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’
Key Map
U.S. Coast Guard Station
Perimeter Loop: Pinch Points
Key Map
Belle Isle Golf Course Belle Isle Golf Course (right) Belle Isle Nature Zoo (left)
+/- 11’
Perimeter Loop: Pinch Points
Key Map
+/- 18’
Detroit Yacht Club
Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Entry/Exit Zone
Key Map
Belle Isle Entry
Belle Isle Exit
Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – MacAurther Bridge
Key Map
Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Sunset Point
Key Map
Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Key Map
Perimeter Loop: Other Areas – Belle Isle Beach
Key Map
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
• 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
Key Map
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
• 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
Key Map
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
Aug 24, 2016 - South of Lake Tacoma. Perimeter Loop: Pinch Points. Key Map. +/- 18'. Page 5 of 32. CM #1 2016 0824 Final.pdf. CM #1 2016 0824 Final.pdf.
(-eBook-) Graph Paper Notebook with 1 cm squares 120 pages: Notebook not Ebook ... An ebook is an electronic model of a classic print guide that may be go ...