State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Clean Water Revolving Funds:
Strategic Water Quality Initiative Fund (SWQIF).
Project Plan - Benzonia and Lake Townships, Benzie County.
II. PROJECT BACKGROUND
E. Population Data
Attachment viii: 2000 and 1990 Decennial Censuses Benzonia Township and:
Attachment ix: 2000 and 1990 Decennial Censuses Lake Township
[Source: 2006-Pop-Estimate-MI-ComponentsOfChange.pdf - full PDF available here
Northwest Michigan Council of Governments]
F. Environmental Setting
1. Cultural Resources
The history of Benzie County is tied to both its original indigenous inhabitants and their subsequent displacement by 19th century european settlers who harvested northern Michigan’s native forests.
Little remains of these original forests. That period of bustling economic activity is recorded in the much beloved memoir of Benzonia native, and celebrated historian, Bruce Catton in “Waiting For The Morning Train.”
Transportation and settlement followed the lumber companies. The railroads and shipping terminals are gone, replaced with ‘rails-to-trails’ systems and recreation marinas. Though Catton’s Benzonia Academy survives, it now houses a public library. The largest concentration of 19th and early 20th century buildings fall outside the municipal jurisdictions of this study area. However, although not Listed, several of the proposed participating lake side structures within the service areas are considered classic examples of northern Michigan ‘cottage’ style seasonal homes.
There are no structures or sites within the Benzonia Township study area listed on either the State or National Historic Register.
In Lake Township, Point Betsie Light Station is National Register Listed. The Pointe Betsie Light Station was constructed in 1858 with a thirty-seven foot tower attached to the keeper's dwelling. The light was not automated until 1983, making it the last manned light station on the east coast of Lake Michigan.
Of historic significance for Crystal Lake, is the 1873 attempt to connect a channel to Lake Michigan. The event and result is noted here on a plaque located at Warren Road, north of the Lake.
[Source:
State of Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries
BENZIE COUNTY 2020 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Full version is available at
http://www.benzieco.net/dept_planning.htm
2. The Natural Environment
a. Climate
Also see statistics listed on Frankfort-Elberta Chamber of Commerce web site at: http://www.frankfort-elberta.com/climate.html
From National Climatic Data Center (US Dept. of Commerce)
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html
Beulah 7ssw
Beulah, MI, United States
Average Annual Rainfall: 32 inches
Average Annual Snowfall: 128 inches (-55 +76, 1978-2000)
Seasonal conditions will affect both the construction phase of this project and the suitability of systems chosen.
In normal winter conditions, working on septic systems is debatable from December - March. Movement of heavy equipment is limited during the thaw period of late March-early April due to imposition of ‘Frost Laws’ to protect area road surfaces.
b. Air Quality: Though previously under USEPA scrutiny as above normal non compliant air quality readings have been recorded - recent rulings have determined the source does not derive from Benzie County.
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
May 8, 2007 Contact Robert McCann (517) 241-7397
DEQ Request to Redesignate 16 Counties Finalized. Counties Are Meeting Federal Ozone Standards
The Department of Environmental Quality announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its approval of the DEQ’s request to redesignate 16 Michigan counties to attainment of federal health-based standards for ozone air pollution.
The EPA’s action certifies that these counties are meeting the eight-hour outdoor air quality standards for ozone, commonly referred to as smog. Elevated ozone concentrations can cause breathing problems, especially for children, people with lung disease, and those who work or exercise outdoors for prolonged periods.
The redesignation covers Huron, Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Kent, Ottawa, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, Muskegon, Mason, Benzie, Genesee, and Lapeer counties and will take effect immediately.
Redesignation to attainment status more accurately reflects air quality conditions in the 11 counties and will remove a disincentive for economic growth. Federal guidelines make it more difficult to open a new manufacturing facility, or expand an existing one, in a nonattainment county because of restrictions on air permitting in those counties.]
c. Wetlands: See Attachment ii: Location map of Lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands
d. Coastal Zones:
A significant portion of Lake Township falls within the boundaries of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. See: http://www.nps.gov/slbe/
To date only one prospective participating property owner has been identified in this area.
e. Floodplains: See Attachment vii: Water Resource mapping. see http://gis1.msc.fema.gov and query Benzie County, Benzonia and Lake Townships
[Source:]
Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Science, Research and Outreach Services.
Department of Geography. Michigan State University.
www.rsgis.msu.edu/
also by querying layer data for Benzonia and Lake Township at:
http://gwmap.rsgis.msu.edu/viewer.htm
f. Natural or Wild and Scenic Rivers
The Betsie River is designated a Natural River by the State of Michigan DNR
See: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31431_31442-95764--,00.html
Included on the accompanying CD-ROM is a PDF of the Full Text Betsie River Plan
A portion of south Benzonia Township falls within this area.
g. Major Surface Waters: See Attachment ii: Location map of Lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands
h. Recreational Facilities: See Attachment v: Location map of Parks and recreational areas.
i. Topography
Attachment x: Topographic mapping and imagery.
j. Geology: Attachment xi
k. Soils: United State Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Web Soils Survey
See: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov
Attachment xii. Also see: BenzieCo_Soils_WW_Class.pdf on CD_ROM
m. Fauna and Flora.
[Source: Michigan Natural Features Inventory. State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Benzie County Open Space and Natural Resources Protection Plan: APPENDIX G
Potential Threatened and Endangered Species by Landtype Association in Benzie County (over both the Newaygo Outwash Plain and Manistee Subsections that cover Benzie County)
Full Plan is available on accompanying CD-ROM
©2007 NWMOWTF