RIVER BENDS PARK-WEST AND HOLLAND ... - Shelby Township

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General Property Information Total land area: 390.6 Acres Number of stands: 31 stands Region/subsection or ecosystem type: General property description: The west side of River Bends Park, even more than the east side, is an amazing and very important remnant of relatively undisturbed or regenerated wild forests, wetlands and river channels. It also includes the Holland Ponds complex of highly disturbed habitats that are transforming into acceptably naturalized swamps, ponds and surrounding upland forests, with durable access roads through the middle and south of the ponds. Segments of the old Clinton-Kalamazoo Canal still exist in the Holland Ponds complex and in the northwest forest between the former Conrail railroad bed and 23 Mile Road. In the forest just south of the Holland Ponds complex is the foundation of a building that is reputed to be a former park ranger's house or office. Also south of the Holland Ponds is an extensive wetland complex, which blends into Clinton River floodplain forest. The Park encompasses both sides of the river west of Holland Ponds north and west almost to Dequindre Road at Avon Road. Much of the parkland between the river and Dequindre Road was formerly owned by the Earl family, acquired decades ago by Michigan DNR as part of the Rochester-Utica State Recreation Area, and transferred to the <strong>Township</strong> with the rest of the Park around 1994. The wetlands and river floodplain complex provide valuable habitats for a wide variety of wildlife species, including a rookery for great blue herons. The upland forest and clearings in the former Earl property offer early- and mid-successional habitats for many other songbirds, deer, turkeys, rabbits, opossums, snakes and some raptors. Conversely, the bulldozed clearings along 23 Mile Road are notable for their absence of important wildlife habitats. Description of surrounding properties: There is considerable interaction between sections of the Park and certain surrounding properties. There is a direct and intentional cooperative connection between Yates Cider Mill and the north compartment of the Park, via the old Conrail railroad bed. There is a foot trail, called the Cider Mill Trail, which connects this railroad trail to the Holland Ponds complex off Ryan Road. There is evidence of periodic use of the informal Park trails by neighbors along the two small roads off Dequindre Road, in Stand 26 and Stands 17 - 22 in the former Earl estate. The most significant interaction is from members of the Detroit Sportsman‟s Congress, who have developed an extensive field and 3D archery trail system almost entirely on the Park property. This trail is at least 6,325 feet long and occupies at least 14.28 acres in the Park. Soils information: Basic soils information, including maps and tables, is located in Appendix A of this plan. Soil type descriptions in this plan are taken from the Web Soil Survey, and from the Macomb County Soil Survey book, published in 1971. Soils information provided in the Web Soil Survey is synthesized from information in the Soil Survey book. The soil maps in this book were constructed in 1969 from 1955 and 1964 aerial photographs. Therefore, while the soils underlying most stands have not changed since 1969, 4
the vegetation growing in some stands may be very different from what was there in 1955 and 1964. Especially in stands that were gravel or clay pits, or open fields in those years, primary succession has been proceeding, and most formerly open areas are now filling in with trees and shrubs. Further soils information is included in descriptions of many forested stands. Management access: Vehicular access for management of the Park is primarily through the Holland Ponds roads, along the old railroad trail from Yates Cider Mill, and at the Soccer City complex along 23 Mile Road. There is also a road in the southeast corner of Section 18, the first road on the east side of DeQuindre Road south of Avon Road, which services 3 private homes. This road passes through <strong>Township</strong> property after the second home, connecting to foot trails in Stands 27 and 26. Approximately 1200 feet south of this road is the old driveway entrance to the Earl homesite. This gated driveway is another access point for management of a system of informal trails in the former Earl family homestead portion of the Park, and may become a public access point if these trails are updated as a formal trail system. Presence of threatened and endangered species: Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) database search shows information on 11 threatened (T), endangered (E) or special concern (SC) plant and animal species, and one being considered for listed status (X), found at various times in Section 18 or Section 19 or both. They are listed in a table following this section. The following are the plants and animals, with their state or federal status, and the year(s) they were observed in or near the west side of the Park: 5
Page 1 and 2: RIVER BENDS PARK-WEST AND HOLLAND P
Page 3 and 4: V. APPENDICES
Page 5 and 6: APPENDIX B: WILDLIFE AND FORESTRY I
Page 8 and 9: APPENDIX D: PLANTS LIST
Page 10 and 11: Legal description or directions to
Page 14 and 15: Common Name Scientific Name Status
Page 21 and 22: III. STAND DESCRIPTIONS AND MANAGEM
Page 23 and 24: and size of trees in a forest stand
Page 25 and 26: just such a trail in existence alon
Page 27 and 28: MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR 'STAND 1. SOUT
Page 29 and 30: One of several large steel girders
Page 31 and 32: Even though they provide fruits for
Page 33 and 34: EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR 'STAND 3. C
Page 35 and 36: Recreational opportunities: The wes
Page 37 and 38: EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR 'STAND 4. O
Page 39 and 40: the stand can be allowed to eventua
Page 41 and 42: MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR 'STAND 5. WATE
Page 43 and 44: One view of Stand 6 pond. Note the
Page 45 and 46: important wildlife habitat complexe
Page 47 and 48: of the stand that would lend themse
Page 49 and 50: wildlife species. Potential for oth
Page 51 and 52: Forest health: Ducks and other wate
Page 53 and 54: Swamp, showing emergents, scattered
Page 55 and 56: MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR 'STAND 12. SMA
Page 57 and 58: The Natural Resources Conservation
Page 59 and 60: salamanders and snakes. There are a
Page 61 and 62: EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR 'STAND 15.
Page 63 and 64:
Silvicultural Prescription: Recomme
Page 65 and 66:
EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR 'STAND 16.
Page 67 and 68:
Planned Activities: 2010: Improve C
Page 69 and 70:
while maintaining a reasonably inta
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2012: Consider developing maple syr
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The main north-south road with seve
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gray catbird, song sparrow, indigo
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Camping cabin at Kenai NWR OEC. Bea
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Potential for timber production: Wi
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Page 83 and 84:
Planned Activities: 2010: Once the
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the old garage. Recreational opport
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Habitat and wildlife use: This fore
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Priority: 2 2015: Conduct second FS
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Habitat and wildlife use: This sect
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would need to be monitored and main
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Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Old house foundation near river, on
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half might be planted to oaks, suga
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MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR 'STAND 28. RAI
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Details of the silvicultural prescr
Page 109 and 110:
Recreational opportunities: This st
Page 111 and 112:
EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR 'STAND STAN
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Potential for other uses: Water qua
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to venture into the Park proper to
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Page 119 and 120:
IV. SUMMARY INFORMATION 111
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‟Stand 14. Buildings Pond‟ - Pr
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'Stand 1. Southeast Floodplain' - P
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'Stand 21. Black Walnut' - Priority
Page 127 and 128:
COMPARISON OF MANAGEMENT UNITS ON T
Page 129 and 130:
Sources (Numbered) for West River B
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Also various pamphlets and articles
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125
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Family (Tribe) Scientific Name Comm
Page 137 and 138:
Family Scientific Name Common Name
Page 139 and 140:
Table 2. Trees, shrubs, woody vines
Page 141 and 142:
Family Scientific Name Common Name
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RIVER BENDS PARK-WEST AND HOLLAND ... - Shelby Township

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