Marty Holtgren PHD
Principal Watershed Scientist, MRWA
We have found 2022 to be a great year for grant activity with awards sufficient to fund restoration work in the watershed for the next three years. Getting to this point in the process required a true team effort and credit goes to Pat Jarrett and Sarah Krzemien for their diligent approach. What follows is a brief over view prepared by Pat and Marty.
Federal Grants
Reducing Runoff Through the Use of Green Infrastructure (GLRI Tree Planting)
Grantor: USDA
Gran t Period: 10/1/19 – 9/30/22
Award: $301,507.57
Status: Tree planting complete for all locations: City of Newaygo; Croton Township; Newaygo County Parks; Bridgeton Township; Reed City. Close out in December 2022
Invasive Species Program: Participating Agreement with the Huron Manistee National Forest
Grantor: USFS
Work Agreement Period: 5/15/19 – 5/15/24
Award: $13,024
Status: Partnering with Newaygo County Parks to select location for stationary decontamination station at Sandy Beach (Hardy Pond); developing priority list of lakes to protect from AIS.
Buckhorn Creek Dam Removal
Grantor: USFWS
Grant Period: 7/19/21 – 4/12/23
Award: $60,000
Status: Working with Spicer Engineering on engineering and design plan. Met with Michigan DNR regarding fish passage design. Sharing project update with the Parks Commission in late-January. Plan to schedule pre-permitting meeting in the next two months with EGLE.
Altona Dam Removal
Grantor: USFWS
Grant Period: 8/1/20 – 9/30/23
Award: $81,000
Status: Permit submitted to EGLE who will release public notice of project. Removal anticipated in 2023
Altona Dam Removal (2)
Grantor: USFWS
Grant Period: 1/2/23 – 12/31/25
Award: $105,000
Status: Permit submitted to EGLE who will release public notice of project. Removal anticipated in 2023
Habitat and Connectivity Restoration
Grantor: USFWS
Grant Period: 1/1/21 – 12/31/23
Award: $26,797.71
Status: Bank stabilization on main stem of the Muskegon River and removal of Kinney Creek dam complete
Bayne Road Stream Crossing
Grantor: USFWS
Grant Period: 1/2/23 – 12/31/25
Award: $40,000
Status: Army Corps of Engineers to complete analysis of Bayne Road crossing followed by release of Request for Proposal for competitive bidding on road crossing engineering and design
Clay Cliffs Natural Area Bank Protection
Grantor: USFWS
Grant Period: 9/30/22 – 9/30/24
Award: $25,000
Status: Protection and restoration of the bank expected spring of 2024. Engineering and design plans to be completed by summer of 2023.
Whipple Stream Bank Stabilization
Grantor: Great Lakes Commission
Grant Period: N/A
Award: $90,000
Status: Working with GEI Consulting to develop engineering and design plans for bank protection and riparian buffers for Muskegon mainstem bank.
State Grants
Muskegon River Watershed Assembly Watershed Management Plan Update (WMP EGLE)
Grantor: EGLE
Grant Period: 10/1/20 – 12/31/22 (anticipate extension)
Award: $108,216.99
Status: Working with partners on water quality monitoring, analysis of data and drafting of plan
Assessment of Impact of Dams in the Muskegon River Watershed (Watershed Council Grant)
Grantor: EGLE
Grant Period: 7/12/21 – 12/15/22
Award: $40,000
Status: Deployed over 20 temperature loggers in 2022 and conducted dam safety checks and MiCorps monitoring with the Newaygo Conservation District.
Buckhorn Creek Dam
Grantor: DNR
Grant Period: 9/8/21 – 12/31/23
Award: $156,199.25
Status: Working with Spicer on engineering and design plan. Met with Michigan DNR about fish passage design. Will schedule pre-permitting meeting with EGLE in next two months
Altona Dam Removal on the Little Muskegon River
Grantor: DNR
Grant Period: 9/8/21 – 12/31/23
Award: $114,661.98
Status: Permit submitted to EGLE who will release public notice of project. Removal anticipated in 2023
Local Grants
2022 – 2024 DTE Fellowship
Grantor: DTE Energy Foundation
Grant Period: 1/1/22 – 8/20/24
Award: $170,000
Status: Sarah Krzemien was hired in September of 2022 and served as lead writer of the 2023 GLRI tree-planting grant with Pat Jarrett and Marty Holtgren assisting. Grant submitted November 14. Currently working on USFS AIS grant.
Maple River – Restoring Community Resiliency, Natural Resources and Public Safety
Grantor: Fremont Area Community Foundation through the Ice Mountain Stewardship Fund
Grant Period: 10/4/21 – 4/1/23
Award: $17,995
Status: Multiple planning meetings held with partners.
Re-envisioning the Maple River
Grantor: Fremont Area Community Foundation
Grant Period: 12/1/21 – 6/1/23
Award: $23,500
Status: Multiple planning meetings held with partners.
Maple River Vision
Grantor: Ice Mountain Stewardship Fund
Grant Period: Undecided – two-year project
Award: $18,000
Status: Waiting for signed agreement. Maple River Vision will provide a high quality community based artistic representation of restored ample River channel for outreach, education and restoration planning.
Finally, under the heading of breaking news, recent grant success, Michigan DNR identified the MRWA as a sub awardee of the 2023 America the beautiful grant, which will provide additional funding for the removal of Altona and Buckhorn Creek dams. The award of $550.000 will provide full funding for Altona dam, while cost estimates for Buckhorn Creek, expected to be available in the next 60 days will determine if additional funding is required.