Traver Creek

Traver Creek, a tributary of the Huron River, meanders through the City of Ann Arbor’s Leslie Park Golf Course. Under the direction of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner, Spicer Group orchestrated a full corridor restoration project aimed at reducing flooding and improving water quality, while enhancing play, aesthetics, and native habitat.

A major environmental aspect of the project was the creation of a new two-stage channel that reconnected the floodplain to the base-flow channel, allowing water to spread out during large storms. This design feature, along with energy dissipation measures, significantly reduced bank erosion and downstream sedimentation. Wetlands were established along the floodplain shelf with native plantings to further enhance water quality and habitat.

Spicer Group ensured strict environmental compliance throughout the project. They facilitated the permitting process, adhering to state regulations for water levels and wildlife protection. During the retrofitting of existing ponds for increased rainwater detention, water levels were carefully managed according to state permits. The team relocated numerous turtles, including some over 75 years old and weighing at least 30 pounds, to another pond on the golf course to protect the local wildlife.

Environmental monitoring and testing were integral to the project, ensuring that construction activities did not adversely impact the surrounding ecosystems. New retaining walls made from precast concrete were installed along the creek, ponds, and golf cart paths. Foot bridges were relocated and expanded with new piers to prevent interference from high-water flows.

Construction, completed within seven months, resulted in over six acres of native buffers and wetlands. These areas are now instrumental in pollutant removal, sedimentation reduction, and peak flow mitigation during storm events, contributing to the overall health and resilience of the Traver Creek ecosystem.