What is a demonstration project?
The demonstration projects that have been developed by Macatawa Watershed Project serve as models for Best Management Practices (BMPs) needed to reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients in our waterways. These sites provide an opportunity to educate the community as to how BMPs are implemented. Demonstration sites offer a working model as a part of that education. Click here for a google map of all completed demonstration sites or if you prefer, an 11 x 17 map of demonstration sites more suitable for printing.
Noordeloos Creek Treatment Wetland Demonstration Site (2005)
Noordeloos Creek is a major tributary to the Macatawa River that flows through Olive, Holland and Zeeland Townships. The Macatawa Watershed Project secured funding through the a Great Lakes Commission Grant to help construct a treatment wetland on an 80± acre parcel in Holland Township owned by a private landowner. The Noordeloos Creek site includes design and construction of two separate wetland basins—a typical treatment wetland basin and a natural floodplain with deep pools—covering approximately five acres.
The site has been seeded and stabilized with a native wetland seed mix specially formulated for sediment removal. Successful completion of the project was made possible through the cooperation of the land owner, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the designer, the contractor, the Ottawa County Drain Commissioner and many volunteers. With the help of Hope College students and staff, research regarding the amount of sediment being trapped in relation to high rain fall and flooding events will be conducted. This project was funded by a Great Lakes Commision grant, with private and local match.
To learn more about this demonstration project, view the Noordeloos Creek BMP Demonstration Site Final Report, Noordeloos Poster, the Noordeloos Project Profile.
Smallenburg Park Urban Stormwater Demonstration Site (2004)
Smallenburg Park lies right in the heart of the City of Holland (Fairbanks Avenue and 16th Street). The Macatawa Watershed Project completed Phase 2 of an Urban Stormwater Demonstration Site along the Maplewood Drain which boders the park on two sides. Best Management Practices include rain gardens, floodplain shelving, a sedimentation basin, a wetland, a vegetative buffer and a swale. Thousands of native plants were added to the park. Area students are using the site for research projects and to learn plant identification. This project was funded by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality through a Clean Michigan Initiative Grant, the City of Holland, Hope College, and the MACC.
To find out what types of plants can be found at Smallenburg please consult the Smallenberg Park Maintenance Guide. For more information please review the Smallenburg Park Information Signor the Smallenburg Park Project Fact Sheet. . . .or visit the site and see for yourself!
Zeeland Public Schools Wetlands Demonstration Site (2002)
The Zeeland Public Schools Wetland Demonstration Site was one of the very first implementation projects completed by the MACC. The project was carried out in partnership with Mirant and Mead Johnson and funded through a grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Since its completion in 2002, the wetland demonstration site along the Brower Drain on Zeeland Public Schools (ZPS) property has provided a living classroom for ZPS students. The 2.1 acre wetland system, comprised of the east and west wetlands just south of Riley Street, makes for a wonderful walk. The wetlands class at ZPS wrote and published a ZPS Wetlands Trail Guide to help identify the wetland plants that are visible. Click here for an aerial view of the site.
The site was dedicated in May 2003 with a ribbon cutting ceremony that consisted of speeches by local Senator Wayne Kuipers, the Superintendent of ZPS, the MACC, the Watershed Project, and student representatives that were involved in the design, construction, and development of the site. ZPS was also named the “Watershed Stakeholder of the Year, 2003” and presented with an award during the ceremony.
Ottawa County Road Commission Storm Water Outfall Bioswale (2007)
This project was completed in partnership with the Ottawa County Road Commission with help from a Great Lakes Commission grant. Work was completed to repair a major erosion issue along the banks of Noordeloos Creek, being caused by flows from a storm water outfall conveying runoff from 104th Avenue and Chicago Drive in the City of Zeeland. The picture at the left depicts the severe bank erosion prior to the restabilization effort. The picture at the right depicts the reconstructed flow channel through a vegetated bioswale. For more information and project pictures please review the project fact sheet.
City of Zeeland Paw Paw Bridge Park Terraced Bioswale (2008)
This demonstration site was a storm water implementation project conducted in partnership with the City of Zeeland and funded by a grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality . The intention of the bioswale is to collect storm water runoff from Chicago Drive as well as surrounding sidewalk areas, and reduce potential erosion of the site’s steep slopes while providing some treatment prior to runoff entering nearby Noordeloos Creek. The bioswale meanders along the existing pathway and incorporates several satellite rain garden areas that feature native wetland species. A High Velocity Mulch Blanket was installed over the entire bioswale to help prevent erosion and encourage plant growth. A terraced rain garden and coir logs were installed at the steep slope leading to the stream to prevent erosion and to slow water velocities. To find out what types of native plants can be found at the site please consult the Paw Paw Bridge Park Maintenance Guide . For more information about this project please review the project profile.
City of Zeeland Street Maintenance Building Bioretention (2008)
This demonstration site was a storm water implementation project conducted in partnership with the City of Zeeland and funded by a grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality . The City of Zeeland streets maintenance facility ultimately drains to Brower Drain and had two stormwater detention ponds on site. The demonstration project converted one detention pond to a bio-retention or rain garden with native plantings making a great side-by-side comparison. This is a positive demonstration of how to replace the traditional stormwater pond with a water quality BMP, as well as showcase municipal commitment. The City of Zeeland was named the 2009 Watershed Stakeholder of the Year for showing its committment to storm water management through completion of these projects. To find out what types of native plants can be found at the site please consult the maintenance guide . For more information about this project please review the project profile.
Michigan Department of Tranportation Roadside Bioswale (2007)
This project was completed in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation with help from a Great Lakes Commission grant. In the upper part of the watershed, along westbound I-196 there was a storm water outfall that was experiencing significant erosion as it funneled storm water off the expressway and into a tributary to the Macatawa River. The goal of this highly visible demonstration site was to reduce soil erosion by stabilizing the stream bed and banks using a variety of bioengineering techniques. For more information about this project please review the project profile and more project photos.