Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Program Project ...

Waukegan River 

63rd Street Dune & Beach 

Orland Tract 

Fort Sheridan 

Burnham Prairie 

Washington Park 

Beemsterboer & 

Seidner Parcels 

Grand Rapids Dam 

White Rapids & Chalk Hill Dam 

Menominee River 

Rosewood Park 

Lake Mary & Amoco Wetlands 

DuPont Ridge 

Lake Superior 

Buffalo District 

y Ballville Dam (Fremont, OH) 

y Chautauqua Creek (Westfield, NY) 

y Conneaut Creek (Erie County, PA) 

y Elk Creek (Erie County, PA) 

y Harpersfield Dam (Geneva, OH) 

y Irondequoit Creek (Monroe County, NY) 

y Salmon River (Oswego County, NY) 

y Springville Dam (Springville, NY) 

PROJECT SITES 

Gay Stamp Sands 

Lake Michigan 

Boardman River 

Frankenmuth Dam 

St. Marys River 

Henry Ford 

Estate Dam 

Lake Huron 

Lake Erie 

Dowagiac River 

Red Mill Pond 

Ballville Dam 

Conneaut Creek 

Elkhart River & 

Christiana Creek Dams 

Little Calumet River 

Harpersfield Dam 

Calumet Prairie 

& Ivanhoe South 

Elk Creek 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Districts 

chicago District 

y 63rd Street Dune & Beach (Chicago, IL) 

y Beemsterboer & Seidner Parcels (Lake County, IN) 

y Burnham Prairie (Burnham, IL) 

y Calumet Prairie & Ivanhoe South (Lake County, IN) 

y DuPont Ridge (Lake County, IN) 

y Fort Sheridan (Lake County, IL) 

y Lake Mary & Amoco Wetlands (Lake County, IN) 

y Little Calumet River (Porter County, IN) 

y Orland Tract (Cook County, IL) 

Lake Ontario 

Salmon River 

Irondequoit Creek 

Springville Dam 

Chautauqua Creek 

chicago District (CONT.) 

y Red Mill Pond (LaPorte County, IN) 

y Rosewood Park (Lake County, IL) 

y Washington Park (Cook County, IL) 

y Waukegan River (Lake County, IL) 

Detroit District 

y Boardman River (Traverse City, MI) 

y Dowagiac River (Cass County, MI) 

y Frankenmuth Dam (Frankenmuth, MI) 

y Elkhart River & Christiana Creek Dams (Elkhart, IN) 

y Gay Stamp Sands (Keweenaw County, MI) 

y Grand Rapids Dam (Menominee County, MI, & Marinette 

County, WI) 

y Henry Ford Estate Dam (Dearborn, MI) 

y Menominee River (Menominee County, MI, & Marinette 

County, WI) 

y St. Marys River (Chippewa County, MI) 

y White Rapids & Chalk Hill Dam (Menominee County, MI, & 

Marinette County, WI) 

Great Lakes Fishery & Ecosystem Restoration (GLFER) Program 

updated February 2011 www.glfer.org

Support Plan 

Great Lakes Fishery & Ecosystem 

Restoration (GLFER) Program 

In 2003 a GLFER support plan was developed in 

cooperation with state, provincial, tribal, international, 

and regional organizations and federal agencies in the 

United States and Canada that have responsibilities or 

programs related to the management and/or protection 

of the Great Lakes fishery and ecosystem or research on 

these topics. The support plan outlines the opportunities 

and priorities for Great Lakes fishery and ecosystem 

restoration projects. 

Ecosystem in Distress 

Water resources Development act of 2000, section 506 

The physical, biological, and chemical changes over the 

last 150 years related to settlement of the basin have 

all contributed to the deterioration of water quality, 

reduction of available physical habitat, and irreversible 

alterations of the biological components of the Great 

Lakes ecosystem. Development activities responsible for 

these adverse changes include the following: 

n Fragmentation of available habitat associated with 

the construction of dams on nearly all major tributaries 

n Alteration of natural river flow regimes and increase 

in sedimentation due to runoff from urban 

development and farming 

n Modification and destruction of Great Lakes and 

inland waters shoreline habitat, including valuable 

wetlands 

n Changes in natural flows and depositional zones 

in shoreline areas near Great Lakes navigational 

structures (e.g., piers, jetties, bulkheads, and breakwaters) 

n Reduction in indigenous fish populations and in 

some cases extirpation of Great Lakes fish species 

due to excessive harvest 

n Irreversible changes in the types and interaction 

of species caused by the intentional and accidental 

introductions of nonindigenous aquatic organisms 

Opportunities for Restoration 

Restoration of the fisheries and other critical elements of 

the Great Lakes ecosystem will require both structural 

and nonstructural solutions (e.g., research, application of 

best management land use practices, pollution control, 

public education, monitoring). The primary focus of 

Section 506 is restoration of fisheries habitat and related 

ecosystem elements through structural projects. Project 

examples include the following: 

n Removal of unnecessary barriers in Great Lakes 

tributaries 

n Creation of fish passage facilities 

n Creation of soft structures (shoreline enhancement) 

n Restoration of historical reefs and construction of 

artificial reefs in support of fish community objectives 

n Restoration of estuaries and rapids (particularly in 

connecting channels such as the St. Clair River and 

the Detroit River) 

n Restoration and creation of riffle areas in Great 

Lakes tributaries 

n Restoration and creation of wetlands 

Criteria 

To be considered for funding, a project must comply 

with three main screening criteria. To be eligible, a 

project must be 

n consistent with GLFER program priorities; 

n consistent with management objectives established 

by the various committees operating under 

the Great Lakes Fishery Commission; and 

n unopposed by the appropriate state management 

agency and/or any public agency owner of property 

on which the project will be located. 

A project review committee comprising the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers (USACE), in cooperation with 

the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and appropriate 

federal, state, and local agencies, will participate in 

project review. 



ProjECt DESCriPtion 

The Ballville Dam project is located on the Sandusky River 

approximately 10 miles upstream of the mouth at Sandusky 

Bay in Lake Erie. 

The dam impedes the passage of native migratory fish to the 

upstream areas of the Sandusky River, which contains ideal 

spawning habitat, thus impairing the reproduction of native 

fish species. During the feasibility study, the benefits and 

alternatives for fish passage, including dam removal, were 

evaluated. Target species are walleye, white bass, channel 

catfish, six species of suckers, lake sturgeon, and several other 

native and naturalized fish species. 

