English

Abstract

A pond rehabilitation and environmental educational project were proposed by Cliffs Michigan Mining Company (CMMC) and approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as partial fulfillment of conditions for a stream mitigation permit. The goals of the project were the rehabilitation of a pond on a tributary of a local trout stream, enhancement of public access and appreciation, and the initiation of a site-based environmental education curriculum dealing with aquatic and riparian ecosystems. CMMC undertook a suite of actions to rehabilitate the fresh water pond created by an underground mining operation in 1912 and make accessible to local schools the aquatic and riparian ecosystems of the pond. The rehabilitated pond and riparian zone also provides an accessible natural area available to citizens of the nearby town for such activities as hiking, biking, walking, fishing and nature study. The project was a partnership with the local governmental unit and local school districts. Vegetative enhancement included the planting of native shrubs and wildflowers along with showy herbaceous plants in the pond, on the riparian fringe and the surrounding area. A signed interpretive trail was designed and developed around the pond. Local schools built and installed picnic tables, benches and a kiosk. CMMC developed pond lesson plans and a teaching kit tied to the Michigan Curriculum Framework and hosted a workshop for teachers from nine local schools. Classes regularly utilize the pond during the school year by conducting environmental studies. Nesting boxes, wildflower gardens, bat houses, frog deformity surveys and water quality studies are a few of the activities that have been conducted at the pond. Additional