Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve - Spring 2020 Project Update

SPRING 2020

PROJECT UPDATE

PG 7

Includes additional land protection opportunity

PROPOSED

mitchell creek meadow preserve PHOTO BY NATE RICHARDSON

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Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

The Mitchell Creek Watershed More than 20 years have passed since a notable Grand Traverse County watershed was featured prominently in one of the nation’s most storied magazines.

Unfortunately, this appearance was not a cause for celebration. The article, featured in the February 1996 issue of National Geographic, was titled “Our Polluted Runoff.” The author set out to illustrate in detail the problems caused by surface runoff pollution, and Mitchell Creek’s watershed was regrettably the perfect poster child for examining these issues.

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But what was also clear from the story is that corrective and preventative measures – among them protecting the natural lands and features that protect water quality – can go a long way toward solving ongoing pollution problems.

The Mitchell Creek watershed covers nearly 15 square miles in parts of Garfield, East Bay and Blair townships and the city of Traverse City. Because much of it lies within the most urbanized landscape in our region, this watershed has long been under threat of degradation by residential and commercial development. While the creek and its tributaries have in some cases suffered the direct physical impacts of such development, the larger and still looming threat comes from the surface runoff highlighted in National Geographic’s story.

Surface runoff is called non-point source pollution to differentiate it from pollution that comes from a single source, like a waste pipe or spill. While much has been done over the years to correct and mitigate pointsource pollution, non-point source continues to be a much harder problem to tackle. Phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments and other contaminants – themselves the result of lawn fertilization, erosion, development and other human activities – enter from numerous places and cause substantial harm to the Mitchell Creek watershed and Grand Traverse Bay. As is the situation with most urbanized watersheds, the problem is compounded in Mitchell Creek. The many Graphic reproduced from National Geographic, Vol. 189, N0. 2. February 1996

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Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

human activities that cause pollutants also have led to the removal or modification of wetlands, open fields and other natural systems that serve the important role of filtering surface runoff. In short, human activity in the watershed has meant more pollutants and less filters to catch them.

Mitchell Creek’s mouth in the bay is relatively close to the main water intake pipe that draws Traverse City’s drinking water; for this and many other reasons its quality must be protected.

Not long before that National Geographic piece published, various local agencies came together to form a watershed protection and action plan designed to safeguard this important natural resource. This work continues, with the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay putting a particular focus on the Mitchell Creek watershed as it updates its Grand Traverse Bay management plan.

Since our inception in 1991, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has placed a high priority on protecting lands within this watershed. The Conservancy has protected about 245 acres so far, with the majority of that acreage in the George and Ada Reffitt Nature Preserve and the Mitchell Creek Nature Preserve. We continue to actively pursue quality conservation parcels within this critical watershed.

In February 1996, National Geographic took a close look at the Mitchell Creek watershed and the numerous factors that influence its overall health.

Many of the problems and solutions outlined in the graphic produced for that issue continue to impact the watershed today.

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mitchell creek meadow

PROPOSED

WINTER 2019

The proposed Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve (former Mitchell Creek Golf Course), situated south of East Grand Traverse Bay, is starting to revert back to wet meadow . Two branches of Vanderlip Creek run north through the property and eventually join Mitchell Creek.

PROPOSED

Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve

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When it comes to the increasingly impacted land in the immediate vicinity of Traverse City and within the vital Mitchell Creek watershed, large open spaces are getting harder and harder to come by. This is especially true of parcels with their conservation values largely intact.

protect vanishing wildlife habitat, provide valuable recreation opportunities and preserve open space in an area that has long faced substantial development pressure. But action must be taken soon to prevent the loss of this critical piece of land.

The former Mitchell Creek Golf Course property presents an exceptional opportunity to safeguard water quality,

Since the closing of a nine-hole golf course (and later a wedding venue), the impacted portions of this parcel have

Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

PROPOSED

WINTER 2019 PHOTO BY NOAH JURIK

already begun to revert back to a natural state. Fairways have begun the transition into wet meadow, the perfect habitat for sandhill cranes and many other species.

Large swaths of rich conifer swamp, largely untouched by earlier use of the property and the remnant of much larger dune-and-swale complex that once lined the south end of the bay, add to the ecological value of this special place.