The Sandusky River and Sandusky Bay spawning stocks are 

significant contributors to the Lake Erie walleye population 

and provide a significant spring and fall fishery in Ohio 

waters. The expected results of the proposed project are: 

The availability of an additional 22 miles of free-flowing 

river containing 300 acres of suitable spawning habitat to 

fish and benthic species 

Restoration of sediment transport processes 

Increased species diversity both upstream and downstream 

of the dam 

Enhanced foraging opportunities for bald eagles and other 

animals 

Prevention of future dependence on walleye stocking programs 

to sustain the fishery 

Funding (feasibility only) 

BALLVILLE DAM 

Fish Passage 

Fremont, OH 

Contribution toward the goals outlined in the Great Lakes 

basin-wide management plan developed by the Great 

Lakes Fishery Commission and its partners 

Modification or removal of the dam for the purpose of 

fisheries and ecosystem restoration is complicated by a flood 

damage reduction project located downstream of the dam. It 

is unknown at this point if modifications to the dam will have 

any adverse impacts on the flood and coastal storm damage 

reduction project. 

nonfEDErAl PArtnErS 

City of Fremont 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of 

Wildlife 

CongrESSionAl intErESt 

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 

Senator Robert Portman (R-OH) 

Representative Robert E. Latta (R-OH-5) 

CUrrEnt StAtUS 

A wetlands delineation of the project area was completed in 

2010. The ice model and hydraulic model of the Sandusky 

River within the project area are scheduled for completion in 

March 2011. 

Total Federal Nonfederal 

current working estimate $9,000,000 $5,850,000 $3,150,000 

funding to date $754,000 $754,000 $0 

funds required to complete project $8,246,000 $5,096,000 $3,150,000 

Ballville Dam 

Project Manager: 

Steven A. Vriesen 

(716) 879-4359 

Steven.a.vriesen@usace.army.mil 



CHAUTAUQUA CREEK 

Fish Passage 

Westfield, NY 


Located in the town of Westfield, Chautauqua Creek is a 

tributary of Lake Erie. Two small dams currently block a variety 

of native and naturalized Lake Erie fish species, including 

steelhead trout, from reaching high-quality spawning areas in 

upper Chautauqua Creek. The project will evaluate a variety 

of fish passage and dam removal measures at the dams in 

order to allow spawning fish access to upstream areas and 

restore fishery populations. Any project constructed will be 

required to include measures that would block sea lampreys. 

A federal project at the Water Works dams on Chautauqua 

Creek will significantly increase the amount and quality 

of habitat available for steelhead spawning by providing 

access to approximately 10 miles of high-quality spawning 

habitat located upstream of the Water Works dams. The 

implementation of this project would also contribute to 

goals outlined in a Great Lakes basin-wide management plan 

developed by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. 

Funding (feasibility only) 

chautauqua creek 


Patti M. McKenna 

(716) 879-4367 

patrice.m.mckenna@usace.army.mil 

If the project is not constructed, the issues of riverine habitat, 

fish passage, and recolonization will persist well into the 

future. 


Village of Westfield 

New York State Department of Environmental 

Conservation 


Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) 

Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY-27) 


Planning and design documentation has been completed. 

Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2011. 


current working estimate $575,735 $374,228 $201,507 

funding to date $575,735 $374,228 $201,507 

funds required to complete project $0 $0 $0 

NOTE: The project is fully funded. 



COnnEAUT CREEK 

Fish Passage 

Erie County, PA 


Each of the three dam sites in Conneaut Creek will be 

considered for modification or removal. Modification may 

include installation of a fish ladder or rock ramp, or notching. 

The selected activity must accomplish the following goals: 

reconnect the creek, provide fish passage, and prevent the 

further spread of invasive sea lamprey. 

Increased biodiversity, access to high-quality habitat and 

spawning areas, enhanced water quality, and restoration of 

normal sediment movement will result from modification 

and/or removal of the dams. Removing the impediments to 

fish passage will decrease the likelihood that fish populations 

will decline or become dependent on annual stocking 

programs. 

Funding 


Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 

The Albion Fish and Game Club Inc. 


Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA) 

Senator Patrick Toomey (R-PA) 

Representative Michael Kelly (R-PA-3) 


The feasibility study was initiated in FY2010 using Great 

Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds. The feasibility 

study is scheduled for completion in FY2012. A construction 

contract is tentatively scheduled for award in the last quarter 

of FY2012. 


current working estimate $1,297,690 $843,500 $454,190 


funds required to complete project $862,690 $408,500 $454,190 

conneaut creek 


Michael J. Greer 

(716) 879-4229 

michael.j.greer@usace.army.mil 




The project proposes restoration of a section of the Elk Creek 

riparian corridor that is in close proximity to Highway 79 in 

the Town of McKean. Elk Creek is a coolwater system that 

supports a wide range of native, naturalized, and stocked fish 

species. Since resident and migratory fish species can be found 

within the creek, benefits of the project extend well beyond 

the immediate project area. Primary reasons for habitat 

degradation at the site are streambank failure; insufficient 

riffle, run, pool sequences, or similar fluvial geomorphic 

impairments; and lack of native riparian cover. In recent years 

the project area has experienced rapid and significant erosion 

and loss of in-stream habitat. Preliminary field observations 

revealed that a headcut has developed within the project 

area and is likely to continue upstream and cause additional 

Funding 

elk creek 



(716) 879-4229 


ELK CREEK 

Corridor Restoration 

Erie County, PA 

valuable habitat to be lost. This particular reach is open to the 

public and is a popular recreation spot for sport fishing. 

nonfEDErAl PArtnEr 

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 


Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA) 

Senator Patrick Toomey (R-PA) 

Representative Michael Kelly (R-PA-3) 


The preliminary restoration plan is scheduled for completion 

in April 2011. The feasibility study will be initiated pending 

the availability of funds. 




funds required to complete project $1,175,000 $755,000 $420,000 



HARPERSFIELD DAM 

Fish Passage 

Geneva, OH 


The presence of Harpersfield Dam, immediately upstream 

of the historic Harpersfield covered bridge, has promoted 

habitat degradation, altered sediment transport dynamics, 

and degraded water supply. It has also played a central role 

in the decline of migratory aquatic species by severing their 

migration routes and preventing healthy recruitment. At this 

particular dam it has been determined that the benefits of 

sea lamprey prevention outweigh the negative impact the dam 

has on fish passage. 

Likely project alternatives that will be evaluated include 

repairing or modifying the existing dam to maintain its 

current structure, which effectively prevents sea lamprey 

passage; construction of a sea lamprey trap at the existing 

dam; or construction of a new barrier and trap at a location 

farther downstream of Harpersfield Dam. 

Improvements to prevent sea lamprey passage and 

reproduction upstream will prevent the need for lampricide 

treatments above the dam, which currently cost $335,000 per 

treatment. These improvements will contribute to an overall 

lower sea lamprey population in Lake Erie, which in turn 

improves the sustainability of valuable fisheries resources. 

Funding 

If no actions are taken to prevent sea lamprey migration 

above Harpersfield Dam, or the dam deteriorates further, it is 

likely that sea lamprey populations will significantly increase. 

An increase in sea lamprey populations would require the 

continued application of lampricide every three to four years 

and could extend the need for treatment to an additional 60 

river miles upstream of Harpersfield Dam. 


