Michigan Trout - Summer 2010

Buy Your Groceries, Save a Trout Stream

If you do your grocery shopping at Kroger or its affiliate stores in the state, your grocery purchases will earn cash for Michigan TU through the company’s Kroger Community Rewards Program.With a simple one-time registration into the program, Kroger will donate 5% of your grocery purchases each and every time you do your shopping. That’s right…your grocery shopping generates a cash donation to TU from Kroger! That’s right…no cost to you!This program is a ridiculously easy way to donate a few bucks a week to coldwater conservation every time you do your grocery shopping. Kroger’s program uses your existing Kroger Plus customer card…there is no separate card, matching payment, or minimum purchase requirement.

Visit our website to sign up! www.michigantu.org/kroger

Fall Special!

For the Love of Trout by George A. Griffith,

Founder of Trout Unlimited

Trade Edition $18.00

Collector’s Edition Leather

BoundSigned &

Numbered $75.00

“The Philosophy of Trout Unlimited”By Art Neumann - $15.00

Only Available w/ Book Purchase

Please add $4.00 Postage per each Item

To Order send a checkPayable To: MICHIGAN TROUT UNLIMITED

C/O Tom Quail, 2575 Orbit Drive, Lake Orion, MI 48360-1967

or order online @www.michigantu.org/fortheloveoftrout

The Legacy of a River

is an amazing gift…Please consider including Michigan Trout Unlimited in your estate plans, trust or will. The

legacy you leave will help ensure Michigan’s cold waters and trout live on. MITU has a helpful guide to planned giving options that can both benefit you as well as

providing a legacy to coldwater protection. To view this brochure, visit michigantu.org/plannedgiving, or request a paper copy from

Bryan Burroughs, Executive [email protected]

In the state where Trout Unlimited was founded, Michigan TU will work to ensure clean, healthy streams and rivers supporting thriving populations of wild trout and salmon for future generations to enjoy.

CONTENTS

Fall 2015

MICHIGAN TROUT MAGAZINEP.O. Box 442

Dewitt, Michigan 48820-8820(517) 599-5238

[email protected]

EDITORJoe Barker

(586) [email protected]

LAYOUTRon Peckens

Fisheye Internet Solutions & Hosting LLC(248) 909-2916

www.fisheyeinternet.com

[email protected]

MICHIGAN TROUT UNLIMITED

Chairman: John WaltersVice Chairman: Tom QuailTreasurer: Robb Smith Sr.

Secretary: Paul Meyer

Executive Director: Dr. Bryan Burroughs

Aquatic Biologist: Kristin Thomas

NLC Representative: Dave Smith Development Chair: Tom Quail

Education & Chapter Assistance Chair: David M. Smith

Communications:Electronic - Ron Peckens

Conservation:Advocacy - Jeff Jocks

Government Affairs - Paul RoseHabitat Enhancement - Mark Hendricks

Operations & Finance Chair: Ed Roden

MICHIGAN TROUT is the official

publication of Michigan Trout Unlimited.

Copyright 2015.

Issues are mailed to all members of Trout Unlimited Chapters throughout Michigan.

Send all editorial and advertising correspondence to the editor.

Advertising rate card is available at the following address michigantu.org/advertising

Michigan Trout and MichiganTrout Unlimited reserves the

right to accept or reject proposedadvertisements at their sole discretion.

4 Michigan TU Chairman’s Report By John Walters

5 Little Manistee River Habitat Improvement Project By Jeremy Geist

6 The Two Hearted River of the Upper Penninsula By James Diem

8 Local Chapter Work Spotlight By Joe Barker

10 The Synthetic Invasive By Dennis Eade

12 What to expect from the Grayling Hatchery?: A Case Study of the Big Spring Creek Hatchery By Joe Hemming

14 Pigeon River Golden Lotus Dam Removal Update By Dr. Bryan Burroughs

16 Observations from a Pro By Alex Cerveniak

18 Teen Summit Experience is a Life Changer By Brienna Shear

20 Aquifer Club Outing By Tom Quail

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Michigan Trout Unlimited

Fall 2015

I often hear from other anglers, “I wish I lived in the good ol’ days.” The strength of people, the quality of fishing, the simpler times, the gravel roads all made up the good ol’ days. Well, I can tell you, “We are living in the good ol’ days!”

