Audubon Society of Kalamazoo Program
November 23, 2015 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Chapter Event – Audubon Society of Kalamazoo – Michigan Wetlands Loss Mitigation
Monday, November 23, 7:30 PM
Michigan’s total wetland loss since 1978 is estimated at 41,000 acres, with the rate of decline slowing since then,” wrote Garret Ellison in the Kalamazoo Gazette, September 20, 2015. Eleven counties in eastern Michigan have lost 80% to 85% of their wetlands. Bird and wildlife habitat, water quality, and water level fluctuations are significantly impacted. What can be done about it?
Peter Wyckoff is a Biosystems and Agricultural Engineer who does wetland delineations, GPS surveys, and HydroCAD modeling to assist State or Federal road builders and land developers meet the requirements for reducing the impact, or to create compensation for the loss of wetlands. He is mitigating the loss of natural habitat to achieve a no net loss of wetlands habitat. What gets investigated? — Natural stream channel design, hydraulic engineering, and design of aquaponics systems. Pete will help us understand what that means. Because of the Federal Clean Water Act, development and construction projects that impact a wetland are required to mitigate the damage by creating a wetland of equal or greater functioning capacity. This is environmental habitat protection at the basics.
Pete’s work stretches through more states than Michigan, but he is a Michigan State graduate and works out of the Ducks Unlimited office in Ann Arbor, so he will have lots of Michigan stories to tell us.
You may remember Pete was scheduled to present this program last February. He became ill, and we had to call on Josh Haas to bring in a program at the last minute. Well, we get another chance to hear about this vital environmental issue.
Join us Monday, November 23, at People’s Church, 1758 North 10th Street, Kalamazoo. The program starts at 7:30 PM and is preceded by a social time with light refreshments at 7 PM. Guests and the general public are encouraged to attend. Handicap parking and access is at either the front or rear of the building. Please remember to bring your own coffee cup.
Contact: Larry Boutelle, 269-372-0678
