Water Terrains

WATER TERRAINS

ARE THE SHORES OF BELLE ISLE TRULY ACCESSIBLE?

WATER TERRAINS

Washed by the waters of the Detroit River, Belle Isle is a large public park and an important part of the cultural and social landscape of the Detroit metropolitan region. Building on its insular condition, the opportunities for interaction with water in the park are a key unifier to a variety of demographics that seek access to nature in the urban confines. Lakes, canals, wetlands and marshlands, fishing piers, marinas and a beach make Belle Isle a space of wonder and discovery through unmatched public access to the Detroit River. Yet, water carries important traces of the postindustrial regional condition and serve as a continuous reminder for the expected impacts of climate change. As one of the bi-national areas of concern in the Great lakes, water pollution remains a pressing issue in the ecological recovery of the region. Habitat restoration and remedial efforts for improved water quality are crucial to the overall health and prosperity of the island’s ecosystems. On the other side, more intense precipitation results in recurring flooding and loss of access to the large segments in the island.

NISWI-MISHKODEWINAN (THE COUNCIL OF THREE FIRES)

sacred waters ANISHINAABE POTOWATOMI

To the Niswi-mishkodewinan or Council of Three Fires (Anishinaabe, Potowatomi, and Odawa) the Great Lakes region was an end to a long prophetic journey. The shores of the Great Lakes and Belle Isle symbolized sustenance with the region’s wild rice (Mnomen). The water itself also sacred, is tied to creation and the feminine. To these peoples the Belle Isle and the Detroit River meant the beginning and future.

colonial legacies

Prior to the arrival of European settlers, Belle Isle and the river watershed was rich in biodiversity and abundance.

known as Pontiac’s Rebellion, where regional tribes banded together against European Settlers.

Through exploration and trade

the French and English exploited indigenous hospitality and facilitated destabilization through the trades of firearms, alcohol, and religion

Within that time, the French took the island from the Odawa and Chippewa, to protect their hog livestock. This lead to the French name of the island as Ile ax Cochons (Hog Island).

The European settlers divided various rival cultures and utilized them to fight wars over territories and resources. The injustices crescendo towards the event

After, the land was utilized for agriculture before being purchased by the city of Detroit and transformed into the park it is today.

BUILDING GROUND

Key: 1873 Recorded Island Extent 1883 Island Lake Extents 0 1mi

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economic value

With the arrival of European Settlers the Detroit River Watershed and Island meant economic power, protection, and abundant resources. The region was exploited for fur, trade, and the manufacturing of steel and automobiles. Over time the symbolism of the sacred region shifted from one of creation to production, resource extraction, and consumption.

as a new paradise for the city of Detroit. The plan included the dredging of canals, expansion of lakes, and creation of open fields.

Later in the 1910’s other topographical changes included the lower tip of the island and Blue Heron Lagoon.

The Belle Isle of 1873 was much different in shape than the one today. The City’s commissioned Olmsted to re-imagine the island

LAKES AND CANALS

Key:

aqua landscapes

Belle Isle is comprised of 4 large bodies of water, Lake Tacoma, Lake Okonoka, Lake Muskoday, and Blue Heron Lagoon. Each of these are connected through a 3 canals: Loop, Nashua, and Sylvan that stretch from the south to north end of the island.

Historically the island’s aquascape ran against the direction of the Detroit River. This allowed the water to drain into both Lake Muskoday and Okonoka.

COASTAL SHORELINES

Key: Beach Condition

Hybrid shores Condition

Seawall vista Condition

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littoral constructiveness

Belle Isle contains 7 miles of various coastal shorelines that are broken down into 3 degrees of varying constructiveness.

The three are seawall vista, beach, and hybrid shores that facilitate different levels of pedestrian and wildlife engagement. Many of the coastal conditions are under threat of severe erosion and degradation. These issues stem from excessive waves caused by large nautical vehicles from increased water level.

hybrid shores

12%

06%

82%

seawall vista

beach

a place to be

The seawall vista shoreline is a condition that allows visitors to engage in different recreational activities, such as: sightseeing, fishing, lounging, and walking.

The built conditions of the Vista Shoreline include paved walkways followed with a 1 to 1 cut towards the water. There is always a guard and handrail to rest upon, accompanied with benches and tables.

a place to swim

The beach condition is only found in one location on the Northwest shore of the island. Here, visitors can relax, swim, and play. It draws large amounts of people from the Detroit region, and is where many demographics interact.

The condition include sand fill with a gentle slope towards and into the river. There is minimal pavement.

HYBRID SHORES

register water flow

The hybrid shoreline is the most dominant condition on the island. It presents evidence of erosion mainly in the areas facing the Detroit River Canal. Activities are limited in these areas due to lack of access, but one can walk up and see a view of the river.

The semi-built conditions include remedial efforts to decrease erosion, made up of discarded concrete and rocks. Additionally, the vegetation at the transition between water and land creates soft buffers. Hybrid Shores are not for recreation and are dangerous.

INLAND SHORELINES

Key: Vernal Pools Condition

Canals Condition

Lakeshores Condition 0 1mi

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internal waterscapes varies

The inland shorelines of Belle Isle are broken into 3 conditions of varying constructiveness. They include Vernal Pools, Canals, and Lakeshores. There are over two miles of canals and 106 acres of water on the island.

vernal pools

54%

Before the Olmsted’s plan, the lakes of Belle Isle existed at various extents. Through his vision, the lakes grew and canals were dredged connecting the various inland water bodies.

canals

46%

lakeshores

a place to thrive

Found throughout Michigan’s marshy environments and Belle Isle, Vernal Pools are a collection of seasonal shallow pools of water that are a host of rare flora and fauna. On Belle Isle they are mostly found in the Wet Mesic Forests between Lake Okonoka and Muskoday.

