Macatawa Area Coordinating CouncilFebruary 2017
Table of Contents
Agricultural Update: Funding Available
Park Township Public Transit Study Completed
Water Quality Dashboard
Holland City Sustainability Report
Agricultural Update: Funding Available!
The MACC is continuing its effort to engage the watershed’s farmers in a conversation about best management practices (BMPs) and the health of our waters. The MACC’s current Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant focuses efforts in the three highest priority sub-watersheds, Peter’s Creek, Upper Macatawa, and North Branch respectively. The MACC’s agricultural technician Rob Vink has been contacting growers in these areas to discuss cost share funding on a number of different BMP’s. Current qualifying practices include, but not limited to, gypsum application, planting of cover crops, and transitioning from conventional tillage to a reduced tillage or no-till system.
Park Township Public Transit Study Completed
Photo Credit: MAX Transit
Elected officials in Park Township were approached about providing public transit service to the residents of Park Township. The township board was willing to consider the request but acknowledged that they would need some data and other information in order to fully consider the request. Township leaders contacted the Macatawa Area Express (MAX), the local public transit provider about this need. MAX officials agreed to assist, but suggested that the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council lead the effort to which the MACC Board agreed.
A steering committee comprised of individuals from the township, MAX and MACC was formed and undertook an analysis based solely on service options that could be delivered by MAX under their current operating policies, hours and fares (to learn more about those please visit www.catchamax.org).
The service option selected for potential implementation would extend the MAX’s Reserve-A-Max service into all of Park Township allowing Park Township residents to travel to any point in the City of Holland, Holland Charter Township, City of Zeeland and Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital. Residents of those communities would in turn be able to travel to any location in Park Township.
The MACC was pleased to partner with these two members to complete this study. Look to future editions of the MACC Monthly for updates on the process of providing public transit to Park Township. To obtain a copy of the study report, contact the MACC office at 616-395-2688.
Water Quality Dashboard
Phosphorus levels in Lake Macatawa
The GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute recently released their 2016 Lake Macatawa dashboard report. This report summarizes water quality monitoring data collected in Lake Macatawa in 2016. This monitoring supports the efforts of Project Clarity, an initiative of the Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway to clean and restore Lake Macatawa.
The report includes not only data from 2016, but also from previous years for comparison. In general, scientists look for trends in the data. It is very difficult to draw conclusions from a single year. Water quality is affected by climatic factors such as temperature and rainfall, which can fluctuate from year to year. Overall, the trend in the data is positive indicating that over time, Lake Macatawa has been improving. However, we still have a long way to go to meet water quality standards that support healthy fish and other aquatic organisms.
Click to view the full 2016 water quality dashboard report. Specific questions about the dashboard report can be directed to the Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway: 393-9453 or odc@outdoordiscovery.org
Holland City Sustainability Report
A seven-pillar framework was used to help the city evaluate and make more sustainable choices. While it was understood that there were many metrics that could be used to report on sustainability in the community, the seven categories were selected to help continue the sustainability conversation. The Holland Hope College Sustainability Institute would like you to use the sustainability report to understand the broad topic of sustainability and how it can be applied to your business or personal life.