The trout fishing in Michigan is arguably the best in the country. From the brook trout fishing on the Fox River or brown trout fishing on the Escanaba River to the high quality trout fishing on the Au Sable or Manistee Rivers, to Steelhead fishing on the Pere Marquette, Muskegon, or Grand Rivers. We have the diversity, proximity, and character of a wonderful experience of fishing for trout. Take your spouse, your son or daughter, the neighbor kid, or your fishing partner trout fishing. You will be creating memories that will last a lifetime.

When on the river fishing for trout you are relatively unplugged from electronic equipment. Standing shin deep in a stream watching a mayfly hatch or spinner fall in front of rising trout, it is just you and the natural resources. This is what makes for simpler times.

Yes, in the ol’ days there was George Mason, George Griffith, Art Neumann, Ernie Schweibert, Carlos Fetterolf, and Rusty Gates, who fought to protect our natural resources. They taught us the importance of conserving, protecting, and restoring the most beautiful places on Earth.

There are issues that bombard us every day. It is our responsibility to sift through these issues to determine their priorities and how

these issues affect our coldwater resources. Within a 10-month period, Michigan Trout Unlimited adopted two significant policies to guide us and others on two sensitive issues.

In late September 2014, Michigan TU passed and adopted the Gas & Oil Policy. We have worked to change the regulatory process when the gas and oil industry use water for their acquisition of minerals. This has proven to be a tediously slow process, but we will continue to have discussions with the DNR and DEQ. We can go to our legislature to have them try to pass laws on how water should be used. If laws are passed (which is not an easy endeavor), there are concerns about enforcement. We believe the best way to positively influence change with how water is used is to have discussions directly with the people and companies within the industry.

Within the gas and oil industry, there are many people who are good conservationists and there are companies that implement the most current technologies to conserve water use. Michigan TU has met with people from the industry to request positive changes to where wells are placed, what time of year they pump the water from the aquifer, and what they do with the water once it has been used. We have had very positive discussions and will continue to affect change with the gas and oil industry with their water use.

In July 2015, Michigan TU approved and adopted the Aquaculture Policy. A question some people have is, “what is aquaculture?” Answer: fish farming. There are SOME active fish farms in Michigan, today. However, the

Michigan TU Chairman’s Reportby John Walters

...continued on page 21

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Fall 2015www.michigantu.org

This summer, Trout Unlimited joined a multi-partner habitat improvement effort on the Little Manistee River in Mason County. The project was led by the Conservation Resource Alliance with support from TU, Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council, Federation of Fly Fishers, and a private land owner.

The project involved the addition of logs and woody material throughout 4,000 linear feet of the Little Manistee River. Engineered log jams were constructed using large diameter trees woven in among smaller wood pieces, commonly referred to as “slash.” The slash was then trenched into the river bank or driven as a piling into the stream bed for stability. Wood material was provided by the U.S. Forest Service and project engineering was provided by Inter-Fluve, Inc., with additional on-site support by Kanouse Outdoor Restoration. The DNR donated an excavator and operator to assist with project construction and TU provided on-site and technical support.

The project site was located in a stretch of the river between Eleven Mile and Nine Mile Bridges. This segment of the river has been identified in the “River Stewards,” Little Manistee River Instream Fish Habitat Report as being deficient in large woody habitat. The adjacent private landowner, who is an avid fly fisherman and TU Life Member, allowed access through his property to conduct the work. Additional work will take place during the fall season and project completion will occur in 2016.

Natural wood in a stream channel is critical and the benefits of wood additions are

extensive. The project in the Little Manistee River will improve habitat quality for trout and other coldwater fishes by creating deeper pools and increasing available cover and overall habitat complexity. The constructed log complexes will also improve the ability of the stream to retain and process particulate (e.g., leaves) and dissolved organic matter (e.g., nitrogen), which is a major determinant of food availability to stream biota. Biofilm, the accumulation of micro-organisms and detritus, which develops on submerged wood pieces, will benefit macroinvertebrates by providing a source of food and habitat.