Of all the reasons to protect this property, water quality protection is first and foremost. The parcel contains more than 6,000 feet of frontage along two branches of Vanderlip Creek, which feed into Mitchell Creek just north of this parcel. These cold branches feature spawning brook trout and provide a considerable volume of water to Mitchell Creek. While protection of their undeveloped shorelines is paramount, that’s only part of the water quality story here.

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The wetlands, forest complexes and sizeable unpaved portions of this property serve the critical role of filtering surface water runoff that enters the creek and its tributaries. Protecting this collection of natural features from impending development preserves an immensely important natural filter in an area where such filters are scarce and under increasing threat.

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NMC Cherry Capital Airport

Development plans previously prepared for the property show the potential for scores of home sites, and another plan submitted involved construction of a race track. Both uses would have substantially negative environmental impacts. GTRLC has this property temporarily under option, but must secure funding or the property will be at a high risk of development.

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This property is also expected to play a role in continued efforts to create safer ways for children to get from the TART trail to the many schools south of this property (Grand Traverse Academy, Seton Middle School, Traverse City East Middle School and Cherry Knoll Elementary School).

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From a recreational and community character standpoint, the property offers other potential benefits.

Once protected, it could be one of the best birding spots in town. It has one of the largest stretches of herbaceous wetland in proximity to Traverse City, offering scarce habitat to scores of bird species. Old golf course water traps that have begun conversion into natural habitat are already used by a variety of waterfowl. There is also excellent potential for a series of trails that highlight important critical habitat types, including the potential for Universal Access (UA) opportunities.

Kitchi Minogining Tribal School Traverse City High School

LEGEND GTRLC Preserves

School Proper

Other GTRLC Protected Land

State Land

Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve

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Proposed GTRLC Preserve Addition

TART Trail (non

Trail Easement Property

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BY NATE RICHARDSON Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

GTRLC Nature Preserves

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Other GTRLC Protected, Open

Trail Easement Propert

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Now, we have the opportunity to add 38 critical acres to this proposed preserve by also acquiring a parcel that sits along its northern boundary, bringing the total size of the Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve to more than 200 acres.

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Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve

The parcel consists almost entirely of rich conifer swamp and contains portions of three Mitchell Creek tributaries, with more than a half a mile of total stream frontage.

Protecting this property would therefore provide a huge boost to overall protection and rehabilitation of the Mitchell Creek watershed, one of Grand Traverse County’s most significant – and also most impaired – watersheds.

Grand Traverse Academy Cherry Knoll Elementary School East Middle School

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This property is also the lynchpin in a plan to connect the TART trail with the many schools that sit just south of the Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve. Although an exact path has yet to be finalized, this connection cannot happen without use of this addition and the initial 166-acre parcel.

WATERSHED INFO •

Covers nearly 15 square miles

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Supplies water to East Grand Traverse Bay (Traverse City’s drinking water source) at about 8,000 gallons per minute

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Includes 8 schools with over 4,100 k-12 students all within a 1.5 mile radius of the Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve

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We remain immensely grateful to longtime GTRLC supporters Don and Jerry Oleson for providing a lead gift of $1.1 million toward protection of the 166-acre Mitchell Creek Meadow Preserve in 2019. Their leadership has inspired several other donors to give generously as we continue to raise money to protect this preserve.

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Project Update (April 2020)

Traverse City State Park

State Land Mitchell Creek Watershed TART Trail

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Your gift will: •

Safeguard water quality by protecting vitally important wetland habitat within the Mitchell Creek watershed

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Preserve and improve excellent wildlife habitat for many species of birds and animals

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Allow for another excellent recreational opportunity close to town

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Provide opportunity for Safe Routes to School trail connection

Total Project Cost: $1,887,114* Remaining Need: $387,726

SUPPORT THIS PROJECT

Contact: Glen Chown, Executive Director p: 231.929.7911 e: glenchown@gtrlc.org

*In the event that fundraising support for a project exceeds the original project fundraising goal, the Conservancy will allocate the overage to purposes that the Conservancy determines further its mission, such as organizational costs, to protect additional land, or to care for the long-term stewardship of protected land.

3860 N. Long Lake Rd. Ste. D Traverse City, MI 49684

GTRLC.ORG