state of michigan's environment 2008the hunter harvest survey provides an indirect measure for...

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State of Michigan's Environment 2008:First Triennial Report

December 2008Part I: Environmental Measures

Michigan Department of Environmental QualityMichigan Department of Natural Resources

Constitution Hall 1st Floor NorthP.O. Box 30473

Lansing, Michigan 48909-7973

Prepared by KGH Environmental PLC

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State of Michigan's EnvironmentLegislative Charge (1999 Public Act 195):

Prepare a report that assesses the status of and trends related to the overall state of the natural environment in Michigan.

The report shall be based upon environmental indicators identified by the departments of environmental quality and natural resources (DEQ and DNR) and upon data obtained through sound scientific methodologies and processes.

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State of Michigan's EnvironmentGovernor’s January 28, 2000 Charge to the Michigan Environmental Science Board (MESB):

Review the list of DEQ and DNR proposed environmental indicators and evaluate each of the proposed indicators based on the following criteria:

Scientific basis for the use of the indicator as a measure of the quality of the environment (i.e., does the proposed indicator describe a measure of the natural environment); and

Utility of the indicator (i.e., what would it mean in terms of the quality of the environment if there is a change in the value of the indicator from one reporting period to the next).

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MESB July 2001 Report Recommendations

Of the indicators proposed by the DNR and DEQ, the MESB recommended that 21 be included in the biennial report on the state’s environment.

The MESB also recommended that the state begin to develop a monitoring protocol referred to as Master Stations in order to begin to systematically and consistently collect information on the state’s environment.

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Working Definitions Environmental Indicators are scientific, broadly based

measures designed to detect and track changes in the quality of the state’s ambient environment from one reporting period to the next.

Programmatic Measurements are measures that, while in and of themselves may ultimately detect a change in the overall quality of the environment, are designed more to assess how well a given regulatory program is functioning to correct or control more short-term or localized environmental problems.

Emerging Contaminants of Concern are newly recognized environmental chemicals and/or materials that are characterized by a perceived, potential, or real threat to human health or the environment or a lack of published health standards.

.

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Biennial Report Measurements

Environmental Measures [22]* Ecological Indicators (11) Physical/Chemical Indicators (11)

Programmatic Measures [20] Air Measures (4) Water Measures (7) Land Measures (9)

Emerging Contaminants [14]**___________* Fulfills the requirements of 1999 Public Act 195 and

2005 Public Act 313 ** Fourteen contaminants of concern are identified

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State of Michigan’s Environment 2008:First Triennial Report

Submitted to the Governor and Legislature December 2008

In addition to being widely distributed, the report was made available to every high school science teacher in the state to be used as teaching resource.

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PART I:Environmental

Measures

State of Michigan's Environment 2008:First Triennial Report

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Environmental Measures – Ecological Indicators

Trends in Land Use/CoverChanges in land cover can provide a useful indirect measure of trends in ecosystem health.Noticeable trends since the 1980s Include:

Increase in developed land Increase in forests Increase in suburban and urban areas Decrease in agricultural areas Continued decrease in wetlands

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Percent Change in Native Vegetation between the 1880s and 1990s: Lower Peninsula

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Percent Change in Native Vegetation between the 1880s and 1990s:Upper Peninsula

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In February 2003, the Governor of Michigan created the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council (Council).

The Council was charged with studying and identifying trends, causes, and consequences of urban sprawl and providing recommendations to the Governor and the state legislature designed to minimize the negative effects of current and projected land use patterns on Michigan’s environment and economy.

The Council’s report entitled, Michigan’s Land, Michigan’s Future: Final Report of the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council (Land Use Report), was released in August 2003.

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The Land Use Report, the Council called for the state tocomplete its natural features inventory and to update its1978 Michigan Resource Information System Current Inventory by completing a new round of aerial photography and land use/cover classifications.

The Land Use Report also called for the development of a report every five years that would evaluate the amount of farmland and forested lands that were in active production, the change in land cover by county, and the number of Michigan citizens housed each year in newconstruction.