Adding logs and woody material in a stream is one of the oldest and most common techniques used in river restoration. Monitoring the conditions after project completion is essential to improve our understanding of the full benefits and to help guide future efforts.

Little Manistee RiverHabitat Improvement Project

by Jeremy Geist

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The Two Hearted River of the Upper Peninsula by James Diem

Based in Newberry, the Two Heart Chapter of Trout Unlimited is one of TU’s largest area-wise. It stretches from the eastern boundaries of the Upper Peninsula to the middle of the Seney stretch of M-28 just west of M-77. That area is larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island put together. There are many good trout streams, the Sucker and the Mosquito in Alger County, the Black, the Crow, and the Davenport in Mackinac County, the Driggs, the Fox, and the Little Fox in Schoolcraft County, and the Upper Tahquamenon and the Two Hearted River in Luce County to name just a few.

Even though Ernest Hemingway made the Two Hearted River famous in his story about Nick Adams, Hemingway never fished the Two Hearted River. It originates deep in the north woods of Luce County and flows east-northeast 23.6 miles to Lake Superior. Hemingway got off the train in Seney, 25 miles away from the headwaters of the Two Hearted. He fished the Fox, but he liked and used the name Two Hearted for his short story “Big Two Hearted.” However, he missed out on catching brookies, rainbows, and steelheads that populate the Two Hearted.

At the mouth of the Two Hearted River are two state forest campgrounds, which fortunately the Duck Lake fire of 2012 missed, although one can see scorch marks on the far side of the river by the footbridge. There is no electricity or running water at the 39 campsites, but there are pumps and pit toilets. Fishermen pack the campgrounds in the fall trying for elusive steelhead.

The fire destroyed over 23,000 acres of forests and cabins mainly along the Little Two Hearted River. Many of those cabins have been rebuilt, but the devastation can still be seen. The fire also destroyed much of the forest at the lower portions of the Two Hearted, including a popular site, Rainbow Lodge. It is slowly being rebuilt.

The Two Hearted River has been designated as a Natural River by the State of Michigan and as such, the State’s zoning rules for natural rivers apply, thereby keeping the river as wild as possible. The Nature Conservancy acquired 23,800 acres along the Two Hearted watershed in 2005 further protecting the river.

There are several tributaries to the Two Hearted. The South Branch flows into the North Branch, and then joins the main river. Both are extremely difficult to get to. Further downstream are Dawson Creek and the East Branch. Even though they share the name, the Little Two Hearted does not join up with the main Two Hearted. It flows into Lake Superior several miles to the east.

Pretty Lake State Forest Campground is located near the North Branch and with a canoe or kayak one can fish, with short portages, several different lakes that eventually flow into the North Branch, although the river itself is not conducive to canoe travel in this section. For those wading the North or South Branch, prepare to fight your way through a jungle of tag alders, not only to get to the stream, but to wade it either upstream or down. Casting is not possible as the alders on both sides of the river form a tunnel.

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Further downstream, west of Luce County Road 40, the river is wadable and is accessible along CR 418, but be sure to use a vehicle with four-wheel drive.

The Two Hearted flows underneath CR 407 just north of the small hamlet of Pine Stump Junction. At the bridge over the river is High Bridge State Forest Campground. Hardy canoers can put in here. However, be warned. Downstream of this spot for the next five miles are numerous portages over log piles and trees that have fallen across the river. Dawson Creek joins the Two Hearted just downstream of High Bridge and the river becomes deeper and fast flowing. Opportunities to catch brookies and rainbows are many as this section of the river is also extremely difficult to get to by land. Be prepared for a long day’s canoe journey as the next spot to get off the river is the Reed & Green State Forest Campground off of CR 410. It takes all day to get there. There is a small unimproved campground two-thirds of the way to Reed & Green. The locals know about it, but it is up on a steep bluff overlooking the river and is easy to miss.

