progress of this project or would like to help with the monitoring activity please send a message to the project chairperson Don Zoller at  dzol@att.net.

 Phragmites, also known as common reed, is a perennial wetland grass that can grow to 15 feet in height (typical plant height ranges from 6 to 15 feet).  An invasive, non native, variety of phragmites is becoming widespread in Michigan and is threatening the ecological health of wetlands and the Great Lakes coastal shoreline.  The invasive variety of phragmites creates tall, dense stands which degrade wetlands and coastal areas by crowding out native plants and animals, blocking shoreline views, reducing access for swimming, fishing, and hunting and can create fire hazards from dry plant material.

Phragmites typically grows in coastal and interior wetlands, lake margins, roadside ditches, and other low, wet areas, although it can be found in dry areas. It spreads rapidly due to its vigorous rhizomes (horizontal roots that produce new shoots) which can exceed 60 feet in length, grow more than six feet per year, and readily grow into new plants when fragmented (chopped up, hoed).  The easiest way to control phragmites is to begin a control program as soon as it observed growing in a small stand., before it has become well established.  In many areas, especially those with large, established stands of phragmites, complete eradication may not be achievable.  The use of herbicide treatment(s) (initial and spot treatment) is recommended as the primary control method and the first step toward effective control.  After the initial herbicide treatment, removal and disposal of the dead stalks prepares the site for spot treatment the following year.

 Proposal

 The Cass River Greenway Committee proposes to sponsor a phragmites control demonstration project.  The objectives include generating awareness of the problems associated with phragmites propagation, developing reasonable control techniques for small stands of phragmites in our area, and establishing the groundwork for an area wide control program that can be undertaken by appropriate organizations and property owners.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Frankenmuth Conservation Club, Star of the West Milling Company and Saginaw County Conservation District have agreed to partner with the Cass River Greenway Committee for this demonstration project.

“Spending quality time with my family was the primary reason for purchasing the first 200 acres in Sanilac County back in 1987.” Another 120 followed, says Frank Piesko.  Bringing a family to nature to forge the bonds within it wasn’t a new idea of his, though: “I was born in Flint, Michigan and moved to a small farm just south of Frankenmuth at the age of 10.  My parents wanted to get our family (myself and three brothers) out of the city and into a more rural environment.” [full story]

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