Niswander Environmental personnel inventoried all wetlands, streams, and woodlands on approximately 500 acres surrounding the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital that was slated for sale. All wetlands were delineated during this inventory and the approximate wetland boundaries were mapped in GIS. Six regulated wetlands totaling approximately 27.04 acres and two regulated stream segments were identified and delineated on the Property.
The wetland boundaries and jurisdictional status were verified in an on- site meeting between Dr. Steven Niswander, the client, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) in October of 2003, and re-confirmed in 2008. The MDEQ concurred with the boundaries as flagged and the jurisdictional status.
All woodlands were assessed and mapped, and an analysis of quality and age of the woodlands was conducted utilizing historical aerial photographs. The inventory was used to determine the development constraints present on the property and to aid in conceptual site plan development.
In 2010, Niswander Environmental conducted an ecological assessment of the site and recommended that 41 acres of mature, high quality forest be preserved in its current state. This parcel provides unique natural features and rare old growth forest with wetland components. If protected, this parcel can link large, publicly-owned naturalized areas to the east, and when combined will provide a critical buffer for the Rouge River.