Ohio Department of Natural Resources 


Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 

Senator Robert Portman (R-OH) 

Representative Steven LaTourette (R-OH-14) 


The feasibility study was initiated in FY2010 using Great 

Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds. The feasibility 

study is scheduled for completion in December 2011. A 

construction contract is tentatively scheduled for award in 

2012. 


current working estimate $989,000 $643,000 $346,000 


funds required to complete project $654,000 $308,000 $346,000 

harpersfield Dam 



(716) 879-4229 




irondequoit creek 



(716) 879-4229 


IROnDEQUOIT CREEK 

Ecosystem Restoration 

Monroe County, NY 


Four reaches of Irondequoit Creek, a coolwater stream that 

drains into Irondequoit Bay, Lake Ontario, are currently being 

evaluated for restoration. These reaches are experiencing 

habitat degradation due to unstable stream banks, altered 

geomorphology and hydrology, and lack of native riparian 

plant species. 

All of these sites exhibit stream bank erosion as well as 

impairments to in-stream habitat. Potential alternatives 

to improve the existing degradation include stream bank 

stabilization using a combination of traditional and 

bioengineering methods, in-stream habitat restoration, 

and riparian corridor revegetation with native species. 

Any restoration effort will take into account the associated 

recreational uses and public safety since the project area is 

partially located in public parks. 

Irondequoit Creek supports a wide variety of native, 

naturalized, and stocked fish species. Resident and migratory 

fish species can be found within the creek; therefore 

benefits of the proposed project will extend well beyond the 

Funding 

immediate project area to Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario. 

If restoration is not accomplished, it is likely that the habitat 

and water quality will continue to degrade, as sediment eroded 

from the banks impairs the Lake Ontario watershed resulting 

in a decrease in richness and abundance of species. 


County of Monroe 


Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) 

Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) 

Representative Thomas Reed (R-NY-29) 

Representative Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY-25) 


The feasibility study was initiated in FY2010 using Great Lakes 

Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds. The feasibility study is 

scheduled for completion in October 2011. A construction 

contract is tentatively scheduled for award in 2012. 







SALMOn RIVER 

Riparian Corridor Restoration 

Oswego County, NY 


The portion of the Salmon River that will be evaluated for 

restoration runs between the Lighthouse Reservoir and 

County Route 2A. The Salmon River is a coolwater system 

and supports a wide range of native, naturalized, and stocked 

fish species. Since resident and migratory fish species can 

be found within the creek, benefits of the project extend 

well beyond the immediate project area. Primary reasons 

for habitat degradation at the sites under consideration are 

streambank failure; insufficient riffle, run, pool sequences or 

similar fluvial geomorphic impairments; and lack of native 

riparian cover. The hydropower operations at the dam and 

resulting regulated flows are a factor in the loss of habitat. 

Over time, deep holes in the riverbed have filled in and the 

river has, in general, become wider and shallower, also raising 

water temperatures. The Salmon River is a vital component 

in the life cycle of migratory fish within Lake Ontario, and is 

particularly important to the restoration of Atlantic salmon 

in the Great Lakes. 

Funding 

Many different alternatives will be considered to address the 

impairments at each site. In general, alternatives will include 

stream bank stabilization using a combination of traditional 

and bioengineering methods; in-stream habitat restoration; 

and riparian corridor revegetation with native species. 



Conservation 




Representative William Owens (D-NY-23) 


The preliminary restoration plan is scheduled for completion 

in April 2011. The feasibility study will be initiated pending 

the availability of funds. 



funding to date $25,000 $25,000 * 


* No data was provided. 

salmon river 



(716) 879-4229 





The Springville Dam is located in the Village of Springville, 

approximately 30 miles south of the city of Buffalo, on the 

Cattaraugus Creek. Cattaraugus Creek is the natural boundary 

for Erie and Cattaraugus Counties. 

The feasibility study will evaluate an array of measures which 

will allow steelhead and other fisheries access to the upstream 

reaches of Cattaraugus Creek and associated tributaries. In 

addition, the dam blocks access to the upper 34 miles of 

Cattaraugus Creek. 

The implementation of a fish passage project will provide 

increased fishery resources of prime spawning habitat for 

the fisheries which exist in Cattaraugus Creek. The expected 

outputs of the proposed project include the availability of an 

additional 34 miles of free-flowing creek containing suitable 

spawning habitat to fish and benthic species and restoration 

of sediment transport processes. 

Funding 

SPRInGVILLE DAM 

Fish Passage 

Springville, NY 



Conservation 




Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY-27) 

Representative Thomas Reed (R-NY-29) 


The hydraulic model of the Cattaraugus Creek and a safety 

inspection of the Springville Dam were completed in 2010. 

Development of fish passage alternatives, sediment sampling 

upstream and downstream of the dam, and completion of a 

sediment transport model are expected to be completed in 

2011. 





springville Dam 


Geoffrey K. Hintz 

(716) 879-4155 

geoffrey.k.hintz@usace.army.mil 



63rd STREET DUnE & BEACH 


Chicago, IL 


The 63rd Street Dune & Beach project is a 21-acre restoration 

located on the Lake Michigan coast in Chicago. Currently, the 

site is a beach with a forming dune that has been invaded by 

non-native plants, including buckthorn and grasses, resulting 

in sand erosion. This project will restore dune habitat with 

native grasses that encourage the formation of stable dunes. 

The restoration will support a diverse array of native plant 

and fish species as well as migratory and resident birds, and 

will improve water quality for aquatic resources. The restored 

habitats will include five acres of dune, six acres of dune and 

swale, three acres of savanna, and seven acres of cobblestone 

pockets and woody debris. 

The area is used during migration and breeding by waterfowl 

and several species of shorebirds, including the tri-colored 

heron and the endangered piping plover. The nearshore 

Funding 

63rd street Dune & Beach 


Kirston A. Buczak, LRC 

(312) 846-5552 

kirston.a.buczak@usace.army.mil 

area adjacent to the site contains cobble rock that provides 

spawning and rearing habitat for smallmouth bass. The project 

will also incorporate compatible educational opportunities. 


Chicago Park District 


Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) 

Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) 

Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-7) 


Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding was 

used to award a construction contract in September, 2010. 

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring of 2011. 



funding to date $1,076,000 $700,000 $376,000 





BEEMSTERBOER & SEIDnER PARCELS 


Lake County, IN 


The Beemsterboer & Seidner (B&S) parcels form the riparian 

zone of the Grand Calumet River. This project proposes 

removal of invasive species and hydrologic and topographic 

restoration. The first step would be removal of 8,700 feet 

of railroad ties and underlying crushed stone, along with 

minor site grading to restore hydrology and topography. 

