LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN INFORMATION UPDATE

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1 DATE: March 27, 2016 To: L.M.R. WATERSHED - STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ADVISORY GROUPS, PARTNERS, STAKEHOLDERS, LMWCC Board From: From Armas Soorus, President, Steering Committee We had some major progress moving forward with the Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan at the March 3 meeting of the Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Board, and just after the meeting. So we thought it was a good time to publish an update so everyone is aware of the progress and status. At the meeting, the LMWCC Board approved a needed resolution to put in place a Letter of Agreement for Public Sector Consultants to be the consultant writing the Watershed Management Plan for the Little Manistee River. The Letter of Agreement has since been signed by both the Alliance for Economic Success and Public Sector Consultants. The arrangement for the Letter of Agreement takes into consideration the needs for foundations and other donors to know the money they donate is used properly and for the purpose it was donated for, as well as tracked and managed to state and federal standards. The Alliance for Economic Success and Manistee County Community Foundation are both widely trusted and experienced managers of charitable funds. The LMWCC is a local organization not as widely recognized, so the three have partnered to manage funds dedicated to the support of the LMR Watershed Management Plan. The LMWCC can act as the lead 501c3 organization for the plan as is required by state and federal guidelines, and the AES and MCCF provide assurance for donors that the money is used as it should be. They have also been fundamental partners and advisors in the watershed management plan process, we couldn t have gotten this far without them. The way it works is as follows: 1. The Manistee County Community Foundation holds the actual funds and makes sure they are tracked and managed to state and federal standards. 2. The Alliance for Economic Success acts as a fiduciary for the LMWCC, also part of tracking and managing the funds to state and federal standards. 3. The LMWCC Board as the lead organization and the Steering Committee Fund Advisory Committee will direct how the money is spent to support the watershed plan. Also at the meeting the LMWCC Board approved a resolution to create a Fund Advisory Committee that included a roster of members selected by the Little Manistee River Watershed Steering Committee. Anyone on this distribution list that would like to serve on the Steering Committee as the still-needed seventh member of the Fund Advisory Committee should contact Joyce or Armas. It s been difficult to find individuals that want to be involved at this level. All of the documents will be on the LMWCC web site (lmwcc.org) as part of the minutes of the March 5 meeting, after the minutes are approved at the April meeting. The establishment of the consultant is a major step that donors look for as a pre-requisite for their donations. This lets us kick off the fund raising campaign fully. Any suggestions for possible donors will be greatly appreciated.

2 We have continued to reach out to local townships and others. We have recently made presentations to Wexford County Commissioners, Filer Township, the Lake-Mason Conservation District and the City of Manistee Planning Commission. The City of Manistee has passed a resolution to sign the Partnership Agreement, we are awaiting results from the others. The Cadillac Area Land Conservancy has also signed on as a partner. We are very glad to have them on board. Please review the updated History and Status of the Watershed Management Plan. It s an overview of the work done so far with a timeline. Like all things it seems to take longer than any of us really want. Those of you that have seen it before can just look at the entries for March 5 and after. For those of you that are new to the distribution it provides a history of the work done to date. The listing of partners at the end of the history document has been updated to reflect new partners since the last update. Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan Historical Development and Current Status: 10/4/ Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Monthly Meeting Greg Goudy (Michigan DEQ) suggested the Little Manistee River needs a Watershed Management Plan which is approved by the Michigan Department of Water Quality. 11/4/ Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Monthly Meeting The LMWCC Council reviews the benefits and opportunities of a new watershed management plan for the Little Manistee River. 6/24/ First Meeting of Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan Preliminary Steering Committee to establish a shared vision of the high level scope and objectives as well as the process to be used in developing the watershed management plan. Approved the Partnership Agreement, including the Watershed Description within the Partnership Agreement. Established the Plan Criteria as both Michigan DEQ and US EPA Nine Elements pending agreement by the LMWCC Board. Initiated RFP process to identify a consultant to develop and write the plan. Suggested the Creation of Funds at the Manistee County Community Foundation for Plan Creation and Implementation. Identified LMWCC as the lead organization. 7/14/2015 Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Annual Meeting The concept of a new Watershed Management Plan for the Little Manistee River is presented to the LMWCC membership at the annual meeting. Partnership Agreement is distributed to members. 8/1/2015 Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Monthly Meeting LMWCC agrees to develop the Watershed Management Plan to both Michigan DEQ and US EPA Nine Elements Criteria. LMWCC authorizes creation of 3 funds at the Manistee County Community Foundation Plan Fund to develop the Watershed Management Plan, the Implementation Fund to implement and maintain the watershed management plan and an LMWCC Fund to contain funds donated to the LMWCC to help ensure its long term viability.

