A Transformed Landscape
Introduction
The land that is now Upper Macatawa Natural Area has seen tremendous change in the last 200 years. Virgin forest was felled to provide lumber for construction of homes and businesses for the growing immigrant population. Then, for over 100 years, agriculture dominated the river valley, utilizing the flat, rich soils to grow corn and other row crops. Agriculture also led to the draining of much of the floodplain and adjacent wetland areas and straightening the river.
Since 2000, however, efforts by Ottawa County Parks were focused on restoring the natural features of the site to enhance habitat for wildlife and provide a new open recreational space for the growing Holland and Zeeland population. This restoration effort included the site’s floodplain, with the goal of improving water quality and providing additional flood storage capacity. At the Upper Macatawa Natural Area, well over half of the total area is within the 100-year floodplain of the Macatawa River. This means that in any given year there is a one percent chance that the water will reach this level during a rain event. Many areas of this site flood more frequently, some even multiple times per year. Because these areas come in contact with river water, land use activities here can greatly affect the quality of water flowing through them.
At this site, multiple strategies have been used to improve both floodplain and upland areas to meet these new natural resource protection and enhancement goals.
Improving the Floodplain
Project Partners
The Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission would like to recognize and thank its many partners who have contributed to the success of this project. Without their involvement, a project of this scale and complexity would not have been possible.
In addition, the Commission recognizes and thanks the voters of Ottawa County who supported the County Parks Millage, a key source of funds for this project; the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, which made a special budget appropriation of $965,000 in 2003 to assist with land acquisition; the Ottawa County Drain Commissioner for lending support and expertise throughout the project; and the Ottawa County Road Commission for their cooperation and support in long-range planning for adjacent Road Commission lands.
A Diversity of Wetland Life
The wetland restorations at Upper Macatawa Natural area have benefitted many wetland-dependent species of wildlife, including a diversity of secretive marsh birds of conservation concern such as both American Bittern (listed as “special concern” in Michigan) and Least Bittern (listed as “threatened” in Michigan). Birders and wildlife enthusiasts have enjoyed this unique opportunity to experience this diversity of wetland life.
Photos: American Bittern (left) and participants of an Ottawa County Parks sponsored birding walk at Upper Macatawa Natural area admire the waterfowl utilizing the MDOT Wetland Mitigation site (right).
Come along on a bird walk at Upper Mactawa Natural Area with Naturalist Curtis Dykstra!
Park History
In the mid 1990’s, as Ottawa County Parks was beginning to focus on the County’s river corridors as the backbone of its green infrastructure efforts, the Macatawa Greenway Partnership was emerging as a voice for protection of green space in the Macatawa Watershed. Strategic planning efforts facilitated by the Greenway Partnership in 1999 identified the potential of the “upper” stretch of river in Zeeland Township as a possible location for a major conservation project which could address a variety of goals. First, the need to protect additional park and open space land in this fast-growing area was paramount. Second, there was growing recognition of the need for space to re-create wetlands to address water quality problems (i.e. phosphorous removal) as identified by the Macatawa Watershed Project. Third, downstream flooding was a widely recognized problem that could only be solved by creating flood storage in the upper stretches of river. And finally, development pressure was taking a toll on wildlife populations and planners saw the need to recreate habitat for a variety of animals.
While efforts were underway to launch an in-depth feasibility study for the conservation project, a key 76 acre parcel on 84th Avenue became available and Ottawa County Parks moved quickly to purchase the land in early 2000 using funds from the voter approved park millage. The consulting firm of J.F. New and Associates, then known as Resource Management Group, was hired in 2001 to conduct the feasibility study which strongly supported the assertion that restoration of wetlands and grasslands in the floodplain could achieve project goals. The late Gord Ellens, in his capacity as Zeeland Township Supervisor, played an important role in establishing the vision and making early landowner contacts which helped lead to acquisition of the 325 acre Geerlings Farm in 2003. This was a monumental achievement supported by many partners (see “partner recognition”) who had come forward by this time to assist in the large conservation project.
By 2004 the site had grown to 488 acres and funds were in place to begin first phase restoration efforts involving many partners in the creation of a mosaic of over 140 acres of emergent wetlands, scrub shrub wetlands, wooded wetlands and wet meadows. Efforts picked up speed from there and additional lands were acquired and a park master plan was approved for the 549 acre site in early 2006. Later in 2006 a major second phase wetland restoration project was initiated as were first phase park facility improvements. With these projects nearing completion in 2007, the Michigan Department of Transportation launched its wetland mitigation banking project to create nearly 20 acres of wetland east of 84th Avenue.
At the time of dedication in the spring of 2008, the 583 acre site provides a wide variety of restored habitats and a range of outdoor recreation opportunities including hiking, bird watching, picnicking, and many others. The project, while still far from completed, is testament to what can be accomplished when many partners work together toward a common vision.
