Sleeping Bear Dunes Bay to Bay Paddle/Backpack Trail (2014)
- Han-Yu Chan, MS Conservation Ecology
- Emily Lauderdale, MLA
- Sachin Shahria, MS Sustainable Systems
- Shuting Wang, MLA
- Fei Zhao, MLA
The Bay to Bay Paddle/Backpack Trail will be a water and backcountry hiking trail that runs the length of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Lake Michigan coast line from Platte Bay in the south to Good Harbor Bay in the north (approximately 30 miles). The trail will include several Lake Michigan access points for kayakers and canoeists to put in and take out as well as 3-5 rustic backcountry campgrounds to provide overnight camping for through hikers and paddlers. The trail will utilize existing trailheads or beach access points and at least one existing backcountry campground. The hiking trail will be primarily on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore land except where it passes through the villages of Empire and Glen Arbor.
Students would work with the National Park Service and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to develop and facilitate the Bay to Bay Trail planning process. Students will also help conduct the resource inventory and assessment to identify trail route and development alternatives as part of the NEPA Compliance - Environmental Assessment Process. The project will involve GIS mapping for the trail route/s and campground locations and the design of trails, campgrounds and signage. Developing cost estimates for the trail project and an implementation/action plan would also be an integral part of the project.
In addition to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Bay to Bay Trail project, students will also have the opportunity to work with NPS-RTCA, The City of Warren, MI, Friends of the Clinton River and the Detroit Greenway Coalition with planning and conducting a design charette for the Red Run Nature Center and Trail System.
This short, intensive planning effort will allow the SNRE team to work a NPS/RTCA Team of landscape architects on an urban outdoor recreation/conservation project (in contrast to the natural/backcountry recreation project type of the Bay to Bay trail).
- knowledge of landscape architecture design within a naturalistic/open space context
- knowledge of landscape planning
- knowledge of GIS; remote sensing
- writing skills
- knowledge of environmental impact assessments
- analytical skills
- communication/presentation skills
- project and management plan development skills
Students will have the opportunity to work within a National Park Unit with NPS planners and staff and learn about park planning, environmental compliance, and park management and operations. They will work in partnership with NPS Outdoor Recreation Planners, Friends Groups, municipalities, and recreation user groups and recreation providers to plan and design backcountry facilities and a recreation experience as well as an urban outdoor recreation facility and outdoor education experience. They will have the opportunity to attend and possibly present a poster session at the Society for Outdoor Recreation Professionals conference in Traverse City, MI in May 2013.
The National Park Service (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program) can provide office space and seasonal housing while the student team is in the area for field work, project team meetings, etc. RTCA and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will look into additional funding sources to cover student travel to and from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and/or City of Warren, and costs associated with project material and supplies.
The Bay to Bay Paddling and Hiking Trail Environmental Assessment, Development and Implementation Plan, and Signage and Visitor Information System - leading to construction of the 30+ mile Bay to Bay Trail. The Red Run Greenway and Outdoor Education Development Concept Plan, cost estimates and funding strategy, including Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund grant submittal.