Historic landscape changes within the Bowens Creek watershed severely altered and greatly reduced the quality of stream and wetland habitats from unnamed tributaries downstream through Arcadia Marsh to Arcadia Lake and Lake Michigan. In 2009, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Conservation Resource Alliance, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee County Road Commission, and Ducks Unlimited received a Sustain Our Great Lakes grant to restore this vital Great Lakes habitat for future generations. During 2011, seven perched, undersized, or misaligned culverts within Bowens Creek tributaries were replaced, reopening 10 miles of stream habitat to ecologically important fish species. During 2012, a 1-mile stretch of Bowens Creek flowing through Arcadia Marsh will be returned to its original watercourse by constructing two ditch plugs in a railroad ditch that shunts the stream, enhancing 75 acres of Arcadia Marsh and improving hydrological functioning throughout the watershed. Additional work, including installation of in-stream woody debris, macrotopography improvements on the marsh surface, control of invasive plant species, and reseeding of native plant species within the marsh, will improve stream and wetland habitat for aquatic invertebrates, fish, and other wildlife in this Great Lakes area.