Business tri-fold brochure (Civic design)

Watershed Management Plan
A watershed management plan is a way for communities to identify threats to water resources. Once identified the plan is essential in addressing these issues. By working together with the community and its’ stakeholders these water resources can be improved and receive continued monitoring and management.
The Calhoun Conservation District (CCD) was awarded a SAW (Stormwater, Asset Management, & Wastewater) grant to update the original management plan from 1998. This update will allow a complete review of the conditions of the creek as well as future project identification.
The CCD is excited about the future projects that will present themselves through this update. The goals for this project are to identify the areas of highest concern and implement practices to improve those situation, along with starting community education programs and volunteer projects.

Nottawa Creek Intended uses
Fishing
Hunting
Canoeing/Kayaking
Swimming
Watering Lawn/Garden
Well Water/Household Supply
Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife Watching
Mushrooming/foraging
Agriculture / Irrigation
Drainage

Calhoun Conservation District
13464 Preston Drive
Suite 120
Marshall, MI 49068
District E-mail: CalhounCD@gmail.com
Kayla Wright
Watershed Coordinator
E-Mail: kwright.calhouncd@gmail.com

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry”
Thomas Fuller

Nottawa Creek Watershed

Nottawa Creek Watershed
The Nottawa Creek Watershed covers 178 square miles in south central lower Michigan. The majority of the watershed is in Calhoun county, but also has small sections in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Branch counties. The Nottawa creek watershed drains into the St. Joseph watershed, which drains into Lake Michigan.
The watershed has many uses and benefits for the local community. Agriculture is the predominate type of land use for the area. Many farmers depend on the creek for irrigation and drainage. The creek has received a reputation as only being usable for farming, but that is not true. There are many other uses for the creek, as seen on the next page.

Agriculture
Within the Nottawa Creek watershed agriculture is the predominant land use. Highly permeable soils and shallow water tables within the watershed increase it’s sensitivity to pollutants.
In general, agriculture can be linked to several water quality issues. Streambank erosion, nutrient and pesticide run-off, and livestock access to waterways are some of our main concerns.
While agriculture raises several concerns, there are ways to work together to improve the relationship between the waterway and the agricultural land. Limiting livestock access to the creek and proper fertilizer and pesticide uses are both very important for watershed health. There are also many programs offered through the National Recourses Conservation Services and the Farm Services Agency that are meant to aid in the conservation of the land and water.
Through increased knowledge and partnerships the health of the watershed can be improved for all uses.

REcreation
Nottawa Creek Watershed contains a golf course, parks and campgrounds. With recreational activities being one of the main uses of the watershed it is important that the water quality be monitored and managed.
Currently, the only part of the creek that is navigable is south of Athens. Cleaning up the creek to make it more suitable and accessible for recreational activities are some intended projects for Nottawa Creek.
By increasing the accessibility to the creek we will also increase the public’s awareness about the creek. This will be important for raising future funding and getting volunteers to help with projects.
A long term goal would be for Nottawa Creek to be navigable from the St. Joseph river to Nottawa Lake.