Fishbeck conducted a Hydrogeomorphic study at the Shiawassee River State Game Area to assist staff in determining how to improve hydrology, habitat, ecological activity, and overall management of the 10,000+-acre site. Engineers and ecologists conducted seasonal field investigation trips to the game area to observe hydraulic structures, biological activities, and seasonal management techniques. A detailed desktop review was completed, including historic aerials, drone photography, GIS mapping, USEPA Pollutant Load Estimation, historic landcover data, record drawings, and USGS LiDAR. This study resulted in a Hydrogeomorphic Evaluation, which included a history of the ecological landscape, a history of game area development, a summary of key goals and challenges facing the game area, detailed recommendations for infrastructure changes and management practices to overcome those challenges and achieve those goals, and a summary of available funding to implement those recommendations. Each recommendation included a tabulation of the estimated impact, such as pollutant load reduction, acres of habitat created, or flood mitigation, as well as the estimated project cost.
