LTBB Master Land Use Plan - Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa ...

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Conversely, poorly drained soils will tend to hold water at the surface or bound up in the upper
layers of the soil.
Erosion Potential
Erosion potential, or “K” Factor, describes a soils tendency to erode, or the ease with which
particles can be carried away by wind and water. Graph 18 and its companion Map 20 are entitled
“Erosion Potential” and tell us that approximately half of the land area in the Reservation has
moderate erosion potential, with roughly 56,000 acres having high erosion potential.
Infiltration Rate
Another component of Septic Suitability, Infiltration Rate describes the ability of water to pass
through, or infiltrate, a particular soil. The graph labeled as Graph 19 shows us that well over half of
the area in the Reservation has a high infiltration rate. In general, the sandy soils prevalent in this
area have a high infiltration rate. While this can be useful for septic systems where the underlying
geology can protect the aquifer, it can also be a hazard in areas where the aquifer is not protected. As
can be seen in Map 21, the overwhelming characteristic of the soils in the area is a high infiltration
rate, with its concurrent danger to area groundwater supplies.
Wetlands Map
The map entitled “Wetlands” ( Map 22) shows the locations of various types of wetlands found
on the LTBB Reservation. Wetlands can be broken down in specific types based upon their unique
characteristics. Examples from each type of wetland can be found on the LTBB Reservation;
however the Forested-Deciduous and the Forested-Coniferous type wetlands occupy the most area.
Overall approximately 15% (32,557 acres) of the LTBB Reservation is covered by wetlands.
Wetlands are fragile communities that offer a range of environmental and natural resource
benefits. Wetland systems act as natural filters and are capable of mitigating some forms of pollution,
wetlands also help reduce and minimize flood potential, help to reduce stream velocities, maintain
natural stream paths and flow and reduce erosion. Wetlands are also tremendously diverse areas.
Many of the Reservation’s wetlands are found along or near creeks, streams, lakes or other water
bodies. Their unique mixture of water and resources allow many types of species (including
endangered and threatened) to flourish. Wetlands are often also very important to number of fish,
reptiles, amphibians and migratory bird species for laying eggs and rearing their young.
The wetlands of the LTBB Reservation, often due to their geographic location, also provide the
Reservation’s wildlife with natural ecological corridors or “wild links” to and between larger
undeveloped sections of the Reservation. These corridors allow the wildlife to move across the
Reservation allowing then to access different habitats as may be seasonally required. These “wild
links” help to lessen the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation.
Surface Water Resources
This map, (Map 23) although provided mostly for reference, does show the large and diverse
number of water bodies found in the Emmet/Charlevoix area, and it can be easily inferred how that
might affect the character and economy of this area. According to the 1997 Emmet County/City of
Petoskey Comprehensive Plan, “Spectacular views, clean unpolluted surface waters, and the
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