3 9/5/ Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Monthly Meeting Tim Ervin (Alliance for Economic Success) and Laura Heintzelman (Manistee County Community Foundation - MCCF) meet with the LMWCC Board to help explain the benefits of establishing funds and the MCCF. LMWCC Confirms the commitment to the funds at MCCF. 10/13/2015 Manistee County Community Foundation Funds Finalized. 10/13/2015 Second Meeting of Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan Preliminary Steering Committee Confirmed our shared vision of the high level Scope and Objectives for the Watershed Management Plan (EPA and DEQ Criteria) Discussed the Funds established at the Manistee County Community Foundation At this point in time we had 10 counties and townships that had signed the partnership agreement and 5 pending final signature. Initiated the next phase of Consultant Selection and Fund Raising. Focused the consultant selection process on Public Sector Consultants rather than an RFP process. Public Sector Consultants presented their qualification and the consensus was to request they prepare a formal proposal for review. AES began preparing a news release plan 11/7/ Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Monthly Meeting Public Sector Consultants approved by LMWCC board as Consultant for the Watershed Management Plan. 11/11/2015 Meeting to Review Public Sector Consultants Proposal Reviewed and agreed on changes to the proposal. 12/3/2015 Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee Meeting. Public Sector Consultants formally selected as Consultant by consensus vote of Steering Committee. Tim Ervin and AES to assist in writing contingency contract. The group agreed to use the Little Manistee River Watershed Steering Committee as our identity. Agreed to identify a subgroup of 5 to 7 members to act as a Fund Advisory Committee with this group and the LMWCC per the Manistee County Community Foundation documents to administer the 2 funds at the MCCF. Adopted Roberts Rules of Order Elected a President and a Secretary. Elected initial members of the Fund Advisory Committee 12/9/2016 News Release LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER WATERSHED STEERING COMMITTEE FORMED AND SELECTS CONSULTANT TO HELP DEVELOP WATERSHED PLAN 1/13/2016 Final Public Sector Consultants Proposal Received 2/6/ Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Monthly Meeting Submitted two resolutions which are now under legal review and we expect to vote on at the March 5, 2016 meeting:

4 Submitted LMWCC resolution: To direct the Alliance For Economic Success (AES), serving as a fiduciary for the Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council (LMWCC), to enter into a contract with Public Sector Consultants Inc. (PSC) to spend money, when it is available, from the Little Manistee River Watershed Plan Fund at the Manistee County Community Foundation to develop a Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan per the PSC Proposal of January 12, 2016 for the amount of $93,120. Submitted LMWCC resolution: To establish and authorize the Little Manistee River Watershed Steering Committee Fund Advisory Committee to fulfill the obligations of the LMWCC relative to the Little Manistee River Watershed Plan Fund and the Little Manistee River Watershed Plan Implementation Fund which the LMWCC has established at the Manistee County Community Foundation. 3/5/ Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council Monthly Meeting The LMWCC Board Passed two resolutions and approved a Letter of Agreement with a roster relating to the Watershed Management Plan as detailed below. All documents will be available on the LMWCC web site as part of the 3/5/16 minutes after the minutes are approved after the April LMWCC board meeting. The first resolution was to direct the Alliance for Economic Success (AES), serving as a fiduciary for the LMWCC, to enter into a contract with Public Sector Consultants (PSC) and spend money from the Little Manistee River Watershed Management Plan Fund to develop a Watershed Management Plan for the Little Manistee River per PSC s Proposal of January 12, 2016 for the amount of $93,120. The resolution and letter of agreement to commit to this plan were read by Gordon Lewis and the legal aspects approved by him prior to this meeting. The second Resolution was to establish and authorize the Little Manistee River Watershed Steering Committee Fund Advisory Committee to fulfill the obligations of the LMWCC relative to the Little Manistee River Watershed Plan Fund and the Little Manistee River Watershed Plan Implementation Fund which the LMWCC has established at the Manistee County Community Foundation. The Little Manistee River Watershed Steering Committee Fund Advisory Committee Roster listed the names of six (6) individuals that would sit on this committee and a seventh (7th) yet to be named. 3/19/2016 Letter of Agreement Fully Approved The Letter of Agreement approved by the LMWCC Board of 3/5/2016 is signed by the Alliance for Economic Success and Public Sector Consultants. 3/26/2016 Partnership Agreement Status: Partnership Agreement Signatures From: Lake Co.: Eden, Elk, Ellsworth, Peacock, Newkirk Townships, Luther Village Manistee Co.: Norman Township Mason Co.: Meade Township Cadillac Area Land Conservancy City of Manistee Council Manistee County Conservation District Lake County Commissioners Mason County Commissioners Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Natural Resource Conservation Service

5 Michigan DEQ Trout Unlimited Cool Lake Property Owners Association Great Start Collaborative Launch Manistee, Manistee Drift Expeditions, Irons Sengs Marina, Manistee Spicer Group, Manistee John Bumstead (State Representative) 100 th District Supporting Advisory Organizations Michigan DNR U.S. Forest Service Mason-Lake Conservation District Manistee County Community Foundation The Alliance for Economic Success Conservation Resource Alliance Natural Resource Conservation Service Michigan DEQ Trout Unlimited Over 100 Private Individuals throughout the watershed have also signed the LMRWSMP Partnership Agreement. Red listing indicates new this Update.