Community Meeting August 24, 2016

Financial assistance for this project was provided, in part, by the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program, Office of the Great Lakes, Department of Environmental Quality, under the National Coastal Zone Management Program, through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Trail Master Plan Elements • • • • •

Perimeter Loop Trail Wet-mesic Flatwoods Water Trails On-Road Trails Iron Belle Trail Trailhead

Perimeter Loop Trail • • • •

Multi-use off road trail +/- 6 mile loop 10’ wide minimum Primarily located between road and water

• Analysis of existing conditions: – Minimal constraints – Some constraints/other areas – Extreme constraints

Perimeter Loop

Generally, adequate room

Proximity to shoreline

Perimeter Loop: Pinch Points +/- 18’

Key Map

South of Lake Tacoma Opposite Woodside Drive

Perimeter Loop: Pinch Points

+/- 12’

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U.S. Coast Guard Station

Perimeter Loop: Pinch Points

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Belle Isle Golf Course Belle Isle Golf Course (right) Belle Isle Nature Zoo (left)

+/- 11’

Perimeter Loop: Pinch Points

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+/- 18’

Detroit Yacht Club

Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Entry/Exit Zone

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Belle Isle Entry

Belle Isle Exit

Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – MacAurther Bridge

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Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Sunset Point

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Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Dossin Great Lakes Museum

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Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Belle Isle Beach

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Perimeter Loop Trail

• Adequate space around most of island • Options to consider at pinch points: – Impact to adjacent use – Switch trail to inside of loop road – Remove outer travel lane to accommodate multi-use trail separate from vehicles • Evaluate options for: – Trail alignment through Belle Isle entry/exit zone – Extension of trail to Sunset Point • Coordinate with Dossin and Beach to accommodate trail

Wet-Mesic Flatwoods

• Realize sensitivity to flatwoods unique hydrology and ecology • Inventories: – Existing roads – Abandoned roads – Existing trails – Historic trails

Wet Mesic Flatwoods

• Generally characterized by: – Relatively flat topography – Slowly permeable to impermeable soils – Seasonal hydrologic fluctuation • Associated with numerous rare plants and animals • S2 – Imperiled in the state due to restricted range and very few occurrences • Approx. 200 acres on Belle Isle • Protection of hydrology is critical to maintaining the integrity of wet-mesic flatwoods • DNR goals – Preserve/enhance flatwoods – Educate visitors about unique ecosystem

Slaughter, B.S., J.G. Cohen, and M.A. Kost. 2010. Natural community abstract for wet-mesic flatwoods. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 14 pp.

Wet Mesic Flatwoods

Lake Okonoka Habitat Restoration

• Connection to Great Lakes through Blue Heron Lagoon/Detroit River • Improved flow through lakes and canals • Hydrological analysis of wet-mesic flatwoods

Wet Mesic Flatwoods

Hydrological Analysis: Lake Okonoka Habitat Restoration • Historic hydrologic patterns • Barriers to historic hydrologic patterns

Wet Mesic Flatwoods: Existing Roads

Key Map

Central

Oakway

Wet Mesic Flatwoods: Old Roads

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Wildwood Pass (North from Central)

Wildwood Pass

(Drive to barn; north from Oakway)

Wildwood Pass (South from Oakway)

Wet Mesic Flatwoods: Old Roads

Key Map

Tanglewood Drive west of zoo

Tanglewood Drive at Central

Wet Mesic Flatwoods: Nashua Trail Trail

Key Map

• Pleasant loop through flatwoods and along Nashua Canal • Pavement in poor condition throughout • Overgrown in some locations • Evaluate path as barrier to surface flow

Wet Mesic Flatwoods: Nashua Trail Bridges

• Appear structurally sound (although not inspected) • Overgrown with vegetation • Not ADA compliant • West bridge is part of loop trail • East bridge leads to overgrown trail West bridge

East bridge

Path north of east bridge

Wet Mesic Flatwoods: Historic Trails Historic Trails

• Shown as brown, dashed lines • Although no longer in use, and mostly overgrown, they represent locations of fill that potentially block surface flow

Wet-Mesic Flatwoods Summary

• DNR goals – Preserve/enhance flatwoods – Educate visitors about unique ecosystem • Any future trails would be developed to improve hydrology for native species • Continued maintenance required to remove invasive species (volunteer opportunities) • Refer to hydrological study in future phase of trail design in the flatwoods (timeframe TBD).

Water Trails

• Combination of Detroit River Heritage Water Trail and canals • Consider combined trailhead locations where possible

from Detroit Heritage River Water Trail Vision Plan

Kayaks launching at beach

Nashua Canal

EZ Dock – ADA access

Nashua Canal

On-Road Bike Lanes

• On-road bike lanes surround island primarily on inside of loop road • Opportunity to discuss functionality; are any changes needed? • Consider relationship to perimeter loop trail

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead Options

Consider:

– Proximity to bridge – Day/overnight parking – Restrooms w/ potable water – Message/wayfinding kiosk – Use of existing facilities – Short term/long term implementation

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead A: Detroit Boat Club

Key Map

Pros: Cons:

Close to bridge Ample existing parking Potential for a combined Iron Belle Trail/Detroit Heritage River Water Trail trailhead Somewhat circuitous vehicular access from bridge Requires major building improvements at boat club or separate trailhead/restroom facilities

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead B: Police Station

Key Map

Police Station Pros:

Cons:

Combine with future Welcome Center; centralized programming Adequate space to provide more parking Near the nucleus of Island attractions Potential for use of Bear Pit as restroom Requires building improvements or separate trailhead/restroom facilities

Bear Pit

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead C: Old Belle Isle Zoo

Key Map

Pros: Cons:

Potential to generate new use(s) for zoo (e.g. outdoor adventure center) Adequate space to provide more parking Near the nucleus of Island attractions Requires master plan to determine use(s); significant task Requires building improvements or separate trailhead/restroom facilities

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead D: Belle Isle Athletic Pavilion (former Bicycle Pavilion)

Key Map

Pros:

Cons:

Relatively easy to find Ample existing parking Historical relationship to bicycling on Belle Isle Potential Nashua Trail trailhead Potential to interpret ecology of flatwoods Requires building improvements at pavilion or separate trailhead/restroom

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead E: Combined with Future Kayak Vendor

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Pros:

Cons:

Relatively easy to find Ample existing parking Potential for a combined Iron Belle Trail/Detroit Heritage River Water Trail trailhead Potential to interpret ecology of flatwoods Requires building improvements or separate trailhead/restroom facilities

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead F: Woodside Drive

Key Map

Pros:

Cons:

Relatively easy to find Existing restrooms Integrate trailhead planning into Lake Okonoka Habitat Restoration/Woodside Drive improvements Potential for a combined Iron Belle Trail/Detroit Heritage River Water Trail trailhead Potential Nashua Trail trailhead Potential to interpret ecology of flatwoods Requires trailhead/restroom facilities

Iron Belle Trail Trailhead G: Blue Heron Lagoon Parking Lot

Key Map

Pros:

Cons:

Relatively easy to find Ample existing parking Represents furthest eastern point on island (i.e. IBT reaches across MI) Potential to interpret integration of Great Lake water from Blue Heron Lagoon into Lake Okonoka Potential for a combined Iron Belle Trail/Detroit Heritage River Water Trail trailhead Potential Nashua Trail trailhead No existing structures; requires trailhead/restroom facilities

Summary Stations: – Perimeter Loop Trail – Wet-Mesic Flatwoods – Iron Belle Trail Trailhead – Composite Analysis Looking for your thoughts on: – Perimeter loop trail – Best location for trails and IBT trailhead – How would you use the trails