Erosion Control Best Management Practices Evaluation Methodology

Annis Water Resources Institute, of Grand Valley State University, has been the lead group for developing a recommended Best Management Practice Evaluation Methodology. Alan Steinman, Ph.D., Director, and Donald Uzarski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, developed basic, moderate and advanced levels of evaluation that will allow people to select their preferred strategy in evaluating the effectiveness of erosion control best management practices (BMPs) pertaining to streambank stabilization, road/stream crossing improvement, and sand trap efforts. The different levels of evaluation fluctuate with availability of time, funding, staff, equipment, and other variables. Annis proposes transferable techniques for measuring sediment delivery at treated sites before and after treatment, and for measuring resulting changes in stream habitat. Annis has communicated with staff and biologists from the Conservation Resource Alliance, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, US Forest Service, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and Grand Traverse Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians regarding the design framework for the methodology. The methodology is intended to be shared and used by any group (volunteer, agency, academic and other) interested in river restoration work. The Great Lakes Commission funded the development of the methodology.