Les Cheneaux Watershed Council (LCWC) accomplishments have been regularly supported by individuals within the community and by community organizations that include: Les Cheneaux Islands Association, Community Foundation, Islands Wildlife, Lions International, Hessel School House and Clark Township. LCWC has also been awarded grants by the Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as well as State of Michigan sources.
2017-2018
General Community Projects:
- Supported Clark Township effort to develop Cedarville Harbor.
- Fundraising goals met
- Engineering drawings approved
- Project bids to be invited in early 2018.
- Consulted with Clark Township to further reduce treatment plant effluent nutrients.
- Efficient aeration system installed at Sewer Treatment Plant to reduce operating costs and maintain or further reduce nutrient load in discharge effluent.
- Sponsored 17th Annual FrogFest for community environmental awareness.
- Event organized by LCWC and supported by numerous groups, including: Clark Township, Cedarville High School, Intermediate School District, Lake State Univ, Michigan DNR, US Forest Service, and the Les Cheneaux organization of Lions, Community Foundation, Islands Association and Islands Wildlife.
- Sponsored Tall Ship annual visits to the Les Cheneaux Islands since 2016 from the Inland Seas Educational Association with support from Cedarville High School, Community Foundation, Intermediate School District and the Les Cheneaux Lions Club.
- Annual Spring Newsletter
Environmental / Economic Projects.
- Monitored island-wide water quality for recreational use.
- From 2001 to present.
- Supported by Les Cheneaux Islands Association.
- Completed 6 yr Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum, EWM) management study
- Identified a native fungus as an effective, safe biological control agent for EWM management
- Fungus provides over 80% EWM control with a single application per season.
- Developed manufacturing process for production of fungus at commercial scale.
- Completed 5 yr aquatic weed monitoring project
- Discovered a growth dynamic within Les Cheneaux whereby the species and density of aquatic weeds shifts dramatically in more nutrient rich areas.
- Collaborated with and subcontracted with Michigan Tech Univ to develop rapid detection method for invasive aquatic weeds using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs aka drones)
- Studied impact of Lake Huron water level on LCI ecology.
- 2011 – present.
- Documented phytoplankton shifts in response to unprecedented rate of lake level rise.
- Continued efforts that began in 2003 to work with local groups as well as state and federal agencies in establishing a long-term management program for the Double Crested Cormorant.
Future:
- Continue to monitor the recreational quality of Les Cheneaux waters.
- Keep the community aware of positive and negative environmental issues that may impact Les Cheneaux area.
- Recommend community actions to consider in dealing with water-centric environmental issues.
Watershed Council Accomplishments for 2011 - 2016
- Cedarville High School Stem Project
- Contributed to purchase of UAV.
- Consulted with science teacher on aquatic issues. 2014—present.
- Environmental awareness oral presentations outside community
- Restore Our Waters International (ROWI) 2012 - 2015
- Northern Michigan Univ on LCWC Invasive milfoil program 2013
- State of Lake Huron Binational Meeting. 2015
- Huron Pines Annual General Meeting 2016
- Univ Michigan Biological Station 2016
- Communicate with similar organization on water-centric issues of common interest.
- Tip Of The Mitt Watershed Council
- Georgian Bay Association
- Michigan Tech Univ
- Three Shores Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) of Chippewa,
Mackinac and Luce counties
- Univ Mich Biological Station
Technical reports in progress.
- Les Cheneaux Community Foundation (LCCF) Blastomycosis brochure---Edited Dec 2017
- Native fungus for use as mycoherbicide for invasive milfoil management
- Invasive milfoil and other nuisance aquatic plant growth cycles within nutrient rich areas of LCI
- Water Quality data for 2017
- Water temperature data correlation to invasive milfoil growth & management by native fungus
- Sewer Treatment Plant assay detection limit by DeTour water plant.
- Phytoplankton correlation to phosphorus availability in Les Cheneaux Island channels
- Collaboration with Mich Tech
Advocacy Issues:
- Great Lakes Water Level Policies
- Enbridge Line-5
- Asian Carp
- Diversion of water from Great Lakes Basin
Watershed Council Accomplishments for 2001 – 2010
- Completed five-year water quality of island chain to determine the general recreational health of Les Cheneaux waters (2006).
- Successfully managed Eurasian watermilfoil in Cedarville Bay using an integrated approach of biological control by weevils and mechanical weed harvester. (2008).
- Developed Les Cheneaux Islands Watershed Management Plan. (2005)
- Three-year study of the entire Les Cheneaux watershed to identify areas in need of attention to maintain high quality land and water natural resources then to follow through with plans to address same.
- Highlights of three-year Michigan-supported watershed study:
- Hosted & participated in three water quality workshops
- Published five informational newsletters
- Collaborated on twelve news articles.
- Incorporated water quality recognition into Clark Twp Master Plan/Zoning Ordinance
- Permanently protected twenty-two acres of critical habitat along Pearson Creek
- Completed land owner/township planning sessions for Meridian Road
- Completed Beavertail Creek crossing of Prentiss Bay road.
- Channel Dredge Project: In support of Clark Township, organized a four-million dollar dredge project of federal channels to make the islands more attractive for cruising vessels which will, in turn, aid local economy. Project completed in 2011.
- Sewer Treatment Plant: Identified the Clark Township sewage treatment plant as the primary cause of nutrient enrichment of Cedarville Bay, the result of which has been premature aging of the bay.
- Advised Clark Twp for process to reduce nutrients in STP discharges.