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A watershed is a region of land that is drained by a particular river or river system. Typically these systems include many smaller tributaries such as creeks and streams that feed into a larger river and are influenced by elevation or the lay of the land.
Water quality within a watershed is directly related to the land management practices within that watershed. For example, if a new development created a large amount of impervious surface (i.e. asphalt) and stormwater was not properly managed, it is possible that the flow of the run off would enter into the creek, stream, or river to the point that stream bank erosion occurs. Stream bank erosion has the potential of increasing silt material on the streambed, changing the chemistry of the water with phosphates, nitrogen, and other chemicals, and altering the turbidity of the water. All of these changes may have an effect on the wildlife that is dependent on the stream or river for survival. Map 1 illustrates the watersheds, rivers, streams, and lakes in the County. A watershed, being an area where all of these water attributes are interconnected, should be looked at closely when assessing the impacts of new development within the County.
Within Barry County there are five watersheds: Thornapple River, Coldwater River, Gun River, Kalamazoo River and the Battle Creek River Watershed.
The Thornapple River Watershed begins in Eaton County, extends into Barry and Ionia, and then enters the Grand River in the Village Ada in Kent County. A small portion of the watershed enters into Leighton Township in Allegan. The watershed covers 876 square miles and includes 227 lakes and 741 total river miles2. Fourteen of the 16 townships in Barry County are part of the Thornapple River Watershed. The remaining two townships, Prairieville and Assyria, are almost entirely within the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River Watersheds.
All major population centers in Barry County are located within the watershed, on the Thornapple River. Some of the major tributaries of the Thornapple within Barry County are Cedar Creek, Butler Creek, Mud Creek, Fall Creek, High Bank Creek, Podunk Cree, Hill Creek, Bassett Creek and Duncan Lake Creek; the Coldwater River, Little Thornapple River, Algonquin Lake Outlet and Quaker Brook.
There are over 48 different types of fish species, including large and small mouth bass, bluegill, trout, catfish, walleye and perch, in the Thornapple River illustrating a healthy and clean river.
The Thornapple River Watershed Council3, active for over 10 years, organizes an annual river clean-up event. This all-volunteer organization works to protect, preserve and enhance the quality, aesthetic and recreational value of the Thornapple River Watershed through education, planning and management. 2, 3 Website, www.thornappleriver.com , 2003 The Thornapple River Watershed Management Plan project was undertaken in fall, 2004 with the formation of the Thornapple River Watershed Steering Committee, directed by the Barry Conservation District. The project’s goal is to assess the watershed conditions, study land use plans and proposed projects in the watershed and develop a management plan to direct and recommend measures to improve and maintain water quality throughout the area. In 2006, the Barry Conservation District received funding through the Great Lakes Watershed Restoration Program to assist in the completion of the management plan. The project includes opportunities for public input through meetings and surveys. Meeting dates and project updates are available through the Barry Conservation District office.
The Coldwater River Watershed encompasses an area over 200 square miles and is at the center of three expanding urban areas: Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo. sub-basin of the Thornapple River Watershed
The Coldwater River Watershed begins in Barry County, includes parts of Ionia, and Kent County. Three major tributaries flow into the Coldwater River: the Little Thornapple, Duck Creek and Tyler creek. The Coldwater River joins the Thornapple River below Whitneyville Road in Kent County. The Coldwater is one of the last, best trout streams in Southwestern Michigan.
The Coldwater River Watershed has a published Watershed Management Plan, created by the Coldwater River Watershed Group. Issues within the Coldwater River Watershed include: mercury in the Little Thornapple River near Lake Odessa; a poor fish community and macroinvertabrate community in Tyler Creek and Bear Creek in Ionia County; and, phosphorous in Tyler Creek and Bear Creek in Ionia County, and the Coldwater River.
The Kalamazoo River Watershed drains 2020 square miles of land in Allegan, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Barry, Eaton, Hillsdale and Jackson counties. In Barry County it covers the southern quarter of the County, including most of Assyria, Barry and Prairieville Townships. Two sub-watersheds of the Kalamazoo make up the remaining area in Barry County not covered under the Thornapple and Coldwater River Watersheds, these are the Gun River and the Battle Creek River. Both the Gun and Battle Creek watersheds drain into the very large Kalamazoo River Watershed.
Several grant funded watershed activities have taken place within the Kalamazoo River Watershed. Details of these activities are available on the website: www.kalamazooriver.net
Battle Creek River Watershed encompasses 187,000 acres in southeastern Barry, southern Eaton, and northern Calhoun counties. The headwaters of the Battle Creek River begin in Brookfield Township in Eaton County. The Battle Creek River conjoins with the Kalamazoo River in Battle Creek which ultimately drains to Lake Michigan.
