SalmonSlayer
01-11-2007, 10:13 AM
Rare wildflower may threaten Harbor Shores
Opponents say Rose Pink found in 3 areas of state, including proposed golf course
By ANN BURCH
H-P Correspondent
BENTON HARBOR — It’s called Sabatia angularis or more commonly known as Rose Pink, a wildflower that is found in only three areas of the state and is threatened globally. And it could delay the multi-million dollar Harbor Shores project.
The existence of the rare flower was revealed Tuesday night during a public hearing on the project held by the Michigan Department of Enviornmental Quality at the Michigan Works! Service Center in Benton Harbor.
The DEQ took public comment on the proposed plans to build an 18-hole public golf course, a boat launch and access roads. More than 60 people attended the session.
The information on the Rose Pink was presented by Sheila Lyons-Sobaski, a professor of biology at Albion College, and can be found in the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.
“The Rose Pink is on the state threatened list,” Lyons-Sobaski said. “There are only three known viable populations and one of those is located in the proposed golf course.” Lyons-Sobaski said because the flower is threatened its exact location is usually not divulged. But Carol Drake, a member of the Friends of Jean Klock Park, said during the hearing the Rose Pink grows near the proposed 18th hole of the golf course.
“These areas are globally rare,” said Leon “Chip” Schaddelee, a private consultant and botanist. “To see that lost to a golf course is a tragedy.”
The ecological system in Jean Klock Park is interdunal wetland that supports several rare and threatened plant species, Lyons Sobaski and Schaddelee said.
Their concern is centered around two issues: The long-range affects of fertilizers and pesticides needed to maintain the golf course on the habitat and people disturbing the Rose Pink.
The flower’s existence apparently caught DEQ officials off guard.
“That was not something I was aware of,” Ben Zimont, a DEQ official, told reporters afterward.
Zimont said the DEQ was working with the Harbor Shores developers to have a plan for “nutrient management” because of concern that chemicals could leach into the ground.
In light of the information on the Rose Pink presented Tuesday night, this would be a serious consideration because the interdunal area is “nutrient deprived,” and that is why the Rose Pink and some other plant species survive.
“Fertilizers would add nutrients,” Zimont said.
About 15 people spoke during the public hearing and most were opposed to the project, including some who don’t believe there will be much economic benefit for Benton Harbor residents. Others wanted to preserve Jean Klock Park.
Proponents of the project spoke about the economic benefits of the golf course, which is expected to attract tourists.
Much of the $ 500 million project area is in the Michigan 63 corridor, north of Graham Avenue and west of the CSX Transportation Co. railroad tracks. The parcels include old factory sites and commercial and residential areas.
Plans for the golf course, boat launch and access roads call for placing 57,959 cubic yards of material in 5.87 acres of wetland in 10 areas; another 45,685 cubic yards of fill in 9.2 acres of the 100-year flood plain of the Paw Paw River; 10,772 cubic yards of fill in 2.3 acres of the Paw Paw River floodway; and enclosing 1,200 feet of a stream and North Shore County Drain into a 3 foot diameter culvert.
In addition, access roads, boardwalks and other culverts are proposed, along with excavation for the boat launch.
Zimont said the public can contact him to find out about the results of the hearing by calling (269) 567-3560. The current status of the application for the permit can be found at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/ciw pis/. Written comment will also be taken for the next 10 days and can be submitted to Ben Zimont, MDEQ, Land and Water Management Division, 7953 Adobe Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 or at zimontb@michigan.gov.
http://es1.tecnavia.com/newsmem2/heraldpalladium/20070110/a1_1-10__front.pdf.0/img/Image_4.jpg
Opponents say Rose Pink found in 3 areas of state, including proposed golf course
By ANN BURCH
H-P Correspondent
BENTON HARBOR — It’s called Sabatia angularis or more commonly known as Rose Pink, a wildflower that is found in only three areas of the state and is threatened globally. And it could delay the multi-million dollar Harbor Shores project.
The existence of the rare flower was revealed Tuesday night during a public hearing on the project held by the Michigan Department of Enviornmental Quality at the Michigan Works! Service Center in Benton Harbor.
The DEQ took public comment on the proposed plans to build an 18-hole public golf course, a boat launch and access roads. More than 60 people attended the session.
The information on the Rose Pink was presented by Sheila Lyons-Sobaski, a professor of biology at Albion College, and can be found in the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.
“The Rose Pink is on the state threatened list,” Lyons-Sobaski said. “There are only three known viable populations and one of those is located in the proposed golf course.” Lyons-Sobaski said because the flower is threatened its exact location is usually not divulged. But Carol Drake, a member of the Friends of Jean Klock Park, said during the hearing the Rose Pink grows near the proposed 18th hole of the golf course.
“These areas are globally rare,” said Leon “Chip” Schaddelee, a private consultant and botanist. “To see that lost to a golf course is a tragedy.”
The ecological system in Jean Klock Park is interdunal wetland that supports several rare and threatened plant species, Lyons Sobaski and Schaddelee said.
Their concern is centered around two issues: The long-range affects of fertilizers and pesticides needed to maintain the golf course on the habitat and people disturbing the Rose Pink.
The flower’s existence apparently caught DEQ officials off guard.
“That was not something I was aware of,” Ben Zimont, a DEQ official, told reporters afterward.
Zimont said the DEQ was working with the Harbor Shores developers to have a plan for “nutrient management” because of concern that chemicals could leach into the ground.
In light of the information on the Rose Pink presented Tuesday night, this would be a serious consideration because the interdunal area is “nutrient deprived,” and that is why the Rose Pink and some other plant species survive.
“Fertilizers would add nutrients,” Zimont said.
About 15 people spoke during the public hearing and most were opposed to the project, including some who don’t believe there will be much economic benefit for Benton Harbor residents. Others wanted to preserve Jean Klock Park.
Proponents of the project spoke about the economic benefits of the golf course, which is expected to attract tourists.
Much of the $ 500 million project area is in the Michigan 63 corridor, north of Graham Avenue and west of the CSX Transportation Co. railroad tracks. The parcels include old factory sites and commercial and residential areas.
Plans for the golf course, boat launch and access roads call for placing 57,959 cubic yards of material in 5.87 acres of wetland in 10 areas; another 45,685 cubic yards of fill in 9.2 acres of the 100-year flood plain of the Paw Paw River; 10,772 cubic yards of fill in 2.3 acres of the Paw Paw River floodway; and enclosing 1,200 feet of a stream and North Shore County Drain into a 3 foot diameter culvert.
In addition, access roads, boardwalks and other culverts are proposed, along with excavation for the boat launch.
Zimont said the public can contact him to find out about the results of the hearing by calling (269) 567-3560. The current status of the application for the permit can be found at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/ciw pis/. Written comment will also be taken for the next 10 days and can be submitted to Ben Zimont, MDEQ, Land and Water Management Division, 7953 Adobe Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 or at zimontb@michigan.gov.
http://es1.tecnavia.com/newsmem2/heraldpalladium/20070110/a1_1-10__front.pdf.0/img/Image_4.jpg