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Trends Forest Acreage, Mortality, Growth and Removals

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

1935 1955 1966 1980 1993 2004

Acr

eag

e (

in 1

000x

Acr

es)

Vol

ume

(M

illio

n C

ubic

Fee

t)

Exhibit 8. Michigan Forest Acreage and Volume 1935 - 2004

Volume Forest Acreage

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Forest Acreage, Mortality, Growth and Removals

Michigan’s forests are maturing and are transitioning toward more shade-tolerant, later successional tree species.

Michigan’s Climax Forest: Beech-Maple-birch forest community increased by almost 1 million acres since 1980.

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Trends in Vegetation Diversity and Structure

This indicator measures forest under story diversity, richness, and vegetation structure.

The DNR systematically began collecting these data in 2001.

Overtime, this indicator will provide additional indices to wildlife habitat, plant diversity, soil conservation, and carbon cycling.

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Trends in Lichen Communities Lichens rely totally on the

atmosphere for nutrition.

Lichen community composition is a good indirect indicator of air pollution (e.g. for levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen).

The US Forest Service developed the lichen community indicator. To date, 29 lichen species have been identified in 240 plots in Michigan.

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Trends in Mammal Populations

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The DNR conducts an annual Winter Track Survey for gray wolves. The Winter Track Survey is completed after new snow events to identify individuals and packs.

The data collected since 1989 indicate a steadily increasing population of wolves in the state’s Upper Peninsula.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Min

imum

Wol

f Pop

ulat

ion

Estim

ate

Exhibit 12. Minimum Winter Wolf Population Estimates in the Upper Peninsula 1989 - 2007

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The Hunter Harvest Survey provides an indirect measure for tracking long-term population trends in small mammals.

The decline seen in this small mammal and others discussed in the Triennial Report is related, in part, to declines in hunter participation in the Hunter Harvest Surveys and in sales of small game licenses.

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

19

52

19

56

19

60

19

64

19

68

19

72

19

76

19

80

19

84

19

88

19

92

19

96

20

00

20

04

Hu

nte

r Ha

rve

st(N

um

be

r o

f A

nim

als

)

Exhibit 15. Hunter Harvest of Squirrels in Michigan 1952 - 2006

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Trends in Breeding Bird Populations

Grassland species and transitional species are declining in numbers.

Generalist species are increasing in numbers.

Declines in some species can be attributed to habitat fragmentation, loss of shrub and forest systems and development.

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-25-20-15-10-505

101520

Eas

tern

M

eado

wla

rk

Bob

olin

k

Ves

per S

parro

w

Hen

slow

's

Spa

rrow

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den-

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ged

War

bler

Will

ow F

lyca

tche

r

Yel

low

-bill

ed

Cuc

koo

Am

eric

an

Woo

dcoc

k

Hou

se F

inch

Nor

ther

n C

ardi

nal

Hou

se W

ren

Eas

tern

Blu

ebird

Per

cent

of C

hang

eExhibit 16. Breeding Bird Population Change

1980 - 2004

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Trends in Bald Eagle Populations and Contaminant Levels

This indicator set was included in the USEPA’s Report on the Environment

Annual census conducted since 1961. Data show that numbers are increasing and eagles are

successfully raising more young per pair.

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0.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.080.0

1961

1963

1965

1967

1969

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Perc

ent N

ests

with

You

ngExhibit 18. Success Rate for Occupied Bald Eagle

Nests 1961 - 2007

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Trends in Frog and Toad Populations

Thirteen native species of frogs and toads in Michigan.

Amphibians can serve as an index to environmental quality because they are sensitive to changes in water quality and land use practices.

Populations data have been collected by volunteers since 1996.

More years of data needed to discern long-term trends.

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Trends in Fish Populations and Contaminant Levels

Measurements:

Walleye in Lake Erie

Lake Trout in Lake Superior

Brook Trout in the Au Sable River System

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Walleye abundance has been cyclic since the late 1970s

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Walleye abundance is strongly related to annual variation in reproductive success

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Due to sea lamprey control, commercial fisheries restrictions and stocking of hatchery-raised fish, wild Lake Trout in Lake Superior have increased in abundance.

