Port Huron State Game Area Habitat Project

The St. Clair County Pheasants Forever Chapter #74 will be sponsoring a 5 acre habitat improvement project on the Port Huron State Game Area.  The chapter will be including a local fourth grade classroom to assist in the planting of native grasses (diverse NWSG mix) consisting of tall and short grasses with a % wildflower  mix included.

Step 1 of the project will be site preparation which will consist of clearing all woody encroachments, invasives, and any other removable objects in the identified 5 acres as well as the parking lot perimeter.  Large brush that is removed will be used to create rabbitat brushpiles. (this portion of project completed on April 25, 2024)

Step 2 will consist of an educational component involving the fourth grade classroom consisting of 20 students.  PF Volunteers along with Michigan's Education and Outreach Coordinator will present hand on activities for the students at the school before they visit the site to actually plant.  Students from the district's high school (Natural Science seniors) will be introduced to the activities.  They will then lead the activities at 4 separate stations with the 4th graders.  The four stations will consist of 1) observing live pheasant chicks, studying a rooster pheasant mount, handling a rooster pheasant pelt and a hen pheasant pelt, and discussing the needs of pheasants 2) pollinator seed ball project 3) Dice Monarch Migration Activity and 4) pollinator ice cream sundae activity.  (this portion of the project was completed on May 3, 2024)

Step 3 will be a light surface disturbance and grading will take place in efforts to reduce the amount of trip hazards and rough terrain in the proposed planting area.   The fourth graders will then visit the site and hand broadcast their seeds as schedule and weather allows.

Step 4 the entire 5 acres will be drilled and then a herbicide mix of glyphosate and Plateau will be applied to eliminate cool season grass competition.  Throughout the summer and fall, mechanical weed control in the form of mowing will be conducted, as needed, by Pheasant Forever Chapter volunteers from St. Clair County Chapter #74.