Trail stabilization: Board to consider spending up to $17,000 to combat erosion
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Erosion on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail near the Michigan Welcome Center in Chocolay Township is pictured. The Chocolay Township Board will consider allocating $17,000 toward repairs to mitigate erosion during its meeting on Monday. (Journal Photo by Lisa Bowers)
The funding request is part of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources application for emergency project funding to stabilize and protect the trail from further erosion.
As part of the DNR application for the $200,000 project, Chocolay Township, the city of Marquette and the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Authority are each being asked to contribute $17,000 to make up the $51,000 local match.
According to the agenda supplement, a portion of the IOHT near the Welcome Center on U.S. 41 in Chocolay Township is one of the areas of concern.
"The erosion has impacted the integrity of the paved part of the trail and will continue to impact the trail without corrective actions," the supplement states.
Township staff is recommending reallocation of funds initially budgeted in 2015 for a Safe Routes to School application and grant award for a pathway to the Cherry Creek School on County Road BE.
"Preliminary engineering was contracted to identify a preliminary project proposal, but part of the process included the school identifying a safe location for this pathway," according to the supplement.
Because one final safe route could never be determined, the Safe Routes to School project has been idled since 2017, but still remains allocated in the budget.
"Staff suggests that since the project has remained idle for a few years and we have a more pressing need for these funds, the funds be (reallocated) to this project," the supplement states. "The budget would not have to be amended and extra money would not have to be sought. This project is important to the community and the Iron Ore (Heritage) Trail is a recreation priority based on the 2020 recreation plan."
The Iron Ore Heritage Trail Authority recently put out a request for quotes for the shoreline stabilization work.
The request states that the one-mile paved segment that runs along the Lake Superior shoreline near the city of Marquette "has multiple areas with extensive erosion adjacent to the trail as a result of continuous record high water levels and strong fall/spring storms producing northeast gales that pound the shoreline with wave heights over 15 feet," the request for quotes document states.
Side slope stabilization would be achieved by installing filter fabric and crushed rock to reinforce existing rock slopes and armor slopes void of any rock protection, according to plans and instructions included in the request for quotes.
The city of Marquette recently assisted in completing some emergency work just north of the Carp River Bridge, according to the document.
"(S)everal other areas were repaired last fall through department trail grants to the Iron Ore Heritage Trail Recreation Authority," the request for quotes document states. "Stabilizing several more critical areas by armoring slopes with large boulders is necessary to prevent further erosion leading to extensive trail loss and infrastructure damage."
The board will also consider acceptance of 2019 audit findings on Monday, as well as set proposed 2021 fiscal budget priorities.
Those wishing to attend the virtual board meeting can call 1-312-626-6799, and key in the meeting ID 849 2740 0062 and password 011348 when prompted.
Lisa Bowers can be reached at lbowers@miningjournal.net.