This would reestablish the connectivity between the upland 

wetlands, wetland swales, and the Grand Calumet River and 

its associated wetland shelf areas. Next, all invasive species 

would be removed physically and with herbicide. The primary 

invasive species are common reeds, cattails, and cool season 

Eurasian grasses. Finally, the site would be reseeded with 

an appropriate native prairie/savanna mix. The Indiana 

Department of Natural Resources has a contract in place with 

The Nature Conservancy for restoration work at this parcel as 

well. Although work is presently under way at a few locations 

within this site, a considerable amount of work remains to be 

funded. 

Immediate short-term ecological effects include elimination 

of invasive species and their seed sources and restoration of 

Funding 

native species. Long-term ecological effects include healthy 

ecosystem habitats for some of Indiana’s rarest species, 

including Blanding’s turtle and the spotted turtle. Longterm 

socioeconomic benefits would stem from the much 

larger, healthy, and stable ecosystems that will be enjoyed in 

perpetuity by the recreational users who visit these nature 

preserves. 


Indiana Department of Natural Resources 


Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) 

Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) 

Representative Peter Visclosky (D-IN-1) 


Construction contracts are scheduled for award in April 2011. 



funding to date * * * 

funds required to complete project * * * 


Beemsterboer and seidner Parcels 


Kirston A. Buczak 

(312) 846-5552 




BURnHAM PRAIRIE 


Burnham, IL 


Burnham Prairie is an approximately 80-acre natural preserve 

owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The 

site contains ridges or dunes of low elevation separated by 

shallow ponds, poorly drained lakebed, or swales intermittently 

or permanently inundated with groundwater. The site is home 

to 270 plant species, including two threatened plant species 

and one that is endangered; six endangered bird species; and 

a rare mammal, the Franklin’s ground squirrel. The diversity 

is threatened by the absence of fire, and by contamination 

and modifications to the natural hydrology that have allowed 

non-native plant species to dominate, thus compromising the 

survival of native plants and animals. 

The proposed project would re-route nutrient-polluted water 

away from the site and restore wetlands and associated habitats 

by planting high-quality native plants, removing invasive 

species and excess sediment, reintroducing fire management, 

and incorporating water storage outside of the natural area. 

These activities will restore marsh, prairie, and savanna 

habitat that was historically present. Woodlands consisting of 

invasive woody species will be cleared with subsequent fire 

Funding 

management to allow native seed banks of rare plant species to 

germinate. Restoring the remnant habitat will greatly benefit 

migratory and wetland species of birds, especially the shore 

birds and waterfowl that frequent the Calumet greenways, by 

providing forage, shelter, and breeding habitat. 


Forest Preserve District of Cook County 




Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL-2) 


The construction contract is scheduled to be awarded in April 

2011 with FY 2010 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) 

funds. FY 2011 funds will be used to fund construction 

management, supervision and administration, and a 

construction option for the project. 


current working estimate $2,142,480 $1,392,612 $749,868 

funding to date * $694,226 * 

funds required to complete project * $698,386 * 


Burnham Prairie 



(312) 846-5552 




CALUMET PRAIRIE & IVAnHOE SOUTH 




The Calumet Prairie is part of a nationally and regionally 

significant coastal ecosystem. The 141-acre, state-owned 

Calumet Prairie Nature Preserve is home to numerous 

endangered and threatened species of plants, animals, and 

insects. Non-native species have invaded 85 acres of the park. 

Ivanhoe South is a 30-acre site in Gary, Indiana, where some 

invasive species are beginning to smother the endangered 

Karner blue butterfly habitat. 

The proposed work would involve physical and chemical 

removal of invasive and opportunistic plant species, and 

recovery of native wet prairie seed bank, along with the 

reintroduction of fire. Native species would also be sown 

or plugged to prevent the return of the invasive species, and 

restoration monitoring would minimize the adverse effects to 

non-targeted species and ensure permanent mortality to 90 

percent of targeted species. 

Short-term benefits include the elimination of invasive 

species seed sources, significant increase in the acres of 

wet sand prairie, and the restoration of space, water, and 

Funding 

sunlight to native species, including numerous threatened 

and endangered species. In the long term, ecological effects 

of the healthy ecosystem will allow for habitation of many 

more populations of Indiana’s rarest species, in addition to 

compatible educational and recreational uses. 








FY2010 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds 

will be used to complete the planning and design analysis 

and initiate construction in the spring of 2011. FY2011 

GLRI funds would be used for construction management, 

supervision and administration, and a construction option for 

the project. 






calumet Prairie & ivanhoe south 



(312) 846-5552 





The DuPont Natural Area is a 184-acre site near the Grand 

Calumet River, east of an old manufacturing area that is 

owned by DuPont. The Indiana Department of Natural 

Resources owns a conservation easement on the site. Despite 

the industrial and residential development, remnant tracts 

have surprisingly high levels of biological diversity; the dune 

and swale habitat has 53 plant species that are endangered, 

threatened, or rare. 

To minimize the threats of contamination, fragmentation, 

fire suppression, and invasive species, the project will clear an 

invasive shrub, buckthorn, from the 32-acre floodplain forest. 

In addition, herbicide will be applied to several large areas to 

eradicate invasive reeds and cattails. Plots will be established 

to monitor specific populations of rare plants and endangered 

turtles. 

Short-term benefits include the elimination of invasive species’ 

seed sources and the restoration of native species—including 

Funding 

DuPOnT RIDGE 



the state-listed Blanding’s turtle and the spotted turtle. In the 

long term, ecological effects of the healthy ecosystem will 

provide habitat for Indiana’s rarest species. 








The construction contract is expected to be awarded in 

spring of 2011 using FY2010 Great Lakes Restoration 

Initiative (GLRI) funds. Continued GLRI funding would 

be used for construction management, and supervision and 

administration of the project. 






DuPont ridge 



(312) 846-5552 





The project would restore approximately two miles of 

protected shoreline that hosts thousands of migrating birds 

each year and five endangered and threatened plant species: 

buffalo berry, seaside spurge, sea rocket, beach grass, and 

common juniper. Most of the habitat destruction at Fort 

Sheridan resulted from use of the site for military housing and 

base operations, which caused erosion along the lakeshore, 

allowed infestation of invasive plant species, and created an 

absence of stabilizing native plant species. 

The project will conduct studies to determine the physical 

and ecological processes influencing coastal conditions 

along the Fort Sheridan preserves; it will remove excessive 

infrastructure from the beach to reduce erosion, improve the 

habitat for endangered coastal species and migrating birds, 

stabilize the bluff and ravine communities to reduce erosion, 

remove non-native and invasive species, and restore the 

lakeshore habitats. 

Restoration would lessen impacts to native fish populations 

in Lake Michigan; increase the quality, size, and viability of 

Funding 

fort sheridan 



(312) 846-5552 


FORT SHERIDAn 


Lake County, IL 

coastal habitat; restore two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline; 

restore the lake’s beach, bluff, and ravine communities; 

protect the coastal endangered and threatened species; reduce 

erosional conditions and sedimentations into Lake Michigan; 

allow more compatible public access to the shoreline; and 

provide educational opportunities for freshwater coastal 

systems. 


