Aquatic Connectivity:

Benefiting Streams and Communities

Lisha Ramsdell

Program Director 1

Huron Pines is a nonprofit environmental organization established in 1973. Located in Gaylord, MI, we strive

to reach our conservation goals by connecting our region’s water, land and people.

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Huron PinesConserving the Forests, Lakes and Streams of

Northeast Michigan

We join with a variety of partners such as local governments, non-

profits, area residents and private businesses to complete our goals.

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Dams:

• Jumping Barrier

• Velocity Barrier

• Interrupts Nutrient Flow/Distribution

Barriers Impacting Connectivity:

Road/Stream Crossings:•Velocity Barriers•Jumping Barriers•Sediment Pollution Entrance Point

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Project Planning & Prioritization

Basin-Wide ConsistencyData Sharing

Resources available at: www.huronpines.org

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• No Major Dams on the Mainstream

• Coldwater Tributaries

• Natural River Designation

• Forest/Agriculture

• High recreation use

• Supports Large Fish Migrations

• Flows into Saginaw Bay (AOC)

Rifle River Watershed

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• 69 known dams-typically over 6 ft. high (red)

• 85 additional “suspect” dams-aerial survey (yellow)

• 245 road/stream crossings (green)

• 63 RSX sites were determined “not passable”

• 217 aquatic barriers

Prioritizing in the Rifle Watershed

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www.northernmichiganstreams.org

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“Whole Picture” strategy

Justifies Project Choices• Based on Unbiased Data

• Peer Review of Findings

Benefits of Prioritizing• Provides Flexibility in

Funding Usage

• Offers Suite of Projects

• “Bundling” Capability

• Educates Partners

• Tracks Regional Needs and Progress

Prioritizing Projects

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Conservation Groups

Resource Managers

(DEQ & DNR)

Local Municipalities

Private Foundations

Tribes

Private Landowners

U.S. Fish and Wildlife

U.S. Forest Service

Involve Partners Early

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Project ScopeBalancing Needs

Agree on what’s getting done• Select appropriate Best

Management Practices (BMP)

• Aquatic Passage

• Reduce Sedimentation

Other Conservation Concerns

Bring together diverse funding

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Coordinating Partners

(One Point of Contact)

Motivating and Inspiring

Teaching

Learning

Staying focused

Navigating Obstacles

Providing Leadership

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Priorities Across the Landscape

Sell the Process of Site Selection/Prioritization

Watershed-wide Impacts

Prepared for “Shovel Ready” Requests

Funding Proposals Tailored by Deliverable, NOT site

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Lisha Ramsdell

Program Director

lisha@huronpines.org

(989) 344-0753

www.huronpines.org