The Muskegon Lake PAC is the local organization with the responsibility to initiate the BUI de-listing process. The PAC will work with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Joint Commission throughout the process to determine whether or not a BUI is restored and if it should be de-listed from the AOC. The Muskegon Lake PAC intends that the targets and indicators listed in this document be updated annually, and that they will be used to document a “body of evidence” that a BUI is being restored. In some cases, all targets listed for a BUI may be met before de-listing is initiated. In other cases, a majority of the targets may be met, and the PAC could decide that it is either not possible to attain certain targets or that they are no longer necessary to restore the BUI.

Targets for Restoration and De-listing

1. All members of the population will be able to eat fish safely.

2. Consumers of fish, subsistence fishers and sport fishers will be knowledgeable about the health benefits and risks from eating fish and abide by the fish consumption advisories for the AOC.

3. Women of childbearing age and children under 15 will not be at more risk nor advised to eat smaller quantities of fish compared to the rest of the general population.

Levels of PCBs in Northern Pike and Carp will be below the Michigan Department of Community Health standards for consumption advisories and/or no worse than the advisories for Lake Michigan.

5. Levels of Mercury and PCBs in Largemouth Bass, Walleye and Redhorse Sucker will be below the Michigan Department of Community Health standards for consumption advisories and/or no worse than the advisories for Lake Michigan.

(In order to address the AOC boundary and this BUI, the above de-listing targets apply to Muskegon Lake, Bear Lake and Muskegon River, below Croton Dam.)

1. MDCH, U.S. EPA, the Muskegon County Health Department and Muskegon Lake PAC will agree that levels of contaminants in fish are at safe levels for all members of the population.

2. The health benefits and risks of fish consumption are thoroughly understood by the general public.

3. Fish advisories will be lifted for the AOC.

1. Caged fish contaminant monitoring studies need to continue (before/after remediation/every 3-5 years) in the Muskegon Lake Channel and expand to include localized Muskegon Lake tributaries and “hot spots,” to help determine whether fish contamination is worse or better in Muskegon Lake AOC than in Lake Michigan.

2. Fish mobility and life cycle information is needed to determine if the contamination of fish in Muskegon Lake is due to a regional or local problem.

3. A valuation of Muskegon Lake’s fishery, relative to economic, cultural and human health concerns is needed.

4. A fish consumption/human health risk behavior survey is needed to identify health concerns and educational needs in the AOC.

Do you agree with these targets, indicators and research and monitoring needs?

Yes

No

Please Comment below

 

---

Where Will They Live?

BUI #2— Restoring the Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Targets for Restoration and De-listing

1. Communities will work cooperatively to plan, manage and maintain natural levels or at least a minimum of 45% total vegetative surface cover of native aquatic plant communities in Muskegon Lake. 

2. The nearshore/littoral zone will be shallow and obstruction free (including seawalls/ concrete / rip-rap/ debris) to maintain a productive littoral zone.

3.      Communities will require that all shoreline and streamside developments blend in a “water’s edge strip” landscaped with either: 1) low maintenance native or 2) no-input traditional plantings.  Each strip will: 1) provide adequate space for wildlife movement 2) connect existing isolated and fragmented habitats and 3) provide water quality benefits by slowing down and filtering stormwater runoff.  A 130’ wide strip is recommended for wildlife nesting and safe movement.  Seawalls will not be permitted below the ordinary high water mark, and only if erosion is evident.

4. Invasive species, including Eurasian Water Milfoil and Purple Loosestrife will be eliminated or managed at levels that do not disrupt the sustainability of native, aquatic plant communities.

5. Open surface acreage area will be: 1) maintained at no net loss, at the ordinary high water mark and 2) increased by safely removing historic fill in conjunction with rehabilitation and re-development projects.

6. Existing areas that are critical to reproduction, growth, and survival of fish and wildlife will be preserved through land purchases, conservation easements, state designations or zoning.

7. Aquatic habitats that are connected to large intact areas will be preserved through public purchase, conservation easements, state designations or zoning.

8. Altered shoreline areas will be restored to provide habitat and nesting area. 

Indicators of Restoration

1.   A habitat management plan will be developed and used to track restoration progress for fish and wildlife habitat in the AOC, utilizing the 1995 Muskegon Lake Habitat and Aquatic Plant Assess ments baseline data.

2.   An evaluation of opportunities to improve or restore fish and wildlife habitat through public purchase, conservation easements and zoning will be compiled and utilized as a tool by local land managers, planning officials, drain commissioner and landowners.

3.   Land purchases through federal land purchases, conservation easements, public ownership, or agreements with individual land owners, and working with local management departments in state and local municipalities.

4.   Local governments will adopt zoning and ordinances to support the restoration and maintenance of near shore and tributary aquatic, wetland and shoreline buffer habitats.

5.  Habitat will be less fragmented and become more connected to increase the amount of usable habitat for larger-sized wildlife and smaller and/or isolated species

6.  Local, state and federal permits issued for construction or removal activities will require creation of aquatic habitat and public access to the lake and streams in development projects in the AOC.

7.  Education will be institutionalized for the public’s understanding of water’s edge management to ensure current and future informed decision-making and practices (audiences will include K-12; developers; landscape service providers; local governments and maintenance staff).

8.  All new water’s edge developments will implement an invasive species management plan (approved by the local planning commission) as part of their land maintenance practices.

9.  Local governments will adopt ordinances that support clean stormwater practices and soft/vegetated shoreline edges to lessen the impact of runoff on water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

10.  All sub-watershed communities will have completed watershed management plans and will be implementing them.

11.  All sub-watershed communities will be implementing stormwater pollution prevention and public education and involvement activities.

12.  All sub-watershed communities will have local and regional processes in place to retain and/or filter stormwater runoff and utilize best management practices in public works projects.

Research and Monitoring Needs

1.  Historical evaluation and reconstruction of lake morphometry, plant beds, and wetlands, along with present day comparisons are needed to set sensible and defensible targets for “restoration”

2. An evaluation of nutrients in sediment, including historical to present day values to determine if plant communities are affected by nutrients in the sediment

3. Monitoring for community compliance with stormwater and habitat ordinances and zoning

---