Conservation Results In An Urban Environment Through Public-Private Partnerships James Boase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Supporting Contributors John Hartig, USFWS Allison Krueger, USFWS Ed Roseman, USGS Richard Drouin, OMNR Mike Thomas, MDNR Matthew Child, ERCA
Today s Presentation 1 Visions of Detroit 2 Case studies showing ecological revival of the Detroit River Conservation Results In An Urban Environment Through Public-Private Partnerships
DISCUSSION: What comes to mind when you think of Detroit?
AUTO INDUSTRY SPORTS! DETROIT METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY MANUFACTURING PUBLIC ART AVAILABLE LAND
Detroit is centrally located within the Great Lakes
Case Study # 1 Transformation of an industrial brownfield to the Refuge Gateway Detroit Windsor Case Study # 2 Fighting Island lake sturgeon spawning reef Over 7 million people live in the Detroit/Windsor metro areas
CASE STUDY #1 Transformation of an Industrial Brownfield to the Refuge Gateway
1990??? REFUGE GATEWAY Owned by Wayne County Former industrial site HUMBUG MARSH Last mile of undeveloped shoreline on the DTR Became the DRIWR 2001 RAMAR site 2006 as a wetland of international importance
HUMBUG MARSH: HIGH BIODIVERSITY & RARE HABITATS The last mile of undeveloped shoreline 51 Species of Fish 15 Species of Birds 17 Species of Raptors 25 Species of Amphibians and Reptiles 37 Species of Dragon and Damselflies
REFUGE GATEWAY: HISTORIC INDUSTRY Appearance before being purchased by partners
Concept view by Hamilton Anderson (DET) REFUGE GATEWAY: Restoring Habitat Expanding the Ecological Buffer of Humbug Marsh HUMBUG MARSH: Michigan s only Ramsar Site Last mile of natural shoreline High quality forested lake plain 2001 the first DRIWR Unit HUMBUG MARSH REFUGE GATEWAY
REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN Upland area is a 44 acre site Plans to restore 41 acres for fish and wildlife habitat Remaining acres used for the DRIWR visitors center/trails/roads Development and implementation has involved hundreds of partners Concept was developed and adopted by partners in 2004
MONGUAGON DAYLIGHTING PROJECT
MONGUAGON DAYLIGHTING PROJECT BEFORE SUMMER 2009 DURING AFTER CONSTRUCTION SUMMER 2011
EMERGENT WETLAND DEVELOPMENT: 2012
SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT
SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT BEFORE FALL 2010 DURING APRIL 2011 AFTER CONSTRUCTION SUMMER 2011
Summer 2012
What s next? REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN: HAMILTON ANDERSON & ASSOCIATES
BOAT DOCK AND FISHING PIER Hoping to start in the next two years..
Net gain of 16 acres of wetlands, 25 acres of upland buffer habitat, invasive plant management across 50 acres and along 2.5 miles of shoreline Conservation Results in an Urban Environment Through Public-Private Partnerships Combining the Refuge Gateway and Humbug Marsh into one ecological unit protecting 454 acres of coastal habitat Create exceptional outdoor recreational and educational experiences
Refuge Gateway Partners Partners- numerous and varied! Governmental Partners Political Support: MI Congressman John Dingell MI Congressman John Conyers MI Senator Carl Levin MI Senator Debbie Stabenow Mayors from City of Trenton, MI City of Gibraltar, MI
Refuge Gateway Partners Partners- numerous and varied! Corporate and NGO Partners And Many Many More!
CASE STUDY #2 STURGEON RECOVERY IN THE DETROIT RIVER Threatened in both Michigan and Ontario
LAKE STURGEON POPULATION DECLINE IN LAKE ERIE AND THE DETROIT RIVER Lake Sturgeon (thousands of pounds) 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Year Michigan Ontario LAKE ERIE COMMERCIAL FISH CATCH IN MICHIGAN AND ONTARIO 1879-2000 Conservation Results Through Public-Private Partnerships
LAKE STURGEON - CONTINUED. In 2001, Lake Sturgeon spawning was documented in the Detroit River for the First time in over 40 years!
FIGHTING ISLAND STURGEON REEF Constructed in the fall of 2008 Successful reproduction documented in 2009, 2010, and 2012
First Joint Funded Canada-US Fish Habitat Restoration Project in the Great Lakes 4 TREATMENTS X 3 REPLICATES
16 PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS!
AUTO INDUSTRY SPORTS! DETROIT METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY MANUFACTURING PUBLIC ART AVAILABLE LAND
OUTDOOR RECREATION DETROIT METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY WILDLIFE OBSERVATION FISHING & HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES WETLAND CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL EDCUATION
The International Conservation Effort