Restoration & Resiliency of the Huron River Floodplain

Big Bend Area at Willow Metropark

Big Bend Area from Huron River

Project Introduction

This project addresses the stormwater, habitat, and public-use issues in the Southeast Michigan region. The project will benefit the surrounding communities and wildlife habitats by improving resilience in the face of intensifying environmental stressors related to climate change, development, invasive species, nonpoint source pollution and other factors. By investing in green stormwater infrastructure solutions, the project seeks to reduce flooding and othe intensifying threats associated with major storm events, while also creating safe, dynamic, and enjoyable public green spaces that improve habitat values for wildlife and quality of life for residents and visitors to Willow Metropark.

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Circled in red on the map above is the Big Bend area located at Willow Metropark, Huron Township, Michigan.

Habitat Restoration

This restoration project at Willow Metropark is located at the Big Bend picnic area. This location runs along the shoreline of the Huron River and includes segments of both the statewide Iron Belle Trail along the hike-bike path and the Nationally recognized Huron River Water Trail.

Biker enjoys the Iron Belle Trail at Big Bend picnic area.

The Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund grant was awarded in 2021 through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks is teaming up with Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) to make the best restoration choices which includes gathering input from the public.

Erosion along an existing kayak launch at Big Bend is slated for a future relocation further downstream.

The goal of the project is to improve the habitat along the Huron River at the Big Bend Area of Willow Metropark by restoring the eroded river bank, installing in-stream habitat features, and providing connectivity with forested floodplain and native prairie habitat.  This project will increase habitat complexity and biodiversity, create wildlife corridor along the river, benefit native pollinators, capture and infiltrate stormwater runoff, reduce sedimentation and nutrients in the river, and decrease flood potential.

Big Bend area severe erosion along shoreline of Huron River.

Big Bend Area Floodplain area with swales that convey stormwater to Huron River.

Resiliency of the Huron River

The Big Bend Area is situated along the lower Huron River segment. With climate change contributing to overall vulnerabilities within the watershed with water quality issues, and climate change future land scenarios indicating an increase in water quantity issues, the Metroparks are investing in green infrastructure and restoration projects that address both water quality and quantity.

Looking across the Huron River to Big Bend area.

Planning

Where did it begin? Started with a plan...

The Metroparks developed a Stormwater Management Plan in 2019 (click link below) which provide a framework for this project. That plan identified physical improvements to improve water quality in the Metroparks. The plan included green infrastructure concepts, an approach to water management that protects,restores, or mimics the natural water cycle. Some of these green infrastructure techniques from the plan were proposed for the design in this project.

The Stormwater Management Plan offered green infrastructure solutions to the problems identified in the Big Bend area in the park.

Erosion issues threaten park services infrastructure below ground and the hike-bike path.

Big Bend as the name suggests is located where the river carves a substantial bend. At the start of this bend, the force of the river is carving away a hillside (and releasing sediments along the way) and threatening park underground utilities, roads and trails. Limited HRWC data suggests that erosion and runoff from the bend may be delivering 12% more phosphorus than is found further downstream. Willow Metropark is the middle of three metroparks (the other two being Lower Huron and Oakwoods) situated along the Huron River between Belleville Lake and Flat Rock. These parks are important for the quality of the river as they protect riparian lands and the banks of the river. According to sampling conducted by HRWC, the lower Huron River has better water quality than streams to the north. The 2018-2028 Willow-Oakwoods Metroparks Master Plan (click link below) also identified improvements in the Big Bend area associated with this project, including the reduction in impervious surface lots and prairie restoration.

This map above shows the green infrastructure recommendations from the Stormwater Management Plan.

Plan Implementation

The grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provided funding to employ a variety of techniques to reduce further erosion and improve runoff. Construction plans were designed by a consultant for both the in-stream and upland areas at Big Bend. First, to address the bank erosion and redirect the river’s energy, the Metroparks installed toe wood (from surrounding land tree falls) into the bank and backfilled with soil lifts on top of the logs, with live willows, native seed and plantings to cover. The toe wood deflects energy from the river and directs it toward the center of the river and provides excellent cover habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Tree falls within the Metroparks were used for the toe wood installed at the bottom of the eroded bank.

Grading to flatten the slope along the eroded bank at Big Bend.

Temporary streambank stabilzation with seed and mulch mats. Planting plugs to be installed in spring of 2023.

In the upland section of the park area, the Metroparks removed an unused parking area and restored it with prairie plantings and seed, and created four bioswales – drainage area depressions with slow moving runoff that are planted with native rain garden plants. This removal of the parking area will exand the area of an adjacent prairie, helping to create a more robust prairie habitat. Additionally, the Metroparks is expanding the riparian buffer area from the bend to the existing kayak launch. All combined, the restoration and green infrastructure work will annually capture 1.8 million gallons of runoff, reduce 156 tons of sediment, and eliminate 13.2 pounds of phosphorus from the river.

Removal of impervious parking lot which was underutilized at Big Bend area.

Seed and mulch with native prairie seed mix.

Public Input

Prior to completion of construction plans for implementation of the Big Bend project, the Metroparks held four stakeholder public focus group meetings, a community open house meeting and conducted a public survey to gather input on design concepts and gage future use of the Big Bend area. This resulted in the restoration work you can see today.

4 poster boards displayed existing conditions and green infrastructure techniques to engage park users along the Iron Belle Trail at Big Bend during the Community Open House Meeting #1 on July 19, 2021.

Whats Next?

In the spring of 2023, the following areas on the map below will continue to be restored with native plug plantings, riparian native tree plantings, and native prairie seed mix. During the summer, a Community Open House Meeting #2 will be facilitated by Planning and Development staff and encourage site walking tours along the Big Bend hike-bike trail to learn about the project improvements to Big Bend. Following this, the implementation efforts will be sustained with volunteers for seasonal maintenance and invasive species removal.

1

Shoreline Native Plug Plantings

Final restoration spring of 2023

2

Riparian Tree Plantings

Trees planted along a 10 foot wide riparian buffer along the entire Big Bend top of bank

3

Parking Lot Removal

Restoration prairie seed mix where parking lot removed in 2022

4

Bioswale restoration

Spring 2023 Reseeded with swale mix

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

Credits

Created by HCMA Planning and Development Dept. 4/5/2023

Biker enjoys the Iron Belle Trail at Big Bend picnic area.

Erosion along an existing kayak launch at Big Bend is slated for a future relocation further downstream.

Big Bend area severe erosion along shoreline of Huron River.

Big Bend Area Floodplain area with swales that convey stormwater to Huron River.

Looking across the Huron River to Big Bend area.

Erosion issues threaten park services infrastructure below ground and the hike-bike path.

This map above shows the green infrastructure recommendations from the Stormwater Management Plan.

Tree falls within the Metroparks were used for the toe wood installed at the bottom of the eroded bank.

Grading to flatten the slope along the eroded bank at Big Bend.

Temporary streambank stabilzation with seed and mulch mats. Planting plugs to be installed in spring of 2023.

Removal of impervious parking lot which was underutilized at Big Bend area.

Seed and mulch with native prairie seed mix.

4 poster boards displayed existing conditions and green infrastructure techniques to engage park users along the Iron Belle Trail at Big Bend during the Community Open House Meeting #1 on July 19, 2021.

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.