The Watershed Center Appoints a Full-time Baykeeper to Help Residents Protect Grand Traverse Bay

Oct. 2, 2002

Our region has been blessed with an abundance of water, which for many is what draws us here to live year ‘round. In particular, Grand Traverse Bay is thought to have the highest water quality of any of the larger bays on Lake Michigan. With the Great Lakes containing approximately 18 percent of the world‘s freshwater supply, protecting its purity is of utmost importance. Yet, the draw of its beauty brings with it an influx in population, opening a sort of Pandora‘s box. Increased developmental pressure means that more natural resources need protection. Yet, we now have hope in the name of a newly appointed Grand Traverse Baykeeper, John A. Nelson.
What is a “Baykeeper“? A keeper is a full-time advocate for the maintenance, quality and environmental integrity of a water body. Nelson is making presence known on Grand Traverse Bay. His “territory“ encompasses 135 miles of shoreline -- all of which he traverses both on foot and in his kayak, the “Baykeeper.“

COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW
Patterned after the highly successful Riverkeeper program (see accompanying article), which made major improvements on the Hudson River, Nelson‘s is to maintain what is already in place -- a beautiful bay now faced with developmental pressures.
“Grand Traverse Bay is nearly pristine. It is oligotrophic (deep and cold) and perhaps only one of few freshwater bays in the world in such great condition,“ Nelson says.
The goals of the Watershed Center‘s Baykeeper program are to advocate compliance with environmental laws, respond to citizen complaints, identify problems and devise remedies relating to the bay. The Baykeeper works full-time, and is a privately funded, non-governmental public advocate for the identified water body.
Nelson covers the bay watershed in Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties. Nelson is one of a handful of Keepers working to maintain water purity rather than fighting water polluters. Since early this year, he has been walked and kayaked the 135 miles of the Grand Traverse Bay shoreline. There are six recreational harbors on Grand Traverse Bay and Nelson works closely with the harbormasters, charter captains, individuals and other partner organizations, such as conservancies and conservation districts.

BUILDING AWARENESS
“Both the Leelanau and Grand Traverse Regional Conservancies are involved to help designate areas that are critical to protecting the water quality of the bay,“ says Matt Heiman, land protection specialist for the Leelanau Conservancy. “This affects all who live in the Grand Traverse area watershed. One of the main roles the Baykeeper can play is to educate the public on the value of the aquatic ecosystems unique to the Grand Traverse Bay watershed.“
“We are just beginning to actively seek funding for the Baykeeper program,“ says Anne Brasie, executive director of the Watershed Center. “Up until now, we have funded some of John‘s activities from our general operating budget and other monies come from grant projects. For example, the shoreline survey is part of our two-year watershed planning grant from the EPA and we pay John through that.“
Brasie adds that the Center has already submitted one proposal to a private foundation and is targeting others as well. “Within the next year or so, we hope to be able to make the Baykeeper position a full-time paid position -- right now a good deal of John‘s time is donated.“

ROOTS
As for Nelson‘s connections to the region, he is a fifth generation descendant in the area, lives on the bay, and has developed an increasingly strong awareness and commitment to protecting the region‘s environment. A retired schoolteacher, Nelson also graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, having served five years in active duty. After 20years of Naval service as a Commander, his dedication and qualifications to getting a job done are self-evident and link him to a strong commitment to his new assignment.
In 2000, Nelson brought the Waterkeeper concept to the Watershed Center‘s board of directors. This was the catalyst for the Watershed to submit a proposal to the Waterkeeper Alliance for approval. Additionally, Nelson met with the Friends of Casco Baykeeper Program to learn how he could apply their expertise in helping develop the Grand Traverse Baykeeper program.
“It can be likened to being an ombudsperson - the whole Waterkeeper Alliance is a network of people -- and numbers bring strength,“ he says. “As Baykeeper I act as an advocate -- an ally -- for the people,“ he says. Nelson is sort of a middleman between the public and governmental officials.

WORKING WITH KIDS
Last spring, Nelson worked with teachers and students of the Grand Traverse Regional Math, Science and Technology Center‘s (GTRMSTC) Water Watch Program. The children took water samples to look for macro invertebrates that indicate the level of water quality. This teaches them the importance of the tributaries that run into the bay.
“The bugs we find in our sample testings are indicators of water quality, like a canary in the coal mines,“ Nelson says. “We found very few zebra mussels in the streams -- a good sign.“
This summer, Nelson also responded to citizen concerns involving siltation and wetland issues in Elk Rapids. He investigated industrial pollution of the Ptobego Watershed, addressed public access issues in Traverse City, and communicated with public officials about storm and wastewater concerns.
Earlier this month, John McKinney, Michigan Sea Grant Agent, joined Nelson and walked five miles of shoreline from Bryant Park and up the Old Mission Peninsula‘s shore. He got to experience first-hand what the Baykeeper is doing.
“It was an excellent opportunity to do an inventory of the living things along the shore, as well as the natural features of which might have an impact on water quality, such as soil types, storm drains, any pipes or other sources coming into the bay,“ McKinney says. “We did this foot-by-foot, looking at what ever is contributing to the bay.“

GROWING LIST
Nelson is one of six Waterkeepers in the Great Lakes region. The others are: the Lake Ontario Keeper (ON, Canada); Milwaukee Riverkeeper (WI); St. Clair Channelkeeper (MI); Tip of the Mitt Waterkeeper (Petoskey); and the Wolf/Fox/Winnegago Riverkeeper (WI).
Nelson attended the international Waterkeepers convention last June in Utah. Guest speakers were leaders in the field of water quality, stream restoration and ecology.
It was a good-news, bad-news experience.
“My expectations of the conference were exceeded by my experience,“ he says. “I was at the same time depressed and heartened by the shared work of the Waterkeepers. Our water continues to be polluted and degraded throughout the nation. The work of so many to clean our water, however, gave me optimism.“

The Watershed Center is hosting a special event featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President of the Waterskeeper Alliance, on October 3 at the Grand Traverse Resort. There will be a champagne reception and dinner in celebration to celebrate both the 30th Annniversary of the Clean Water Act and the launch of the Grand Traverse Baykeeper Program. For reservations, call the Watershed Center at 231-935-1514.

_______________________________________________________
CURRENT BAYKEEPER ACTIVITIES
· Conducting water clarity readings with Power Squadron volunteers.
· Conduct shoreline inventory and field observations.
· Respond to citizen calls regarding shoreline concerns.
· Volunteer as naturalist aboard the schoolship Inland Seas
· Accompany Grand Traverse Band staff while conducting water quality monitoring on the Bay.
· Presentations to citizens groups and municipal representatives.