6.1
Goals
The goals stated in this Watershed Plan are aimed at protecting the designated and desired uses mentioned earlier in the plan. The Objectives outline how project partners will reach the determined goals. Later, tasks will be designed to reach objectives. This plan of action will help maintain the Les Cheneaux Islands Watershed as a recognized high quality waterbody worthy of protection.
Table 6.1.1. Watershed
Goals and the Designated/Desired Use They Address
|
Threatened Uses |
Goal |
|
Public water supply |
Protect individual on site water
well surface water intake drinking water quality. |
|
Partial body contact recreation |
Restore/protect water quality to sustain partial body
contact recreational use. |
|
Total body contact recreation |
Restore/protect water quality to sustain total body
contact recreational use. |
|
Warm/Coldwater (Cool water fishery) and other indigenous
life/wildlife |
Protect the integrity of aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems within the watershed. |
|
Establish, promote, and execute land and water management
practices that conserve and protect the natural resources of the watershed. |
|
|
Navigation |
Restore/protect navigation opportunities by decreasing
sediment and nutrient loading to navigable surface waters. |
|
Desired Uses |
Goal |
|
Aquatic Recreation |
Provide appropriate
opportunities for public enjoyment of aquatic/terrestrial resources including
but not limited to walking trails, scenic overlooks, boat launches, and
public access areas. |
|
Establish and promote education/information programs that
promote stewardship and low impact recreational enjoyment of aquatic and
terrestrial resources. |
|
|
Natural Aesthetic Character |
Preserve the unique nature-based
aesthetic character of the Les Cheneaux Islands Area. |
|
Threatened & Endangered Species Habitat |
Identify and protect critical
habitat for threatened and endangered species. |
|
All Designated and Desired Uses |
Establish education and information programs that promote
the conservation, education, protection, restoration, and sustainability of
aquatic resources within the Les Cheneaux Watershed. |
6.2
Objectives for Watershed Goals and Pollutants
Addressed
The following table defines the objectives for each watershed goal and the tasks needed to realize objectives. Pollutants addressed by each goal and set of objectives and task are also listed.
Table 6.2.1. Goals
and Objectives
Goal |
Objectives by Source/Cause |
Pollutants Addressed |
|
|
Protect drinking water quality (Public water supply) |
Reduce the input of pollutants (pathogens, nutrients, and
toxins) reaching groundwater and surface water by: ·
Identify and correct failing septic systems ·
Identify noncompliant systems and assist landowners
with planning to gain Health Dept. OSS compliance in a feasible time frame ·
Identify and implement alternative municipal and
on-site wastewater management strategies ·
Establish a funding program to assist landowners
with correcting failing systems and pursuing compliant systems ·
Providing i/e to shoreline landowners as to aquatic
wildlife management and ecosystems ·
Provide I/E to township, and county regarding
stormwater processes. ·
Work with county and townships to design and
implement stormwater management programs ·
Protect groundwater and surface water recharge
areas (wetlands, headwaters) and discourage water withdrawals that negatively
impact aquatic systems ·
Identify and close all abandoned wells Reduce the input of pollutants toxins reaching groundwater
and surface water by: ·
Educate public to the appropriate disposal and
management of hazardous waste, onsite water well and septic maintenance ·
Provide I/E to community, especially aquatic
recreationists and businesses, regarding toxin sources, pollution controls.
Assist group in implementing controls |
Pathogens Nutrients Toxins |
|
|
Restore/protect full & partial body contact
recreational use |
Reduce the input of pollutants (pathogens, nutrients, and
toxins) reaching groundwater and surface water by: ·
Identify and correct failing septic systems ·
Identify noncompliant systems and assist landowners
with planning to gain Health Dept. OSS compliance in a feasible time frame ·
Identify and implement alternative municipal and
on-site wastewater management strategies ·
Establish a funding program to assist landowners
with correcting failing systems and pursuing compliant systems ·
Providing I/E to shoreline landowners as to aquatic
wildlife management and ecosystems ·
Provide I/E to township, and county regarding
stormwater processes ·
Work with county and townships to design and
implement stormwater management programs ·
Protect groundwater and surface water recharge
areas (wetlands, headwaters) and discourage water withdrawals that negatively
impact aquatic systems Reduce the input of pollutants toxins reaching groundwater
and surface water by: ·
Educate public to the appropriate disposal and
management of hazardous waste, onsite water well and septic maintenance ·
Provide I/E to community, especially aquatic
recreationists and businesses, regarding toxin sources, pollution controls.
