Lake St. Clair Coastal Wetland Restoration

Macomb County applied for and received a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant to restore nearly 500 acres of coastal Great Lakes Marsh along Lake St. Clair at Lake St. Clair (Metro Beach) Metropark in Harrison Township, MI. This imperiled ecosystem had been severely degraded over time by hydrological manipulation, sediment accumulation, and invasive species infestation, which had led to monocultures of invasive Phragmites and narrow-leaved cattail and decreased sightings of rare flora and fauna. The project goals included the following tasks:

• Restored wetland hydrology
• Eradicated invasive plant species
• Restored habitat components for native fauna
• Educated the public on the threat of invasive species and the importance of Great Lakes coastal wetlands

ASTI managed the entire project, including fiduciary responsibilities of managing the grant. ASTI oversaw construction and the pre- and post-restoration monitoring. ASTI also conducted wetland delineations, endangered species surveys, and performed water quality modeling for various components of the project.

In addition, several adjacent properties containing significant wetland were purchased to be included in the park. ASTI conducted the Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, wrote Baseline Environmental Assessments, and Due Care Plans for the acquired properties, as needed. And, finally, ASTI performed soil testing on a large stockpile of soil in order to determine appropriate disposal.