Officials briefed on Ox Creek restoration plan; $584,000 in grant-funded work proposed for Highland-to-Britain reach

Southwest Michigan Planning Commission staff and GEI Consultants presented a restoration plan Sept. 24 to remove debris, regrade banks and restore habitat on a stretch of Ox Creek between Highland and Britain, and they asked the committee to forward the plan to the full commission for approval on Oct. 6 to allow construction to proceed.

Scott Dirks, a licensed engineer leading the GEI team, described longstanding debris piles in the creek valley — including remnants of a demolished roadway and old railroad bridges — and said the project team plans to remove concrete and debris, cut or reconfigure large woody material blocking passage, and regrade and stabilize banks. The presentation emphasized both environmental goals (improving water quality, restoring habitat, supporting fish and pollinators) and recreational and economic goals tied to a planned corridor trail.

Dirks said the project is part of a broader Ox Creek revitalization effort under a city resolution and involves multiple partners and funders, including the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), NOAA and University of Michigan Sea Grant. A budget summary provided in the meeting packet and updated during the presentation showed the restoration reach subtotal at roughly $584,000, all identified as grant-funded costs. Major cost items cited included mobilization/wetland access, debris removal and landfill disposal, invasive species control, large woody debris management, restoration features (including placing some engineered wood features), seeding and plantings ($125,000 cited for restoration features and $41,000 for seeding/trees), and a maintenance allowance.

Dirks cautioned that Ox Creek is a relatively small stream with soft sediment in front of Hall Park; lake levels and wind-driven flows can push sediment back into the reach, so while the team aims to make the channel more passable for wading and small craft where appropriate, there are natural limits to what restoration can achieve. He said some work being proposed has permitting constraints and the team is designing measures expected to be permitable.

Project team members noted ecological considerations: they will remove invasive plants and replace them with native species (the presentation named swamp milkweed as an example to support monarch butterflies and caterpillars), and they will leave some wood in the stream because woody structure benefits habitat while removing logs that block passage. The team said they will conduct a bat survey at the bridges (field work scheduled for Friday in the presentation) and that discovery of bat roosts could trigger additional protocols.

City staff and commissioners asked about transparency and budget oversight; presenters and staff emphasized that the work is grant-funded and that contracts and change orders will be managed to fit grant budgets. The project manager for the city was identified as Dane, who will serve as an on-site liaison during construction.

Why it matters: Ox Creek restoration is part of a larger corridor revitalization that aims to improve water quality, restore habitat, expand recreational access and support redevelopment adjacent to the corridor. Removing legacy debris and stabilizing banks can reduce hazards and enable trail and economic development planned for the corridor.

No formal authorization was recorded at the committee meeting; presenters asked the committee to forward the authorization for Southwest Michigan Planning Commission to execute the restoration plan and to utilize GEI Consultants as a subcontractor to the City Commission agenda on Oct. 6 for final approval. The project team said full plans and a revised budget would be distributed to commissioners prior to that meeting.