End of Year Grant Report 2022

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.