Lake County Forest Preserve 

Openlands 

Town of Fort Sheridan 

City of Lake Forest 




Representative Robert Dold (R-IL-10) 


The project is currently in the feasibility phase; with continued 

funding construction could begin in 2013. 



funding to date $6,405,000 $4,093,250 $2,311,750 

funds required to complete project $200,000 $200,000 $0 



LAKE MARy & AMOCO WETLAnDS 




Lake Mary and the Amoco wetlands form the southern 

riparian zone of the Indiana Harbor Canal. The two 

properties are owned by BP Products North America Inc. 

(BP); however, settlement of natural resource damage claims 

through a Consent Decree entered in 2004 provided for BP 

to convey approximately 25 acres known as Amoco Wetlands 

and 25 acres known as Lake Mary to the Indiana Department 

of Natural Resources. The majority of the sites are overrun 

by the invasive common reeds or cattails. The majority of 

the work would consist of physical removal of and herbicide 

application on invasive plant species, and select replanting of 

native species. 

Immediate short-term ecological effects would include the 

elimination of invasive species and their seed sources, and 

the restoration of native species. Long-term effects include 

healthy ecosystems capable of greater biodiversity and the 

Funding 

creation of stable ecosystems for educational and recreational 

purposes. 








Construction contracts are scheduled for award in April 2011. 



funding to date $0 $0 $0 

funds required to complete project $1,700,000 $1,114,000 $586,000 

lake Mary & 

amoco Wetlands 


Kirston Buczak 

(312) 846-5552 




LITTLE CALUMET RIVER 

Riparian Restoration 

Porter County, IN 


This 42-acre parcel is located on the Little Calumet River in 

Chesterton, Indiana. Historically, the Little Calumet River 

stream corridor and riparian zone was dominated by several 

naturally occurring cover types such as wetlands, forests, 

savannas, and prairies. By the late 1800s, much of these 

cover types, particularly prairies, savannas, and wetlands, 

were converted to agricultural, urban, or industrial use. 

Subsequently, there was a significant loss of biodiversity, which 

resulted in an increase in flood events and a decrease in water 

quality. Furthermore, the remnant parcels of natural cover 

types are under pressure from continued human activities. 

Human-induced disturbances to the remaining natural 

areas include fire suppression, altered hydrology, increased 

colonization of invasive species, and fragmentation. 

The Little Calumet River riparian restoration project would 

conduct studies and alternative analyses to determine the 

most effective ways to restore necessary fluvial hydraulics 

for macroinvertebrates, fishes, and other riverine animals; 

stabilize stream banks and naturalize sediment transport; 

prevent unnatural woody debris loads from impacting fluvial 

Funding 



funding to date * * * 



little calumet river 


Kirston Buczak 

(312) 846-5552 


functions and smothering or drowning floodplain habitats; 

improve floodplain function and species richness through 

bank restoration, minor canopy clearing, and understory 

clearing; remove invasive wetland plant species and reestablish 

native floodplain forest community composition; and provide 

educational opportunities and passive access for the local 

community and visitors. 


Information not provided. 






The project was approved by the Great Lakes Fishery and 

Ecosystem Restoration Program Project Review Committee. 




The Orland Tract property is a 946-acre natural area that 

is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. 

A group of dedicated restoration volunteers has performed 

brush clearing within some of the degraded areas; however, 

the majority of restoration work remains to be completed. 

This project will restore 300 acres of savanna and prairie 

shrub land using selective removal of invasive woody species 

and native plant installation. 

Immediate short-term ecological effects include elimination 

of invasive species and their seed sources and the restoration 

of native species, particularly a globally rare plant community. 

Long-term ecological effects include improved habitats 

hosting more bird species dependent on savanna and prairie 

shrub land. Recent studies have shown a steep decline in these 

species due to habitat limitations. Long-term socioeconomic 

benefits would result from the much larger, healthy, and stable 

ecosystems by providing enjoyment to the recreational users 

who visit these nature preserves. 

Funding 

ORLAnD TRACT 


Cook County, IL 



funding to date * $2,412,000 * 




Forest Preserve District of Cook County 




Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) 



will be used to complete the feasibility plan and design, 

execute the project partnership agreement, and award the 

construction contract. Continued GLRI funding would be 

used to fund construction management, and supervision and 

administration of the project. 

orland tract 


Mike Nguyen, LRC 

(312) 846-5555 

mike.nguyen@usace.army.mil 



RED MILL POnD 

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration 

LaPorte County, IN 


Red Mill County Park consists of 160 acres, with 108 acres 

designated as an Indiana Nature Preserve. Over the past 176 

years, Red Mill Pond has become a stable, native pond and 

wetland community that is fully dependent on the earthen 

dam that was constructed in 1833. Failure of the dam is likely 

imminent; a sudden rupture would allow all of the water 

in the pond to drain out. This sudden change in hydrology 

would disrupt the site’s ecology, making it an ideal place for 

invasive species to thrive. Dam failure would also threaten 

the seven endangered plant species known to grow in Red 

Mill County Park. 

The preferred plan includes removing a section of the dam 

at the emergency spillway, introducing four metal culverts 

to restore the natural hydrology and stream conductivity, 

and excavating a new channel that is sculpted to pass flow 

from the pond to Little Calumet River. Also, a notched weir 

structure across the pond would take the place of the beaver 

dam, which currently sits 300 feet downstream from the 

Funding 

red Mill Pond 



(312) 846-5552 


earthen dam. Limited restoration of native vegetation would 

be implemented as necessary. 

The project will prevent failure of the earthen dam, and 

preserve the diversity of native and endangered species while 

preventing fragmentation of the ecosystem. 


LaPorte County Parks 




Representative Joe Donnelly (D-IN-2) 


Construction is 95 percent complete. A five-year monitoring 

plan will start in the fall of 2011. 



funding to date $1,877,000 $1,220,050 $656,950 






Rosewood Park is located along the southwestern coast of 

Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois. The project would 

restore approximately 11 acres of coastland. In 2006, the 

community created a Lakefront Plan that established a series 

of long- and short-term restoration recommendations specific 

to four parks in the area: Central Park, Millard Park, Moraine 

Park, and Rosewood Park. In addition to infrastructure 

renovations listed in the plan, enhancement of the extensive 

ravine system was put forth as a primary objective. 

The shoreline area is currently devoid of appropriate habitat and 

structure that would be conducive to fish spawning. Invasive 

species present further inland threaten native species, while 

woody vegetation threatens the savanna community type. In 

addition, invasive plant species provide little habitat to either 

local wildlife or migratory birds. The proposed project would: 

create naturalistic wave breaks to aid in beach stabilization and 

protect shoreline vegetation; improve shoreline fish habitat; 

create coastal marshes through planting of submergent and 

emergent vegetation; restore beach and dune habitats through 

planting appropriate native seed, plugs, and shrubs specific to 

Funding 

rosewood Park 


Gene Fleming 

(312) 846-5552 

eugene.j.fleming@usace.army.mil 

ROSEWOOD PARK 

Habitat Restoration 


this area and habitat type; restore ravine outfall connectivity 

to Lake Michigan; daylight the stream and add riffle/pool 

complexes; stabilize bluff habitat with appropriate native 

vegetation; and remove non-native/invasive species from all 

habitat types. 