Assist group in implementing controls |
Pathogens Nutrients Toxins |
|
|
Restore and protect the coolwater fishery and other
indigenous aquatic and terrestrial wildlife |
Reduce habitat impacts from development by: ·
Educate shoreline residents to appropriate land use
management practices that protect wildlife habitat ·
Preserve riparian corridor habitats through deed
restrictions, conservation easements, and promoting stewardship ethic ·
Guarantee habitat protection regulatory compliance
by development project through education and technical assistance Reduce hydrology alterations by: · Restore and maintain natural hydrology in creeks and wetlands through road/waterbody crossings improvements ·
Restore creek channel by removing instream debris
altering flow ·
Provide I/E to township, and county regarding stormwater
processes ·
Work with county and townships to design and
implement stormwater management programs Reduce sediment by: ·
Stabilizing eroding stream banks ·
Pursuing SESC compliance from riparian development
projects ·
Providing i/e to community regarding
erosion/sedimentation threats ·
Minimize filling of wetlands, dredging, and other
land-use activities disturbing soils near water bodies Reduce the amount and potential of toxins impacting wildlife by: ·
Creating awareness as to hazardous waste and its
management ·
Pursue a hazardous waste collection site in
watershed Reduce high concentrations of nutrients from impacting ·
Provide I/E to township, and county regarding
stormwater processes ·
Work with county and townships to design and
implement stormwater management programs ·
Identify and implement alternative municipal and
on-site wastewater management strategies ·
Providing i/e to shoreline landowners as to aquatic
wildlife management and ecosystems Reduce invasive species impacts by: ·
Provide I/E regarding invasive species threats,
techniques for control |
Nutrients Sediments Invasive Species Toxins Development Altered Hydrology |
|
Restore/protect
navigation opportunities
|
Reduce navigation impediments in recreation areas by: ·
Identifying and implementing alternatives to the
municipal wastewater discharge. ·
Correct poorly designed road/stream crossings. ·
Restore eroded stream banks, road embankments, and
eliminate direct runoff paths from road surfaces. ·
Assess stormwater nutrient/sediment inputs and
design plan. |
Nutrients Sediments Invasive Species |
|
|
Provide appropriate opportunities for public enjoyment of
aquatic/terrestrial resources including but not limited to walking trails,
scenic overlooks, boat launches, and public access areas. |
Create appropriate low-environmental impact recreational opportunities and access to the enjoyment of aquatic and terrestrial resources: ·
Identify appropriate locations for trails to
provide recreation opportunities and promote the installation, maintenance,
and monitoring of them for appropriate use. ·
Identify appropriate areas for public access to ·
Provide education/information opportunities for the
public as to the available aquatic and terrestrial recreation opportunities
in the watershed and the management responsibility of resources to maintain
those opportunities ·
Facilitate creek walks, kayaking, fishing, hunting,
and other low impact recreational workshops and opportunities |
Sediment Nutrients Development |
|
|
Preserve the unique nature-based aesthetic character of
the |
Preserve character by promoting and executing undeveloped
land protection by: ·
Educate community and promote shoreline and
riparian conservation easements, land acquisitions, and deed restrictions. ·
Facilitate workshops, activities, and land use
planning regulation that supports the sustainability of environmental and
economic livelihood. ·
Assess regulations, attitudes, and trends in
relation to undeveloped land protection and facilitate the improvement of
those entities for the protection of undeveloped lands. Preserve existing historical, cultural, and environmental features by: ·
Assess regulations, attitudes, and trends in
relation to developed land protection and facilitate the improvement of those
entities for the protection of aesthetic character of the watershed. ·
Facilitating I/E for landowners creating awareness
as to environmentally-friendly development practices |
Development Sediment Nutrient Toxins Altered Hydrology Invasive Species |
|
|
Identify and protect critical habitat for threatened and
endangered species |
Protect habitats by: ·
Identify and publicize critical threatened and
endangered species habitats ·
Provide stewardship information, education, and
volunteer opportunities to landowners, business owners, and students ·
Promote and execute threatened and endangered
species habitat protection through conservation easements, land acquisitions,
and deed restrictions. ·
Pursue tax incentives to landowners who possess
critical habitats ·
Provide technical assistance to developers,
realtors, and contractors in dealing with development on critical habitats ·
Assist townships with land use planning and
regulation including development of ordinances to protect aquatic and
terrestrial resources ·
Improve stormwater management throughout the
watershed ·
Increase the awareness of developers, township
officials, and businesses on the impacts of development on natural resources
and biological communities |
All |
|
|
Establish education and information programs that promote
the conservation, education, protection, restoration, and sustainability of
aquatic resources within the Les Cheneaux Watershed. |
·
Raise awareness and knowledge about water quality
concerns in the watershed, pollutants, their sources and causes, and
strategies to reduce pollution and realize water quality protection. ·
Increase community involvement in the
implementation of the management plan, the reduction of pollutants and
guaranteed designated uses for future generations. ·
Motivate the community to develop a positive
stewardship ethic towards the protection of aquatic resources and natural
systems in the watershed. |
All |
|