A temporal condition, they are full in seasons of flooding and usually dry up during summer. Therefore their extents can be difficult to measure.

CANALS

a place to paddle

On the island there are over two miles of combined canals that connect the large lakes from West to East. They are the Loop, Nashua, and Sylvan Canals.

Together they provide both habitat for the flora and fauna of the island and drainage for larger lawn areas.

In a human sense, the canals provide safe harbor for various water activities such as paddle boarding and kayaking.

The canal condition is semi constructed.

LAKESHORES

a place to learn

The lakeshore condition is found inland and stretches into canals. This allows visitors to safely kayak, paddle board, walk, and at many points in the island to learn about the different aquatic habitats. The marshy conditions of Belle Isle have served as pollutant filters of storm water runoff where willow trees are monumental keepers. The ability to fish is reduced due to previous damming practices. The conditions include stagnant or slowly moving water, marshy and low slope transition, with high amounts of vegetation.

Key: Fishing Sites

Swimming Beach

Paddling

Watercraft Rentals

Model Boat Basin

options

Belle Isle boasts a variety of aquatic activities, from fishing, swimming, paddling, renting watercraft, to just walking down the river.

While the island presents itself as public park, the water access is not always accessible. Organizations like the Detroit Yacht Club are incredibly exclusive, and renting equipment for water sports can be expensive.

Key: Severe Erosion

Moderate Erosion

Mild Erosion

South Pier Breakwaters

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shifting shores effects have included longer bouts of flooding that have become more frequent.

Erosion on the shores of Belle Isle is a constantly shifting condition. The continual passage of cargo ships along the Eastern coast of the isle produces disturbances that batter the shoreline. This has prompted much of the waters around Belle Isle to be listed as a no-wake zone to decrease the potential for more severe impact. Shoreline erosion is accompanied with a loss in Coastal Wetlands, incubators of the region’s biodiversity. Other negative

In addition to that the decadal cycles of the Great Lakes water elevations has a profound impact on the island’s shoreland. Such as submerging and revealing amphibian ecosystems.

quick fix

The Department of Natural Resources and Friends of the Detroit River have inadvertently engaged through ad hoc management and lack of proper investment, different methods of alleviating erosion. These remedial efforts although helpful in their small scale, are concentrated to restoration areas. Those methods include the use of broken concrete and heavy rip rap breakwaters, not conducive to an engaging or inviting natural environment.

POLLUTION

Key: Metal Cluster Sample Locations

Belle Isle Remedial Areas

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the rivers economies or recreational memory for the riverfront communities. Even with regulations in place, the legacy of heavy metals in the river soils remains.

Washed by the waters of the Detroit River, Belle Isle has experienced the changing nature of the river waters. The Detroit River enabled the rediscovery of the region and its progressive colonization. From water supply, trade, manufacturing, and fishing, the river has been exploited since the Industrial Revolution. The automobile and steel manufacturing plants discharged untreated byproducts back into the river, which lead to mass die offs, odor, and illness, and the detachment from any joyful

Agricultural byproducts have also leached into the river causing fluctuations in water chemistry. And last, an outdated combined sewage system turns heavy rainfall into outfall events with millions of gallons of untreated water and e.coli outbreaks around the waters of Belle Isle.

sewage and outbreaks

The Detroit region like many, utilize a combined sewage system that mixes both runoff with municipal sewage. In events of high water the system has a safety feature called a CSO (Combined Sewage Overflow) that in periods of flooding expels billions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Detroit River.

Climate change and increasingly turbulent summer weather patterns have increased breakouts and their durations.

Other factors that contribute to lower water qualities around the Belle Isle include geese fecal matter and discharges from passing boats, and enduring remnants of the industrial age

With the heavy rainfall of last summer, untreated wastewater was discharged leading to e.coli outbreaks that closed many parts of the river, including the Belle Isle Beach.

Overall this has had an impact on various recreational activities from swimming to fishing.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Key: 2020 Flooding Area 0 1mi

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flooding

Fluctuating water levels, more intense precipitation, and manmade development have put the island flora and fauna habitats at risk.

The impacts of recurrent flooding vary from reduced access to loss of mature trees in the wet-mesic flatwoods forest, one of the most precious ecosystems in Belle Isle. Evolving conditions will require continued management of the landscapes and underlying infrastructures.

CLIMATE CHANGE

changing tides

Naturally the currents of Belle Isle flowed inversely against the direction of water upward into the two of the Island’s larger lakes.

This created a unique environment that cultivated the island’s natural forests.

With the newer projects of water redirection and drainage, this has impacted the island’s natural ability to drain excess water. Ultimately leading to mass tree death.

Key: Restoration Areas

RESTORATION

aquatic habitats

The Department of Natural Resources paired with the Friends of the Detroit River have engaged to restore habitats and promote biodiversity.

Their projects have focused on three area around the island: The Breeding reefs just north of the Island, Blue Heron Lagoon, and the South Fishing Pier.

painted turtle

lake sturgeon

man-made replacements

The Breeding Reefs create safe and stable shelter in a part of the river that is heavily dredged. In doing so they have encouraged Sturgeon spawning.

lake sturgeon

good intentions

Next, the Blue Heron Lagoon restoration project created emergent wetlands that served as both breeding grounds for the river’s turtle’s and flood water mitigation.

While this project had great intentions and promising predictions, unfortunately record rainfalls and flooding, in combination with these new inlets into the island, caused the oversaturation of the island and the subsequent tree death.

painted turtle

FISHING PIER

repaired shoreline

Lastly, the South Fishing Pier project focused on fish habitat restoration and erosion prevention. Emergent and submerged wetlands provide shelter, while breakwaters alleviate strong waves.

large mouth bass

bluegill