Park District of Highland Park 






The potentially responsible party procedure was submitted in 

December, 2010. Optimal funding would allow construction 

to begin in 2012. 




funds required to complete project * $3,998,450 * 




Funding 

WASHInGTOn PARK 


Cook County, IL 


The Washington Park Ecological Restoration would eliminate 

turfgrass and invasive species detrimental to wildlife habitat 

and water quality. Specifically, the proposed project would: 

(1) conduct necessary studies and evaluate alternatives to 

determine the most effective restoration plan to improve 

wildlife habitat, hydrologic conditions, and public education; 

(2) provide essential habitat for migratory bird species; 

(3) restore 60 acres of native wetland, prairie, and savanna 

communities; (4) stabilize hydrologic conditions in the lagoon 

and explore alternatives to discharging directly into a storm 

sewer; and (5) provide educational opportunities for the local 

community and visitors. 

This restoration would increase habitat at an important 

stopover for migratory birds including the black-crowned 

night heron, belted kingfisher, and red-headed wood pecker. 

Other benefits include increased habitat for native prairie 

and savanna species, elimination of non-native species, 

improvement of groundwater infiltration and water quality, 



funding to date * $2,645,500 * 



provision of a highly visible natural area in a dense urban 

area, and increased educational and compatible recreational 

opportunities in this 60-acre restoration site. 


Chicago Park District 




Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL-1) 


The potentially responsible party fillings were approved in 

October 2010. FY2010 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 

(GLRI) funds will be used to complete the detailed project 

report, execute the project partnership agreement, and award 

a construction contract. 

Washington Park 



(312) 846-5552 





The proposed coastal wetland and dune project is located at 

the mouth of the Waukegan River in Lake County, Illinois. 

The primary loss of natural habitat within the Waukegan River 

subwatershed is attributed to converting natural coastlines 

and tributaries from beach, dune, marsh, savanna, and prairie 

into industrial, urban, and recreational lands. Natural coastal 

topography has been altered and, as in most modifications to 

systems this large, the effects are difficult to repair in terms 

of ecological function, and other factors become important, 

such as funding and the attitude of local constituents. In 

terms of habitat restoration, however, certain goals are quite 

achievable. 

The goal of the project is to restore coastal wetland, beach, 

dune, and riverine habitat. Currently, the nearshore lake, 

beach, dune, and riverine ecotypes provide very little habitat 

for coastal species in the project area. Dune and beach 

habitats are overrun by non-native and invasive plant species 

and completely littered with foreign debris. The surf zone 

currently provides habitat for a nominal number of minnow 

species such as sand shiner and spottail shiner. The potential 

for restoring dune, coastal marsh, and littoral vegetation at 

the mouth of the Waukegan River is good due to the shallow 

water depths and the protection against wave action from 

the north. Specific project design would be guided by the 

Funding 

WAUKEGAn RIVER 

Coastal Habitat Restoration 


Waukegan river 



(312) 846-5552 


Fish Community Objectives for Lake Michigan that were 

established by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission special 

publication 95–3. 

Benefits would be accrued by increasing habitat quality and 

native species’ richness and abundance. Project restoration 

features would be beneficial to locally threatened, endangered, 

and rare species such as marram grass, sea rocket, banded 

killifish, lake chub, black tern, black crowned night heron, 

osprey, Foster’s tern, and common tern. Project features 

would be designed to support the effort of important fisheries 

restoration. 


City of Waukegan 






With continued funding the project design and construction 

efforts could be completed. 


current working estimate $2,150,000 $1,400,000 $ 750,000 


funds required to complete project $2,120,000 $1,370,000 $ 750,000 



BOARDMAn RIVER 


Traverse City, MI 


The Boardman River main stem is located in Grand Traverse 

and Kalkaska Counties and flows approximately 49 miles 

before entering West Grand Traverse Bay at Traverse City, 

Michigan. The project consists of potential modification or 

removal of up to four dams along the Boardman River: (1) the 

Union Street Dam at river mile 1.5; (2) the Sabin Dam at river 

mile 5.3; (3) the Boardman Dam at river mile 6.1; and (4) the 

Brown Bridge Dam at river mile 18.5. The Boardman River 

is a designated Natural River under the State of Michigan 

Natural Rivers Program and is a top-quality trout stream 

with 36 lineal miles designated with “Blue Ribbon” status. 

Modification or removal of the dams could restore several 

miles of river and reconnect 160 miles of aquatic habitat. 

Although all four dams are being considered for modification 

Funding 

Sabin Dam 

Brown Bridge Dam 

Boardman Dam 

or removal, several alternatives will be evaluated. Significant 

coordination with the nonfederal sponsors and the public will 

help to ensure selection of the optimal overall plan. 


Grand Traverse County 

City of Traverse City 

Michigan Department of Natural Resources & 

Environment 


Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) 

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) 

Representative Dan Benishek (R-MI-1) 



funding to date $1,575,000 $1,575,000 * 




A preliminary restoration plan was developed and approved 

in July 2006. Subsequently, Energy and Water Development 

Appropriations Act funds were used to initiate data collection 

and preliminary hydraulic modeling activities. A project 

management plan was prepared in FY2010 to summarize 

all federal and nonfederal project activity completed to date, 

and to scope out remaining activities required to complete 

the feasibility phase. FY2010 Great Lakes Restoration 

Initiative (GLRI) funds were used to award an architect/ 

engineer contract to complete feasibility phase efforts. A 

detailed project report (DPR) will result and is expected to 

include a fully coordinated environmental impact statement. 

Concurrent with these DPR efforts, nonfederal stakeholders 

are pursuing various grant opportunities to potentially remove 

the Brown Bridge Dam independent from the USACE. 

Boardman, sabin, and Brown Bridge Dams 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 

carl.a.platz@usace.army.mil 




The Dowagiac River is a coldwater trout stream that was 

channelized 100 years ago. The channelization project 

straightened and deepened the entire river in Van Buren 

and Cass Counties for the purpose of draining the Decatur 

Marsh. Now, a group called “Partnership for MEANDERS” 

is working on restoring river flow to some of the old meanders 

that were abandoned by channelization. The purpose of the 

project is to restore the original river channel south of M-62 

in order to achieve the original flow, enhance aquatic and 

floodplain habitats, and improve the functioning of the river 

(specifically, its ability to handle sediment). 


