Forest Dunes Development

As most readers probably know, a residential development with major golf facilities is underway on the former South Branch Ranch property. The property is located just west of Chase Bridge Road and north of Thayer Creek and the South Branch Road. This is very close to the Mason Tract. The name of this development is Forest Dunes and the final plan is for two eighteen-hole golf courses and 1200 plus residences. The evelopment is planned in several phases.

In response to many environmental concerns arising from such a project, especially in such proximity to the Mason Tract and the South Branch of the Au Sable, several organizations formed a coalition to monitor the development. The interested groups are The Anglers of the Au Sable, Michigan Trout Unlimited, and the Au Sable River Property Owners Assn. The goal of the coalition was not to stop the project but to try to ensure that all environmental concerns were addressed and scrutinized carefully and that the developer did everything possible to minimize the adverse effects of the project, especially on the Mason Tract and the South Branch of the Au Sable.

One of the primary concerns arising from the close proximity to the South Branch is the possibility that the proposed water withdrawal from the aquifer (through wells to be drilled by Forest Dunes) would have serious impact on the warm water lake. (See article by Dick Daane this issue). The fact that the South Branch is cool enough to be a very viable trout habitat is due to many tributaries that enter downstream from Lake St. Helen, but even more so, to the tremendous volume of spring water seeping into the river. The temperature of many of the tributaries is quite warm, partially due to a density of beaver dams, while the temperature of the ground water seepage and springs is about fifty-five degrees.

A study has shown that thirty percent of the terminal volume of the South Branch is gained between Chase Bridge and Smith Bridge. Although some of this volume is from the tributaries such as Thayer Creek, Douglas Creek and Sauger Creek, a large percentage is from cold spring seepage from the aquifer. This is born out by the fact that the South Branch water temperature is one to two degrees cooler at Smith Bridge than at Chase Bridge. If the water withdrawals from Forest Dunes were to lower the aquifer in such a manner as to reduce the volume of the springs and seepage, there is the definite possibility that the temperature of the South Branch would rise enough to destroy one of the most precious and unique trout streams in Michigan.

The ground water study for Forest Dunes was due in early spring but was delayed and finally dated July 21, 1997. The Crawford County Planning Commission was to meet on August 6th. The coalition had urged the Planning Commission to take the maximum amount of time to receive input and to fully review the potential impact of the development but it was believed that they would act at the August meeting.

The engineering firm of MacNamee, Porter and Seeley of Ann Arbor had been contacted to review the Forest Dunes Water Supply Investigation Report prepared by Forest Dune's engineers and as soon as MacNamee engineers and geologists received the Forest Dune study they prepared a review.

On July 31, a meeting of the coalition representatives and MP&S experts was held at Gate's Lodge. After a detailed review and discussion of MP&S's comments on the Forest Dune study it was decided that MP&S would prepare a summary of their review and present it to the Crawford County Planning Commission at the August 6th meeting. Members of the coalition would also speak to the Commission.

Some of the concerns of the MP&S review are:

The Forest Dune report used an average of a seven months watering season. This neglects the effect of higher usage during the peak season.
There was considerable uncertainty in the Forest Dune calculated values of aquifer transmissivity and stortivity.
Calculated "surpluses of water" available to the ground water system may not be available in late summer, the critical time for the river.
Ground water flow direction and gradient used in the study may be in error.
There was very little research or study dealing with the impact on the river.

Based on the above and other concerns it was urged that the Planning Commission require the developer to:

Perform additional water level monitoring to determine the direction and gradient of ground water flow.
Information on ground water flow direction and gradient should be used with peak withdrawal rates.
A monitoring well program should be required to establish current conditions and to evaluate impacts of the development.
Monitoring should occur at both the development boundary and along the river.
Require remedial actions if monitoring data show that adverse impacts are observed.

The Planning Commission approved the first phase of the development without requiring any of the above. They did, however, agree to the formation of a committee of concerned citizens to monitor the development. The coalition hopes to be an integral part of this committee. RWOL

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