The Gun River Watershed encompasses an area of 30 square miles in the townships of in Wayland, Martin and Gun Plain in Allegan County and Yankee Springs and Orangeville in Barry County. Eight lakes, including Payne, Long, Hall, and Fawn, drain into the Gun Lake and the outlet is the Gun River, which is a designated trout stream for most of its length. The Hall Lake inlet feeds three walleye rearing ponds on the east shore of the lake. The watershed includes the Gun Lake and the Gun River which flows south through agricultural lands and the urbanizing area of Otsego Township, Allegan County, where it joins the Kalamazoo River. A Gun River Watershed Management Plan was completed in 2004. This planning project was funded by Clean Water Act Section 319 Federal Funds through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). In 2006 the Allegan Conservation District received additional Section 319 funds to begin Watershed Management Plan implementation activities. LAKES AND RIVERS Defining characteristics of the County are the abundance of water, farmland and rolling terrain. Inland lakes, such as Gun Lake, Pine Lake, Upper and Lower Crooked Lake, Gull Lake, Wall Lake, Long Lake, Cloverdale Lake, Wilkinson Lake, Algonquin Lake, and nearly 250 smaller lakes are found in the western portion of the County offering excellent recreational, residential and wildlife opportunities. Many of these lakes attract residential development that can produce potential water quality impacts due to fertilizer application and other human related activities.
In the eastern portion of the County there are fewer and smaller lakes, which include Fine Lake, Thornapple Lake, Long Lake, Middle Lake, Leach Lake, and Jordan Lake. These lakes in the east half of the County are generally surrounded by residential and agricultural land uses.
Water quality issues of lakes and streams are becoming more of an issue within Barry County. Sewer systems around the lakes help maintain and improve water quality. Within Barry County lakes are some of the most heavily residential areas as more development increases, septic systems are becoming inadequate or outdated and the need for sewer systems increases.
The Thornapple River The Thornapple River is a predominate feature in Barry County. Today, the riverfront offers excellent recreational destinations, residential locations and wildlife habitat. However, development can produce potential negative water quality impacts due to individual septic system density, fertilizer application, and other human-related activities. The Thornapple River originates in eastern Eaton County and meanders west into Barry County. It enters the County in the Village of Nashville and flows westward through Castleton and Hastings Townships. Thornapple Lake, a natural lake formed from inlets that include the Thornapple River, High Bank Creek and Mud Creek, is approximately 409 acres and reaches depths up to 30 feet. The Thornapple River continues westward into the City of Hastings, creating an attractive amenity through the urban area. The river then flows through Rutland Charter, Irving, and Thornapple Townships, and into the Village of Middleville. All of the major population centers of Barry County are located on the Thornapple River.
The river then flows northward into Kent County and eventually gives its water to the Grand River in Ada Township just east of the City of Grand Rapids.
In 2005, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), completed the Thornapple River Flood Plain Management Study, covering the river from its headwaters in Eaton County to River Road in Barry County. The project includes detailed hydraulic and hydrologic studies within the 38-mile stretch of the Thornapple. The goal project identifies the 10, 50, 100, and 500-year flood plains so that wise land use decisions can be made that will promote public health and safety.
GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER As the population in Barry County continues to grow, natural resources will inevitably be impacted. The groundwater supplies in the County, even though abundant, can be affected as more area becomes impervious and with greater demand placed on groundwater supplies. There are several organizations that are involved with water quality in the Barry County area. Some of them include the Barry County Conservation District, the Barry-Eaton County Health Department, the Michigan State University Extension in Hastings, and the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program at the Barry Conservation District. These organizations have an interest in water quality protection and provide various services available to the public.
According to Dr. Roberta Dow of the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program at the Michigan State University Extension in Traverse City, there are many different ways ground water can be polluted. Two primary contributors are application of fertilizer on crops and residential lawns, and septic tank drainfield effluent. Proper fertilizer application management and septic tank maintenance may help to significantly reduce nitrate levels. Abandoned wells may also be a threat to ground water quality if they have not been properly closed or “capped.” Open wells may expose groundwater supplies to surface contaminates.
It is important to note that a groundwater quality study was conducted in Barry County within the last twenty years. Western Michigan University and WW Engineering & Science (currently Williams & Works) compiled Groundwater Quality Variations in Glacial Drift and Bedrock Aquifers, Barry County, Michigan, USA. As part of the study, groundwater samples were taken from 288 domestic wells and analyzed for 33 inorganic chemical parameters. Initial observation of the data indicated that about 26% of glacial-drift aquifer wells were degraded due to human activity in the County. Specifically, elevated levels of chloride, nitrate, and ammonia are most indicative of affected water quality. The report also stated that this chemical pollution is likely caused by fertilizers, road salt, and septic tanks. Identification of pollution sources for each well was beyond the scope of the study.