The river slows downstream of Reed & Green, but there are no more portages. This is a popular start for day canoers. It takes approximately six hours to float to the mouth of the river. The water, which is clear at the beginning, becomes a dark brown due to the tannin produced by the cedar swaps that make up the Two Hearted watershed. The opportunities to catch trout are still abundant, but the obvious holes are difficult to find. There is a nice hole where the East Branch joins the mainstream. It can be reached by land if one can get on the correct two-track. Unfortunately, there are many two-tracks in this area leading off into the forest for it has been logged and hunted for over a hundred years. It is easy to get on the wrong trail.

The river eventually flows parallel to Lake Superior and one can hear the waves crashing on the shore. It is easy to believe that the mouth is just around the next bend, yet it is not so. About a mile from the mouth as the river flows is a spot where short trip canoers can access the river. Over the years that embankment became eroded due to heavy use by canoers, who would slide their canoes down to the river. In 2005, the Two Heart

Chapter took on a project in conjunction with the DNR to build 59 steps down the sandy embankment. The steps were made of logs held together by cable and filled with gravel. The Two Heart members also planted grass and constructed several log revetments to help control the erosion caused by water run-off.

The project held up for ten years with one minor repair at the five-year mark. However, due to the Duck Lake fire, which devastated the forest nearby, but did not touch the steps themselves, the spring run-offs for the past couple of years have severely eroded a good portion of the steps to a depth of three to four feet.

Since the Two Heart Chapter was instrumental in building the steps, it was entrusted with the upkeep. Therefore, they spent a weekend this past July hauling six tons of stones and sand to fill in the holes created by the erosion. The Chapter also built several more log revetments along the side of the steps. Fortunately, the grass that was planted in 2005 has spread, keeping the majority of the bank from sliding into the river.

For the past several years, on the last Saturday in April the river has been impossible to get to except for a few spots as the snow levels have been too deep. The Luce County Road Commission has the responsibility of opening up the road leading to Two Hearted Campground at the mouth, High Bridge, and Reed & Green Campgrounds. However, the rest of the river is not attainable until usually the middle of May. Generally speaking, the fish do not bite until the bugs come out and come out they do. There is a fine crop of very friendly mosquitos and black flies every year in late May, June, and July so be prepared.

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Local Chapter Work Spotlightby Joe Barker

EFFORTS MADE TO REESTABLISH ELM TREES

In early June, the Pine River Area Chapter, with the assistance of Jeremy Geist, TU’s Great Lakes Basin Representative, partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to help reestablish Dutch Elm Disease resistant trees in the riparian areas of Poplar Creek. The creek is a major tributary to the Pine River and a high quality trout stream that provides important coldwater habitat. Approximately 80 elm seedlings were planted at access sites to two old sediment basin locations (i.e., sand traps) to eventually afford shade to the stream. Trees were supplied by a USFS nursery and material to protect from deer grazing was provided by TU through a habitat grant.

Riparian planting within the Pine River watershed will be an annual partnership event between the Chapter and USFS and will benefit the watershed through passive long-term habitat restoration. Efforts to protect the watershed are ongoing and the tree planting will be complimentary to an in-stream habitat restoration project in the planning stages by TU and USFS.

FISHING CLINICS AIM AT NEXT GENERATION

The Miller-Van Winkle Chapter conducted two, one-day fly fishing clinics in May for youths ages 12-17. The clinics were held in Petoskey on the banks of the Bear River and were designed to give young anglers an understanding and appreciation of the fundamentals of fly fishing, to provide access to equipment and mentoring, and to pass along the TU philosophy as a means of developing the next generation of fly anglers

and coldwater conservationists.

Participants engaged in aquatic entomology, knot tying, fly tying basics, wading safety, angling ethics and sportsmanship, and fly casting. Later they were treated to a cookout lunch. Each young angler eventually had the opportunity to try several fly fishing techniques in the Bear River under the supervision of volunteer mentors, including dry fly presentation, streamer fishing, indicator nymphing, and bottom bouncing . A major component of the clinics is that each student has the opportunity to participate in the Chapter’s rod lending program, offered in conjunction with the Petoskey and Charlevoix Public Libraries, thanks to financial support from the Kalamazoo Valley and Paul Young Chapters.