Michigan Department of Natural Resources & 

Environment, Fisheries Division 

Funding 

Dowagiac river 


Paul A. Powell 

(313) 226-2094 

paul.a.powell@usace.army.mil 

DOWAGIAC RIVER 


Cass County, MI 




Representative Fred Upton (R-MI-6) 


A preliminary restoration plan report was completed in January 

2004. Since that time, restoration work was completed by state 

and local interests on the Dowagiac River. Due to nonfederal 

budget constraints and uncertainties associated with future 

potential restoration areas, the nonfederal sponsor requested 

the USACE initiative be terminated in January 2011. As a 

result, no additional studies will be pursued on this project. 







ELKHART RIVER & 

CHRISTIAnA CREEK DAMS 

Fish Passage 

Elkhart, IN 


The Elkhart River and Christiana Creek are two essential 

tributaries to the St. Joseph River, which extends a total of 

210 miles through portions of northern Indiana and southern 

Michigan before flowing into Lake Michigan. Both the Elkhart 

River and Christiana Creek have dams located in Elkhart, 

Indiana, that substantially alter the character of streams and 

have played a central role in the decline of migratory aquatic 

species by preventing access to spawning grounds. The dams 

on the Elkhart River and Christiana Creek effectively obstruct 

some 20–30 native fish species, including the endangered 

greater redhorse and the highly prized walleye. 

The restoration project would restore the historic migration 

routes of the greater redhorse and other native fish species 

by providing access to approximately 30 miles of streams. In 

addition, the project will improve the river habitat, stabilize 

stream banks, restore natural sediment movement, and 

provide educational and recreational opportunities. 

Funding 


City of Elkhart 




Representative Joe Donnelly (D-IN-2) 


The feasibility phase of the project has been initiated. Great 

Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds are being used to 

complete the feasibility-level planning and design efforts, 

prepare an environmental assessment, and obtain project 

review/approval. Upon feasibility phase approval, detailed 

design efforts will commence. 





elkhart river & christiana creek Dams 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 





The Frankenmuth Dam is located on the Cass River within 

the city of Frankenmuth, approximately 20 miles south 

of Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay. The Cass River originates 

in Tuscola County in east central Michigan near Cass City. 

The Cass River’s watershed encompasses 848 sq. miles and 

lies within the Saginaw Bay watershed. The Frankenmuth 

Dam is a concrete dam approximately 240 feet long with a 

structural height of 14 feet. It was built in the 1850s to supply 

water to a local mill. Although walleye and lake sturgeon 

are the species targeted by the Michigan Department of 

Natural Resources & Environment and the Partnership 

for the Saginaw Bay Watershed, a fish passage at the 

Frankenmuth Dam would also increase habitat connectivity 

for a variety of other species including white sucker, white 

bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, and 

steelhead. Connecting river habitat for these species would 

benefit the overall diversity of Cass River and Saginaw Bay 

watershed species. 

Funding 

FRAnKEnMUTH DAM 

Fish Passage 

Frankenmuth, MI 


City of Frankenmuth 




Representative Dale Kildee (D-MI-5) 


A preliminary restoration plan has been approved and a 

concept design completed. Existing funds are being used 

to complete the feasibility-level planning and design efforts, 

prepare an environmental assessment, and obtain project 

review/approval. Upon feasibility phase approval, detailed 

design efforts will commence. Provided that a suitable 

design can be completed, a contract for construction could 

be awarded using FY2011 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 

(GLRI) funds. 





*No data was provided. 

frankenmuth Dam 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 




GAy STAMP SAnDS 


Keweenaw County, MI 


As a result of extensive copper mining, contaminated 

stamp sands (coarse sand left over from the processing of 

ore) cover a large portion of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The 

stamp sands deposit of particular concern is estimated by the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Detroit District 

to cover 1,426 acres of shoreline and lake bottom lands. 

The deposit’s movement along the southeast shoreline of 

the Keweenaw Peninsula to Grand Traverse Bay Harbor is 

threatening the nearby Buffalo Reef, a productive lake trout 

and whitefish spawning area, and the shoreline south of the 

Traverse River. In addition, toxicity testing indicates that the 

stamp sands have an injurious effect on aquatic organisms. 

The Lakewide Management Plan 2000 identified stamp sands 

as a principal stress to the aquatic habitat of Lake Superior. 


TBD 

Funding 






A preliminary restoration plan has been initiated and will 

be completed by March 2011. Upon approval, the District 

will initiate a feasibility study using Great Lakes Restoration 

Initiative (GLRI) funds. The Corps Waterways Experiment 

Station has partnered with Michigan Technological University 

to map the extent and movement of the stamp sands. The 

USACE will be collecting samples of the stamp sands in the 

spring to conduct tests of methods to stabilize and reduce 

toxicity of the stamp sands. 





gay stamp sands 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 




GRAnD RAPIDS DAM 

Fish Passage 

Menominee County, MI & Marinette County, WI 


The project is located on the Menominee River, which 

forms the border between Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and 

northeastern Wisconsin. The proposed project involves 

construction of fish passage facilities around Grand Rapids 

Dam, which is the third dam upstream from Lake Michigan 

on the Menominee River in Menominee County, Michigan, 

and Marinette County, Wisconsin. Upon construction of fish 

passage facilities at this dam, in conjunction with another 

project, sturgeon in Lake Michigan would have access to 

nearly 80 additional miles of high-quality spawning and 

rearing habitat within the Menominee River. 

The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is identified as a 

threatened species in Michigan, a species of special concern 

in Wisconsin, and a species of concern by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. The most critical threat to lake sturgeon is 

habitat loss and fragmentation caused by dams, which block 

migration and spawning. All current management plans and 

recommendations call for safe upstream and downstream 

passage of lake sturgeon around existing dams. This project 

will construct three sets of bypass structures. Each proposed 

dam bypass will provide access to a river segment that 

encompasses nearly one-third of the historical migration 

route. 

This project would contribute considerably to the overall 

objective of rehabilitating self-sustaining populations of lake 

Funding 

grand rapids Dam 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 


sturgeon throughout their historical range in the Great Lakes 

and their tributaries and would substantially improve the lake 

sturgeon population in Lake Michigan and the Menominee 

River, an Area of Concern (AOC) designated by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency. The project would assist 

in delisting the Menominee River AOC by improving two 

of the listed Beneficial Use Impairments: (1) degradation of 

fish and wildlife populations, and (2) loss of fish and wildlife 

habitat. Restoration of lake sturgeon populations is also the 

top management objective of the Menominee River Fisheries 

Plan. 


Owner of the Grand Rapids Dam (Wisconsin Public 

Service) 


Michigan 




Wisconsin 

Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) 

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) 

Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI-8) 







FY2010 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds were used to prepare a preliminary 

restoration plan (PRP). The PRP was approved in February 2011. Detailed feasibility studies 

are being initiated using FY2010 GLRI funds. 




