The Huron-Clinton Metroparks, known for their well-maintained parks and facilities, strive to provide outstanding recreational opportunities throughout southeast Michigan. Because many of the parks were established 30 to 50 years ago, today, much of our efforts concentrate on updating existing buildings, roads, water and sewer systems and other facilities. In addition to these efforts, Metropark planners and engineers develop new ideas and projects in order to improve our parks and keep pace with recreational needs and trends. Here are a few examples of new projects coming to your Metroparks:
Construction Starts for Turtle Cove
A groundbreaking ceremony on August 31 officially began the construction of Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center at Lower Huron Metropark.
Once completed, this $9.4-million facility will feature two waters slides, an activity pool, a lazy river and a waterspray area. The shallow section of the pool will have a zero-depth entry and water play features, such as ground sprays for children; the deeper end will have a lap swimming area. Slides, sprays and a dumping bucket of water will be the focal point of the waterspray area. Covering more than five acres, Turtle Cove will accommodate up to 1,400 people.
The largest redevelopment project undertaken by the Metroparks, Turtle Cove will replace the swimming pool at Lower Huron, which opened in 1958. The existing pool will stay open for the 2007 summer season until the new facility is completed, which is projected for 2008.
Natural Features Inventory
In 2004 and 2005 the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) conducted field plant surveys at Huron Meadows, Lake Erie, Wolcott Mill and Metro Beach Metroparks. These inventories were the last of a five-year effort to identify rare plant species and exemplary natural communities within the Metroparks and evaluate the significance of the survey results. The MNFI surveys found 11 rare natural communities and 56 rare plant occurrences (representing 25 species) in the Metroparks. The results of these surveys are being incorporated into park master plans, as well as guiding natural areas management decisions.
Emerald Ash Borer
Decades ago, ash trees were one of several types of trees planted at many Metroparks which grew to provide lush wooded areas. In 2002, the presence of the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect, was confirmed in Southeast Michigan, threatening the health of ash trees everywhere. Soon, the presence of the emerald ash borer was felt as trees began to display signs of infestation. From 2003 through 2005, more than 3,000 ash trees had been removed from the 13 Metroparks.
In an effort to replace the trees lost to emerald ash borer and to keep pace with other tree programs, the HCMA planted nearly 1,200 trees in 2004 and 2005. More than 300 of those trees were funded through State of Michigan Emerald Ash Borer Tree Planting grants to replace trees at Hudson Mills, Kensington, Lake Erie, Lower Huron, Stony Creek and Willow Metroparks.
Research studies
The Huron-Clinton Metroparks, with more than 24,000 acres of public land, are frequently chosen for environmental studies. The emerald ash borer is the subject of several multi-year studies being conducted at a number of Metroparks. These studies, most of which were initiated in 2004, are being conducted by top research institutions, including The Ohio State University Department of Entomology; University of Michigan Forest Health Lab; Michigan State University; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the University of Michigan, Michigan Technological University, USDA Forest Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Research topics include the effect of the loss of trees within forests, the potential for using other insects that could help control emerald ash borer and evaluating insecticides for commercial and home use.
The Massasauga Project
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake was once found in and around many wetlands of the Midwestern United States. One of the smallest rattlesnakes in the world, the massasauga is the only poisonous snake in Michigan, although its bite is not generally considered life-threatening. Due to loss of habitat, it is now considered to be imperiled across most of its range, and is currently listed as threatened or endangered in all of the states where it exists except Michigan where it is listed as a species of special concern. Michigan appears to be the last U.S. stronghold for the species, however it is apparent that the Michigan population is declining.
Dr. Bruce A. Kingsbury, Associate Professor, Department of Biology Indiana-Purdue University and Director of the Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Management is conducting a research project on the massasauga at Indian Springs Metropark. During the past five years, several massasaugas have been implanted with transmitters and monitored to study their habitat preferences and patterns of movement. The findings of this study will help to clarify habitat needs of massasaugas in wetlands, open upland environments and their hibernation requirements. The work will complement efforts conducted in wetland systems in northern Indiana and in coniferous swamps farther north to provide a broader perspective of habitat needs and massasauga behavior across Michigan. It’s also providing a unique educational experience for both high school and grade school students who have taken to the field to track the massasauga at Indian Springs.
Controlled Burns
Metropark staff administered controlled burns at several Metroparks to help sustain prairie, savanna and wetland areas. Without fire, these areas are invaded by trees, shrubs and other plants that kill the prairie plants with their shade, gradually changing the area to shrublands and woodlands. Fires enrich the soil, release seed banks, kill certain weeds and invading woody plants, and benefit grasslands in many other ways. Fire allows diverse local plant and animal communities to thrive. The controlled burns are handled by trained crews, who know how to control fire as it moves through designated areas.
Purple loosestrife
Invasive plants species, such as purple loosestrife, autumn olive and garlic mustard, can invade and displace native plants. An exotic wetlands plant, purple loosestrife had invaded several wetlands areas at Lake Erie Metropark. As part of a statewide “Purple Loosestrife Project,” thousands of the loosestrife’s natural biological enemies, Galerucella beetles, were released in stands of the plant found at Lake Erie Metropark in 1998. Now, several years later, the plant’s vibrant purple color is absent, with only the dead brown stalks of the plant remaining, thanks to these loosestrife-eating beetles, whose eating habits can stop and even reverse the invasion of purple loosestrife, allowing native wetland plants such as cattails to re-establish themselves.
Storm Water Management Plan
As a requirement of the NPDES Phase II storm water permit, this Public Education Plan (PEP) was developed to inform both employees and visiting public of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks (HCMA) about their role in protecting water quality and preventing storm water pollution in their community. The PEP outlines education goals and messages that must be communicated under the requirements of the Phase II regulations. The PEP then describes the existing and future efforts the HCMA will undertake to achieve these education goals, and how these efforts will be evaluated.
Click Here to Download the Storm Water Document