Miller-Van Winkle Chapter Fishing Clinics

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MILL CREEK RESTORATION SHOWING RESULTS

The signature long-term project of the Ann Arbor Chapter, the restoration of Mill Creek near Dexter into a self-sustaining brown trout fishery, is making steady progress. The Chapter’s ongoing survey of fishing activity shows that 81 brown trout catches in lengths from 4 - 23 inches were reported to its website from April to October 2014. An additional 75 browns ranging from 4 - 20+ inches were reported directly to the Mill Creek Brown Trout Project director by reliable sources. The Chapter believes that the actual total brown trout catches for the period was even higher. Fishing and shocking survey results show that stocked browns have been surviving both the winter freezes and summer heat spells, are growing to very respectable sizes, and are possibly reproducing in the creek.

With the DNR now providing supplemental stocking of trout and monitoring progress, Mill Creek is an exciting story of the potential of converting a once-dammed and neglected coldwater stream into a destination trout fishery in Southeastern Michigan.

COMING TO THE AID OF VETERANS

In February, members of Kalamazoo Valley Chapter and many others came together to tie flies as part of the Ninth Annual Tie-A-Thon for Flyin’ Heroes of Muskegon. In the last nine years, fly tiers have donated over 65,000 flies to various good causes. Flyin’ Heroes is a program that utilizes the sport of fly fishing to promote therapeutic growth and rehabilitation of military veterans. The goal of Flyin’ Heroes is to create memorable fly fishing experiences that unlock the healing power of water and foster lasting relationships.

In September, members of KVCTU had another fun filled fishing trip down the Muskegon River with about 30 veterans from Project Healing Waters. The outing gives veterans a chance to practice skills they have learned in fly and spin fishing. Veterans were taken in drift boats provided by Chapter members and professional guides and were afforded the chance to catch salmon or trout. Over 150 veterans have participated since the first trip. Plans are to make the fall trips

an annual memorial to Tim May, a Chapter member who was instrumental in putting the program together and making the fishing trips a reality.

FOCUS RETURNS TO BLACK RIVER

The Vanguard Chapter returned to the Black River in the Pigeon River Country State Forest (PRCSF) for this year’s annual work weekend in August after spending the last two years focusing on rehabbing sinkhole lakes in the area. The event was organized by the Upper Black River Council and 12 members of the Chapter were joined by volunteers from Huron Pines and PRCSF.

The site chosen was near “the chimney” in an area formerly belonging to the Blue Lake Club. The task was to build large woody debris structures to create silt management beds. Streamside trees were harvested and the crew utilized a new pulley and winch system that was recently acquired. This enabled them to move with ease some sizeable logs of around seven inches in diameter by 16 feet long. The logs were floated into position along the bank and anchored using cables and duck bills pounded into the streambed. Once in position, the structures were backfilled with small sticks, branches, and pine boughs to create the perfect silt and sediment bed to filter the water. This allows the river channel to have good exposed gravel for the fish to thrive in.

Vanguard TU returns to the Black River

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The latest threat to our rivers, streams, and Great Lakes isn’t the big head or silver carp. It isn’t the zebra or quagga mussel, though the latter continues an unchecked onslaught of the Great Lakes bottomland and threatens to alter the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. Instead of an invasive species, it’s a seemingly innocuous minuscule ball of plastic called microplasic, or more specifically, the plastic microbead.

Over the years, microbeads have replaced traditional, biodegradable alternatives such as ground apricot shells, almonds, salt crystals, or oat meal as ingredients in a number of personal care products. Today’s facial scrubs use microbeads to exfoliate dry skin, toothpastes contain microbeads to add texture, and makeup contains microbeads to add color, heretofore provided by other natural products. They are listed on ingredient labels under the material names of polyethylene, polypropylene terephthalate, or polymethyl methacrylate.

The problem arises when we rinse them down the drain. They are too small (1mm in diameter) to be captured in most wastewater treatment plants. Instead, they are released into rivers and make their way into the Great Lakes.

