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MEMO______________________________________________ 
To: Rochester City Beautiful CommissionFrom: Nina Ignaczak, on behalf of Friends of Howlett ParkDate: 12/1/2011Re: Howlett Pond Habitat Assessment and Recommendations
Overview
At the request of Friends of Howlett Park, the City of Rochester contracted with Streamside EcologicalServices/HRM to conduct a habitat assessment of Howlett Pond and to make recommendations on stepsthe City can make to manage habitat in the pond for the benefit of wildlife. The final report was receivedon September 28, 2011
Key Findings
o
A total of twenty-five animal (mammals, birds, insects and fish), twenty-eight plant, and fiveherpetofauna species were observed within and adjacent to the pond
o
Based on the July 12, 2011 field assessments, the contractors found that while the pond andsurrounding areas support a variety of flora and fauna,
poor water quality
and
lack of inpond habitat
significantly limits animal use and the presence of submergent vegetation. Thefollowing recommendations are provided to help improve water quality and increase diversityof aquatic organisms.
Summary of Recommendations
Low-Cost/Short-Term 
1. Installation of woody structures to serve as basking sites for amphibians and habitat for fish andaquatic insects2. Maintain existing vegetative buffer surrounding the pond3. Avoid mowing adjacent to natural area edge in early morning and at all times in late May/earlyJune
MId-Cost/Medium-Term 
4. Control of invasive and non-native plant species- Autumn olive, Canada thistle, Commonbuckthorn, Glossy buckthorn, Multiflora Rose, reed canary grass5. Control Canada Geese (establish/maintain buffer zones, limit the amount of mowed areas, andemploy harassment/removal techniques)6. Convert lawn to prairie (priority: north and west sides of Howlett Pond)7. Construct additional nesting structures for turtles8. Install nature walk with interpretive signage
High Cost/Long-Term 
9. Increase rooted submergent vegetation (first sedimentation must be addressed)10. Installation of first flush basins, holding and storing within vegetated areas or basins, and/orredirection of stormwater to vegetated areas at eastern and northwestern inlets and surfacedrainage from church11. Remove/dredge sediment from pond12. Aerate pond (mechanical, or via planting or rooted submergent vegetation, or through movingwater through shaded/vegetated areas and over rock13. Manage subsidized predators (raccoons, etc.)
 
Howlett Park Pond Ecological Assessment
Prepared For:
The City of RochesterDepartment of Public Works
Prepared by:
and
September 10, 2011
 
37890 DePrez Ct., Harrison Twp, MI 48045 1
Introduction
Streamside Ecological Services, Inc. (SES) and Herpetological Resource and Management, LLC(HRM) conducted a preliminary ecological assessment of a pond located in Howlett Park, withinthe City of Rochester Hills (Figure 1). The assessment was conducted at the request of Mr.William Bohlen and Ms. Kerri Martin of the City of Rochester, Department of Public Works.The purpose of this work was to assess general ecological conditions of the pond, including plantand animal species present, and provide recommendations for passive use and improvement inquality of the aquatic resources present.
Methods
The pond was assessed on July 12, 2011. The entire pond and adjacent terrestrial areas wereassessed for macrophytes (rooted plants), aquatic insects, fish, water inputs, water quality, andwildlife use. In addition, HRM conducted a 12-hour survey for the presence/absence of reptilesand amphibians and habitat conditions present.Water quality, macrophytes, and wildlife use were assessed by meander searches through theentire littoral zone of the pond, adjacent terrestrial areas, and specific areas of the pond’swatershed suspected of providing hydrologic inputs. Aquatic insects and fish were sampledusing 330 micron mesh dip nets and hand picking logs, rocks, and other submerged structures.Representative photographs (Attachment A) were taken of the pond and animal speciescollected.Reptiles and amphibians were sampled by HRM using traps, turning cover materials, visualobservations and anuran (frog and toad) calling surveys. No voucher samples were collected, butphotographs were taken, when possible. All survey activities were in accordance with HRM’sScientific Collectors’ and Threatened and Endangered Species permits issued by the State of Michigan. Detailed methodologies used by HRM are presented in their full report in AttachmentB.
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