0.05.0

10.015.020.025.030.035.040.045.050.0

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Relat

ive Ab

unda

nce

of La

ke T

rout

Exhibit 25. Trends in Abundance of Wild and Hatchery Lake Trout in Michigan's Waters of Lake

Superior 1975 - 2007

Wild Lake Trout Hatchery Lake Trout

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Contaminants in Fish

Michigan collects and analyzes over 700 fish tissue samples from approximately 50 locations.

Since 1980, Michigan has collected and analyzed over 17,000 fish tissue samples from more than 800 locations.

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0

5

10

15

20

25

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Tota

l Con

cent

ratio

n (P

arts

per

Milli

on)

Exhibit 29. Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentration in Lake Trout from Four Great Lakes

1970 - 2000

Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Michigan Lake Ontario

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0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

1983 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

Tota

l Con

cent

ratio

n (P

arts

per

Mill

ion)

Exhibit 30. Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentration in Chinook Salmon Fillets from

Lakes Michigan and Huron 1983 - 1999

Lake Michigan Lake Huron

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Trends in Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species

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An Endangered species is one that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its range in Michigan.

A Threatened species is one that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range in Michigan.

A Special Concern species is one that is declining, but has not reached the level where legal protection would be considered under the Michigan Endangered Species Act.

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Exhibit 32. Numbers of Plants and Animals Considered Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern in Michigan 2007_______________________________________________________________________________Category Endangered Threatened Special Concern

Species Species Species_______________________________________________________________________________

Plants 51 210 110

AnimalsSnails 2 2 29Mussels 8 2 8Insects 8 11 75 Fish 8 7 11Amphibians 1 1 2Reptiles 2 2 6Birds 8 13 21Mammals 4 2 4Total Animals 41 40 156

___ ___ ____

Total Plant and Animals 92 250 266_______________________________________________________________________________Source: Michigan Natural Features Inventory, 2007.

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Frequency of Occurrence of Endangered, Threatened, andSpecial Concern Species in Michigan 2008


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Trends in Exotic Species

Over 200 aquatic and terrestrial exotic species are known to have been introduced into Great Lakes Basin since 1800.

Exotic species negatively impact native species by out competing them for food and habitat and disrupt ecosystem functions

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Locations of Emerald Ash Borer Michigan Infestations in Michigan

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Exhibit 34. Numbers of Known Exotic Terrestrial and Aquatic Plant, Animal, and Virus Species Introduced into the Great Lakes Basin 2008________________________________________________________________________________________Ecosystem Plant Species Animals Species Virus TotalType ________________________ _____________________________

Phytoplankton Vascular Invertebrates Insects Fish Birds________________________________________________________________________________________________Terrestrial -- 37 -- 7 -- 3 -- 47

Aquatic 27 60 68 2 26 -- 3 186

Total Species 27 97 68 9 26 3 3 233________________________________________________________________________________________________Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory: Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species List, March 2008. Center for Exotic Species, Michigan Technological University, April 2003. National Invasive Species Council, July 2007.

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Sources of EntryIntroductions

-101030507090

110130150170190

1800-1809

1810-1829

1830-1849

1850-1869

1870-1899

1900-1919

1920--1939

1940-1959

1960-1979

1980-1999

2000-2007

Cum

ula

tive N

um

ber

of S

pecie

s

Exhibit 36. Introduction of Exotic Aquatic Species into the Great Lakes 1800 - 2007

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Ballast Water Discharges into the Great Lakes

Primary source for aquatic exotic species entry into the Great Lakes is ballast water discharge.

A total of 21 types of control are being investigated to control entry – including the use of biocides.

Ballast water exchange at sea for ocean-going ships

Ballast water reporting is now taking place.

Creation of Aquatic Nuisance Species Council.

state of michigan's environment 2008the hunter harvest survey provides an indirect measure for...

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