Case Study: Trapp Farm Preserve Wetland Restoration

Benzie County, Michigan

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy's (GTRLC) Trapp Farm Preserve is within the 1.6 mi² watershed of the North Branch of Cold Creek (NBCC), and 3.9 mi² watershed of the Middle Branch Cold Creek (MBCC) that drains to Crystal Lake in Benzie County, Michigan. The NBCC is comprised of two (2) main branches that are perennial, and several unnamed ephemeral branches. Much of the NBCC that flows through the Trapp Farm Preserve was straightened and deepened to facilitate the historic drainage of pre-settlement wetlands for agricultural uses.

Grobbel Environmental & Planning developed, designed and proposed the wetland restoration plan. It proposes hydraulic modifications to NBCC within the 124-acre Trapp Farm Preserve to:

1. Remove exotic species through seasonal flooding;
2. Reduce downstream flooding; and
3. Re-establish original wetland conditions. For the purposes of this plan, three (3) areas have been defined as wetland restoration areas. The three sites selected for wetland restoration and hydrologic modification are in areas with poor fisheries habitat, and good potential for wetland restoration based on soil type, hydrology, and topography.

This project is currently under review by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Construction is planned for the Summer of 2007.