September 5, 2001

Power lunch

Watershed Center event examines island projects

By GARRET LEIVA
Herald editor
       Going out to lunch during the workday is hardly unusual. Eating your bologna sandwich on a remote island in West Grand Traverse Bay is another story.
      Participants in the Watershed Center's brown bag luncheon recently had a chance to take an extended lunch hour on Power Island. While the luncheon served as a roundtable discussion, it also provided a glimpse at upgrades on the 200-acre county park.
      "Most of the people gathered here have a professional interest in the environmental affairs of the region, including the watershed," noted John Hagen, development director of the Watershed Center.
      Taking part in last month's Power lunch were representatives from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Traverse City Light and Power, Council of Governments, Grand Traverse County Health Department and Conservation District. Other attendees included Grand Traverse Bay Power Squadron - which provided accesses to the island located five miles north of Traverse City- and Watershed Center charter club members.
      Providing roundtable discussion- even around a square picnic table- is an important aspect of these monthly luncheons.
      "We want to make sure people are aware of these environmental resources and what we are doing to protect them through baseline studies of habitat and conditions," Hagen said.
      Examining the water surrounding Power Island, Bill Arnold presented an in-depth look below the surface of Grand Traverse Bay. The study, financed by the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund, features detailed mapping of the bay's habitat and water quality. The project used color aerial photos to study substrates and plant life as indicators of the overall health of Grand Traverse Bay.
      "By setting a baseline of these features and habitats, we can do additional mapping and measure changes related to new influences such as zebra mussels," said Arnold, managing director of Meridian Geographic.
      Also showcased during the luncheon were the improvement projects on Power Island. Beginning last August, the county embarked on upgrading the park with the help of a $38,000 state grant. The island has been a county park since 1975. Back then, about $25,000 was spent to establish the trails, clearings, benches, restrooms and stairs recently upgraded.
      The improvement projects included: a handicapped accessible dock; new interpretive signs and benches and fire pit area; a 900-foot trail that can accommodate wheelchairs from the dock area to an observation platform; several staircases; an elevated walkway over a wetland and new restrooms.
      The labor-intensive project was completed over two summers by public work crews from Camp Pugsley, a minimum-security prison near Kingsley. Wally Chappel of the Grand Traverse Soil and Water Conservation District said the "logistical nightmare" of bringing crews and construction material by barge to the island was well worth any extra effort.
      "This is a great resource, the only island in the bay," noted Chappel, Parkland Coordinator.