The dam at the Henry Ford Estate is located on the middle 

branch of the Rouge River just upstream from its confluence 

with the lower branch of the Rouge River in the city of 

Dearborn. The dam, a National Historic Landmark, is the first 

dam upstream of the mouth of the Rouge River and blocks 

fish movement from the watershed into the lower reaches 

of the Rouge River as well as movement of Great Lakes fish 

from the Detroit River upstream into potential spawning and 

foraging habitat in the Rouge. Fish passage around the dam 

would be a major step in reconnecting segments (18–36 miles) 

of the Rouge for the benefit of fish and other wildlife. 


Wayne County, Michigan 




Representative John Dingell (D-MI-15) 

Representative John Conyers (D-MI-14) 

Representative Hansen Clarke (D-MI-13) 

Funding 

HEnRy FORD ESTATE DAM 

Fish Passage 

Dearborn, MI 

henry ford estate Dam 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 



The Fairlane Fish Passage project was one of six focus areas 

of interest evaluated in the Rouge River Watershed (Gateway 

Area) Section 905(b) Analysis Reconnaissance Report that 

was approved on June 4, 2004. The project was subsequently 

moved to the GLFER program. A preliminary restoration 

plan has been approved and a concept design completed. 

Future funds will be used to continue feasibility-level planning 

and design efforts focusing on environmental regulatory 

agency coordination and site data acquisition. Additional 

funding would be used to complete the feasibility efforts, 

including hydraulic modeling, detailed design, feasibility 

report preparation, and administrative review and approval. 







Funding 

MEnOMInEE RIVER 




The population of lake sturgeon in Lake Michigan has 

declined from an historic abundance of two million adults to 

a current abundance of 3,000 adults. Approximately half of 

the remaining populations spawn in the Menominee River. 

The river is currently blocked by two hydropower dams, the 

Menominee and Park Mill Hydroelectric Project, that prevent 

the upstream population from moving into the lake and 

prevent the downstream population from moving upstream 

to spawn. 

The goal of the project is to improve lake sturgeon 

reproductive success and population growth in Lake Michigan 

by reconnecting the existing population with historical 

spawning and rearing habitat in the Menominee River while 

maintaining a barrier to prevent the spread of sea lamprey 

and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus upstream. The project 

will provide for both downstream and upstream passage for 

sturgeon using a combination of bypass structures and fish 

lifts. 


N.E.W. Hydro Inc. 


Michigan 




Wisconsin 





FY2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act 

funds were used to prepare a preliminary restoration plan 

(PRP). The PRP was approved in November 2010. FY2010 

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds are being 

used to initiate detailed feasibility studies. 





Menominee river 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 





Past modifications to incorporate commercial shipping in the 

St. Marys River have greatly altered its aquatic habitat. This 

area was once a valuable rapid habitat used as a spawning area 

for fish and invertebrate species in the river system. Without 

this project the area would continue to be unproductive as a 

spawning area. 

The west project site would consist of removal of old building 

foundations, excavation of a channel, and the installation 

of a culvert to allow water to flow behind the existing rock 

piles over the natural rock-rubble/cobble substrate. The east 

project site would require the modification of the eastern 

remnants of the upper dam. A portion of the upper dam 

would be removed and culverts placed under the existing 

roadway. A channel would then be excavated to allow water 

to flow behind the existing rock piles over the natural rockrubble/cobble 

substrate. 

The goal of this project is to restore water flow over the 

rock-rubble/cobble substrate to provide critical habitat for a 

number of fish and invertebrate species. 

Funding 

ST. MARyS RIVER 


Chippewa County, MI 


Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment, 

Fisheries Division, Northern Lake Huron Management 

Unit 





CUUrEnt StAtUS 

A Section 1135 preliminary restoration plan was approved 

in November 2003 by the division office. The project is 

currently being pursued under the GLFER authority. FY10 

Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act funds 

were used to reevaluate the project. Initial hydraulic modeling 

indicated that only limited hydraulic capacity may result from 

the creation of additional habitat areas. As a result, further 

coordination with the State of Michigan is being pursued. 

FY11 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds will 

be used to initiate detailed feasibility studies if it is determined 

that further detailed studies are warranted. 





st. Marys river 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 




WHITE RAPIDS & CHALK HILL DAM 

Fish Passage 



The project is located on the Menominee River, which 

forms the border between Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and 

northeastern Wisconsin. The proposed project involves 

construction of fish passage facilities around both the White 

Rapids and Chalk Hill Dams, which are the fourth and fifth 

dams, respectively, upstream from Lake Michigan on the 

Menominee River in Menominee County, Michigan, and 

Marinette County, Wisconsin. Upon construction of fish 

passage facilities at these dams, sturgeon in Lake Michigan 

would have access to nearly 80 additional miles of highquality 

spawning and rearing habitat within the Menominee 

River. 

The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is identified as a 

threatened species in Michigan, a species of special concern 

in Wisconsin, and a species of concern by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. The most critical threat to lake sturgeon is 

habitat loss and fragmentation caused by dams, which block 

migration and spawning. All current management plans and 

recommendations call for safe upstream and downstream 

passage of lake sturgeon around existing dams. This project 

will construct three sets of bypass structures. Each proposed 

dam bypass will provide access to a river segment that 

encompasses nearly one-third of the historical migration 

route. 

This project would contribute considerably to the overall 

objective of rehabilitating self-sustaining populations of lake 

Funding 





*No data was provided. 

White rapids & 

chalk hill Dam 


Carl A. Platz 

(616) 842-5510 x25521 


sturgeon throughout their historical range in the Great Lakes 

and their tributaries and would substantially improve the lake 

sturgeon population in Lake Michigan and the Menominee 

River, an Area of Concern (AOC) designated by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency. The project would assist 

in delisting the Menominee River AOC by improving two 

of the listed Beneficial Use Impairments: (1) degradation of 

fish and wildlife populations, and (2) loss of fish and wildlife 

habitat. Restoration of lake sturgeon populations is also the 

top management objective of the Menominee River Fisheries 

Plan. 


Owner of the White Rapids and Chalk Hill dams (WE) 


Michigan 




Wisconsin 






were used to prepare a preliminary restoration plan (PRP). 

The PRP was approved in 

February 2011. Detailed 

feasibility studies are being 

initiated using FY2010 

GLRI funds. 



For additional information, visit the program website at www.glfer.org or contact: 

GLFER Program Manager 

David W. Bowman 

Detroit District USACE 

(313) 226-2223 

david.w.bowman@usace.army.mil 

Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin 

Jim Galloway 

Detroit District USACE 

(313) 226-6760 

jim.e.galloway@usace.army.mil 

New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio 

Michael Greer 

Buffalo District USACE 

(716) 879-4229 


Illinois and Indiana 

Gene Fleming 

Chicago District USACE 

(312) 846-5585 

eugene.j.fleming@usace.army.mil 

Great Lakes Fishery & Ecosystem 

Restoration (GLFER) Program 

www.glfer.org

Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Program Project ...

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