Grants: Wildlife Stewardship

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Fish Point Wetland Restoration

November 1997

DU partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to improve habitat for shore birds, tundra swans, and blue-winged teal by restoring wetland and prairie areas at the Fish Point Wildlife Area. The restoration included 15 acres of shallow water marsh, 40 acres of moist soil wetland and 9 acres of lake plain prairie. These birds are prized by bird watchers. The site is ideal for bird watching because adjacent parking areas serve it. A wheel-chair accessible blind on the site can be used for photography and barrier-free hunting. DU completed a substantial portion the restoration during the summer of 1998 and a public dedication was held in the Fall of 1998. DU installed the last water control structure in Spring 1999.

Regional Marketing (of watershed to bird watchers)

November 1997

This project was developed to improve awareness of birding opportunities in the Saginaw Bay Watershed, and to insure that the region receives its share of the $521 million spent on bird watching in Michigan each year. A regional birding brochure was developed and sent to members of the American Birders Association throughout the Great Lakes states and in Texas, was distributed to Michigan Welcome Centers, and provided to local convention and visitors’ bureaus and businesses that serve birders. WIN member Ron Weeks developed a website that promotes birding in the watershed. The address of the site is www.saginawbaybirding.org. The website is now maintained by an avid birder from Bay City. The final element of the marketing campaign is the development and placement of advertisements in key birding magazines. WIN’s new Marketing Task Group has developed and placed the advertisements in the spring, summer and winter 2000 issues of Bird Watchers Digest, Birder’s World and WildBird.

Birding Platforms

November 1997

This funding was provided to improve birding facilities in the watershed. Two new platforms were to be constructed and the existing platform at Nayanquing Point was to be improved. The improvements at Nayanquing Point were completed in 1998. The new platforms were to be located at the Crow Island State Game Area and in Tobico Marsh at the Bay City State Recreation Area. The Tobico Marsh platform is discussed below. The Birding Task Group encountered difficulties at Crow Island because of concerns raised by the Saginaw County Road Commission and by Consumers Energy Corporation due to road and utility right of ways. The Task Group received permission to use the $6,000 provided for the Crow Island platform for a platform at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. That platform was completed in the Winter of 1998.

West Genesee Natural Area

The City of Lapeer has carefully planned for a 35 acre natural area within its city limits at the site of the former Lapeer State Home. This plan was developed by the City of Lapeer and a volunteer citizens committee. The primary purpose of the project was to preserve habitat and make the site available for wildlife and ecology education. Specifically, the project involved the expansion of wetlands, the installation of a boardwalk, and the installation of an observation deck and mound. The site is adjacent to an SVSU charter school, and is a short walk from Mott University.

Nayanquing Point East Marsh Enhancement Phase 3

This project was the third and final phase of a plan to enhance the Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area’s (near Linwood) 298-acre East Marsh for wildlife habitat and public use. The phase 3 program involved the installation of screw down flap gates on the two existing 36” tubes through the dike at the East Marsh. The addition of these gates allows water levels to fluctuate naturally with the level of Saginaw Bay, while at the same time allows for the containment of water in the unit during low water, or expected low water conditions.

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