As part of the DNR’s efforts to restore wetland habitat at sites around the state, restoration projects in Gratiot and Osceola counties are well under way.

At a site known as Potato Creek in Gratiot County’s Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, initial construction on a 60-acre wetland restoration project is complete.

“The Gratiot/Saginaw site was a cornfield, and we’ve converted it back to a wetland,” said Steve Shine, DNR wetlands mitigation bank administrator. “It is greening up with the temporary seeding, and the basins are filling with water.”

In the spring, seeds planted this fall for dormant seeding will germinate, and shrubs will be planted.

Restoration and vegetation are complete on a 52-acre wetland project in Sears (Osceola County). A cooperative effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, this work took place on private land, and a permanent conservation easement will ensure the wetlands never will be converted to another use.

Both projects are part of the DNR’s new wetland mitigation banking program.

Many of Michigan’s wetlands – vital resources that provide wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities and play an important role in the state’s environmental health – have been drained over the last two centuries.

Because impacts to wetlands sometimes are unavoidable in carrying out other important work, such as farming and public infrastructure projects like building roads, wetland mitigation banks – or new wetland areas – are established to replace the wetland functions being lost.

The DNR has partnered with the Michigan Municipal Wetland Alliance on a wetland mitigation banking program that will preserve and restore wetland habitat to offset unavoidable effects on existing wetlands.

“Investing in the restoration of wetlands on state game areas is a great way to improve habitat, enhance recreation opportunities and advance public works projects,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason.

The first phase of this this public-private partnership also will include wetland restoration projects at Allegan State Game Area in Allegan County and Grand River State Game Area in Ionia County.

For more information about the DNR’s wetland mitigation banking program, contact Steve Shine at 517-930-8155. This recent Showcasing the DNR story provides a more in-depth look.