The Pointe Marine Marina is a privately owned marina located on the north shore of Muskegon Lake. The marina is formed by two peninsulas that extend lakeward to the south, and is also the mouth of Bear Creek. The peninsulas were historically constructed of a combination of foundry fill, concrete, and miscellaneous debris.
Restoration of the shoreline included removal of concrete debris and installation of a rock toe and native plants.
Year restored: 2013
Total Area Restored (by habitat type):
Shoreline softening=1,433 linear feet
Emergent Wetland=0.54 acres
Upland Buffer=0.9 acres
Construction Facts:
$341,229 construction cost
9,217 cubic yards of foundry fill removed
2,042 tons of broken concrete and debris removed
558 native shrubs installed
22,932 dune grass plants installed
11 native trees installed
Construction
Post-Restoration
2019 Site Monitoring Summary
2019 Monitoring Summary
2019 Native Mean Coefficient of Conservatism: 3.8
2019 Floristic Quality Index (FQI): 20.9
2019 Total Native Species: 48
2019 Percent Invasive Species Cover: <5%
Invasive species currently present:
Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
White sweet clover (Melilotus alba)
For more information on invasive plants and their management, CLICK HERE
Dominant Native Species:
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Switch grass (Panicum virgatum)
Yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
Marram grass (Ammophila brevigulata)
For more information on native plants around Muskegon Lake, CLICK HERE
Site Summary:
There are very few invasive plants present at the site, and the overall native plant population has become established. Due to high water levels and associated erosion, portions of the planted native plant community have been lost. In some places, shrubs have been removed from the shoreline, which has exacerbated the shoreline erosion.
Native Mean C=average coefficient of conservatism (C). Each plant is assigned a “C” value, which represents the probability that a plant will occur in an undisturbed area. C values range from 0-10. Wetlands with a native mean C greater than 3.5 are considered “high quality aquatic resources” (USFWS)
FQI=Floristic Quality Inventory, which is an indication of quality of the vegetation at a given site. In general, wetlands with an FQI above 20 are considered “high quality aquatic resources” (USFWS)
Management Recommendations
Invasive species are minimally present at the site. The only invasive plant species documented were spotted knapweed and white sweet clover, which can be removed by hand pulling or selective herbicide applications.
For more information on invasive plant management, CLICK HERE.
Supplemental native shrubs should be planted along the shoreline to provide protection in the long term. Additionally, those shrubs that exist should be left to grow. Should high water cause continued erosion, additional stone may be placed to protect the shoreline. To place stone, a permit will be required by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Permits can be found HERE.
The site should be monitored 2-3 times per year to look for erosion and any invasive plants.