SOILS Soil composition is an important aspect of planning for many reasons. Some soils are not well suited for individual septic systems and therefore may threaten ground water or surface water quality due to lack of proper filtration. The composition of soils determines stability and suitability for structural development. Agricultural productivity is also determined by the fertility of the soils. With the soils of the County classified, areas can be appropriately designated for a suitable use.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, classifies the soils of Barry County into eight different general soil associations. They are 1) Marlette-Capac, 2) Kalamazoo-Oshtemo, 3) Coloma-Boyer 4) Marlette-Oshtemo, 5) Perrington-Ithaca-Marlette, and 6) Houghton-Sloan, 7) Oshtemo-Coloma- Marlette, and 8) Coloma-Boyer-spinks. The Marlette-Capac association exists primarily in the northeastern portion of Barry County, including Woodland, Carton, Castleton, Hastings, and Maple Grove Townships. This association makes up approximately 18 percent of the County and is primarily used for crops such as hay, corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and pasture. These soils are generally not well suited to septic systems due to wetness and low permeability. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent.
The Kalamazoo-Oshtemo association is located in the southwest Barry Township, Southeast Prairieville Township, and in western Thornapple Township. This soils association, making up about seven percent of the County’s soils, is slightly sloping with a range of 0 to 12 percent. Most of these soils are used for crops, including hay, as well as pasture or woodland. The low slope areas are generally well suited to building site development and septic system function.
The Coloma-Boyer association is located in the northwestern portion of the County in parts of Yankee Springs, Irving, Rutland and Thornapple Townships. This soil is primarily sandy, well drained, and is used for cropland and forests. Septic systems are moderately suitable on this soil type but may cause well water pollution due to poor filtration. The Marlette-Oshtemo association is a steep sloped soil ranging from 6 to 40 percent. This soil makes up approximately 21 percent of the county and is located in various locations throughout the County. Areas of steep slope are not suitable to development or septic systems, but other areas with gentle slopes are generally well suited for both.
The Perrington-Ithica-Marlette association, only making up about 4 percent of the County’s soil, is primarily located Maple Grove Township and is associated with the higher elevations in the County. The soils in this association are fairly well suited for crops such as corn and soy beans. Suitability for development or septic systems varies greatly in this association, due to the soil composition and slope.
The Houghton-Sloan association is typically found close to water bodies including rivers and streams, and in the lower parts of the landscape. This soil, often located in flood plains, is usually level and composed of mucks, peat, and sand. Not well suited for development or agriculture due to instability and wetness, this association can provide excellent areas for wildlife and forests. Individual disposal of effluent is severely limited due to low permeability and high water tables. This soil makes up about 8 percent of the County soils.
The Oshtemo-Coloma-Marlette association is located in the central and southern half of Barry County, making up about 22 percent of the County soils. Steep areas are not suitable for development or septic fields, although this area is well suited for pasture and hay.
The Coloma-Boyer-Spinks Association is generally high sloped soil, ranging from 6 to 40 percent. This soil makes up approximately 13 percent of the soils in the County and is located east of Gun Lake and west of Podunk Lake in the western portion of the County. The Yankee Springs Recreation Area and the Barry State Game Area are in this region, which was primarily because these soils were not suitable to agriculture. The federal government bought these land areas in the 1930’s and rehabilitated the soils through efforts of the CCC and Workers Project Association.
WETLANDS Wetlands play a critical role in regulating the movement of water within watersheds. Wetlands are characterized by water saturation in the root zone, or above the soil surface, for a certain amount of time during the year. The fluctuation of the water table above and below the soil surface is unique to each wetland type.
Wetlands store precipitation and surface water and then slowly release the water in associated water resources, ground water, and the atmosphere. They help maintain the level of the water table and may serve as filters for sediments and organic matter. They may also serve as a sink to catch water, or transform nutrients, organic compounds, metals, and components of organic matter. Wetlands have the ability to impact levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon, sulfur, and various metals. Without them, water quality decreases, areas are prone to flash flooding and habitat for specialized plants and animals is reduced.
The wetlands in Barry County are dispersed and are primarily associated with low-lying areas and drainages. Map 2 is the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) map, which illustrates the wetlands in Barry County. Creation of this map involved a variety of federal government agencies and the consolidation and interpretation of aerial photographs, land cover maps, and soil maps. This map is intended to illustrate the general location of wetlands; however the exact location of any wetland should be determined through a field site inspection by a qualified scientist.
ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AND SPECIAL CONCERN SPECIES Loss of habitat and increased human activity overall threatens the plant and animal diversity of Barry County. According to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory4, there is a variety of plant and animal species that are considered endangered, threatened, or of special concern in Barry County. At this time, the Three Staff Underwing, the Indiana Bat, and Mitchell’s Satyr are the only listed state endangered species. As the human population of the County continues to expand, it is possible that plant and animal diversity will also continue to decrease.
Other animals including the Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, the Common Loon, and the Spotted Turtle are listed as threatened state animal species. In many cases, these animals are often called “indicator species,” which is a plant or animal that is sensitive to changes in an ecosystem. These environmental changes can be a direct result of human activity or development and may also occur naturally within an area. A complete listing of threatened, endangered and special concern species believed to be in Barry County is included in APPENDIX F. |