Sandusky Bay Restoration Strategic Plan Plan Presentation Sandusky - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 Sandusky Bay Restoration Strategic Plan Plan Presentation – Sandusky City Commission City of Sandusky, Ohio July 8, 2019  Overview & Purpose of Sandusky Bay Restoration Initiative  Bay Problems Needing to be Fixed  Restoration Strategies  Recommended Tier 1 Priority Projects  SB Plan Benefits

2 Understanding of Sandusky Bay

3 Sa Sandusky Bay Th Threats Herbivory Sediment/ Invasive Nutrient Plants Loadings` Land Use High Water Changes/ Levels Activities Hardened Water Shoreline Activities Turbidity/ Sandusky Hazardous Hydrologic Algae Modification Bay Blooms

4 Sa Sandusky Bay Th Threats – Pla lanktothrix ix Planktothrix Slide

5 SB Strategic Restoration Initiative SBI OEPA/USEPA – Nutrient Reduction & 9- Element Plan City of Sandusky – Beneficial re-use of sediments SB Monitoring & Integrated Assessment – BGSU, Kent State, UT Landscape Conservation – 2 Projects Nature-based Shoreline and Coastal Wetlands. The Nature Conservancy – Muddy Creek Bay Assessment ODNR/City of Sandusky - SB Strategic Restoration Plan Source: ODNR – Coastal Management Program

6 Total Phosphorus Modeling EFDC Model – Animation of Dec 2015 Event for TP Sou ource: Tetra Tech 2019

7 Annual Net Phosphorus Loadings - 2015 Simulated Flux of Total Phosphorus in 2015 Flows and loads moving from river towards lake and from lake towards river, vary 225 MT 270 MT 460 MT 472 MT

8 Annual Net Loadings - 2017 Simulated Flux of Total Phosphorus in 2017 Flows and loads moving both from river towards lake and from lake towards river, vary daily 39 MT 440 MT 709 MT 660 MT

9 Annual Nutrient Load Sources Total Phosphorus Total Nitrogen Source: Tetra Tech 2019

Exis xisting Wetland Resources 10 Photo Credits: USACE 2012

11 SBI Restoration Strategies • In-water island features • Located to reduce fetch, seiche effects, system energy Large - Scale Physical • Extensive alteration of bathymetry Transformation Strategy • High cost to construct • Requires additional detailed evaluation to assess feasibility • Focused on Bay diked and undiked wetlands infrastructure Existing Wetland • Modify to enhance water exchange, water quality/habitat Infrastructure benefits Modification/Enhancement • Opportunity to address nutrients in runoff (treatment) Strategy • Requires finger printing opportunities (unique hydrology, etc.) • Involves wetland creation, nature-based, and other passive solutions. Nearshore Functional • Adjacent to existing shoreline Improvement Strategy • Access from land primarily (water side likely) • Moderate to high cost.

12

13 Possible Restoration Opportunities

14 Tier 1 Recommended Projects 3 2 5 1 6 9 4 7 & 8 1. Muddy Creek Bay 4. Area 3A & 3B 7. & 8 Chippewa Creek (East & West) 2. Western Bay Islands 5. Standing Rush 9. Racoon Creek 3. Cedar Point Causeway 6. Willow Point

15 Tier 1 Project Benefits

16 SBI Tier 1 Recommended Projects Muddy Creek Willow Creek Western Islands Standing Rush Pickerel Creek - Pickerel Creek - East Racoon Creek West

17 Western Bay Islands

Restoration Approaches 18 Passive Living Berm Active Living Shoreline

19 SBI Benefits • Much better understanding of Sandusky Bay problems and solutions. • Nine (9) Tier 1 projects recommended to reduce sediment resuspension , improve water clarity and quality , and improve habitat for fish and wildlife . • Public and private restoration funds are required in the Bay and Sandusky River Watershed. • Project implementation will take place over 10 years or more. • Concepts will likely change in response to additional engineering studies required to advance projects to construction.

Contact Information & Project Funder Contact Information: Tom Denbow, tdenbow@biohabitats.com Aaron Klein, P.E. Public Works Director, City of Sandusky 216.906.5566 Tom Denbow, Project Manager & Senior Scientist, Biohabitats, Inc. Joe Berg, CERF, Senior Ecologist, Biohabitats, Inc. Jessica Norris, Scientific Technical Writer, Biohabitats, Inc. Justin Parks, Conceptual Plans, Biohabitats, Inc. Usama Saied, Senior Coastal Engineer, W.F. Baird & Associates Reiner Tromp, Hydraulic Engineer, W.F. Baird & Associates Rachel Hague, GIS, W.F. Baird & Associates Funding Provided by : Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management, Sandusky, Ohio Dr. Scudder Mackey, Chief