Researchers at the State University of New York estimate that an average of 17,000 of the plastic particles is found per square kilometer in Lake Michigan. The numbers are lower in Lakes Superior and Huron, but higher in Erie and Ontario where the researchers estimate the plastic concentrations as high as 1.1 million per square kilometer.

The non-profit organization 5 Gyres found a large number of microplastics in the Great Lakes and estimates that one single care

product (Neutrogena’s Deep Clean) contains 360,000 microbeads. Due to their chemical makeup, microplastics attract other persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs and pesticides from the marine environment, becoming as much as one million times more toxic than the water around them.

Not only do they enter the waterways, they can also enter the food chain. The beads, which can resemble fish eggs, are mistaken for food and ingested by fish and other marine animals. That means they can make it all the way to your table. So much for the circle of life.

If microbeads pose such a problem for the environment, why do companies put them in their products to begin with? According to Stiv Wilson, campaign director for the The Story of Stuff Project and leader of the national effort to ban microbeads, “Well for one, plastic is cheaper than the natural exfoliants they used to use and it’s an excuse to sell more stuff. Those natural exfoliants were so good, you could only use them once a week. Plastic microbeads are smooth enough to use every day which means you run out quicker and have to buy more of that product.” Bottom line is that it is more profitable to use plastic microbeads than the traditional, biodegradable alternatives.

Even though some companies have voluntarily agreed to remove plastic microbeads from their products (Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever), states have begun to consider banning microbeads. Illinois was the first state to ban microbeads last year, but did not go far enough, leaving loopholes for so-called

The Synthetic Invasiveby Dennis Eade, Executive Director

Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association

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Representatives Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, and Frank Pallone, D-N.J., have proposed legislation, the Microbeads-Free Waters Act of 2015, that by 2018 would prohibit the sale or distribution of personal hygiene products containing microbeads. The likelihood of a national ban is problematic, however. The issue is less of a concern in states that do not border large bodies of water like the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, or San Francisco Bay. The majority party in Congress has not shown interest in passing legislation that negatively impacts corporate profits or is perceived as adding another layer of environmental regulation.

That means we have to fight this battle at the state level and Michigan has been and always will be the vanguard of protecting the environment and its natural resources. The Pure Michigan tourism campaign has resonated so prominently in the public’s consciousness that it has evolved into the Pure Michigan brand. Michigan has the strictest ballast water discharge law of any state that borders the St. Lawrence Seaway.

“The Maryland bill is a big win for Maryland, but it is also a major step toward a nationwide shift in how these products are designed,” said Stiv Wilson. “We are creating structural and transformative change on how we use plastic particles in commerce.”

A consensus is developing among business, government, sportsmen, and environmentalists on the danger of microbeads and we need to take advantage of this collective like-mindedness. Washing our faces shouldn’t result in trashing our lakes and streams.

biodegradable plastics like polylactic acid (PLA). Unfortunately, PLA only biodegrades at extremely high heat, not in the cool temperatures of lake water.

Similar bans were put into effect in other states in 2014 after researchers found alarmingly high concentrations of microbeads in the Great Lakes. The state of Maryland, with the agreement of the Personal Care Products Council, has just passed a ban that effectively closes the PLA loophole. The law requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to establish regulations so that alternative exfoliants meet international standards to biodegrade in wastewater treatment plants and the marine environment. The MDE will review the regulations periodically to ensure the strongest, most relevant standards are in effect.

In Michigan, a coalition of sportsmen groups, including Trout Unlimited, Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, and Michigan Charter Boat Association, along with tourism organizations, including the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan and Michigan’s Tourism Strategic Plan Committee on Resources and Environment, have requested state legislators to adopt language similar to the Maryland ban to accomplish the same result. The majority party leadership has been receptive to language that would include a provision clearly stating that the Department of Environmental Quality would administer and enforce this new law and a provision that the department will develop a standard for biodegradability that is consistent with current law. Section 324.3109 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act prohibits any discharge that is injurious to water quality and fisheries.

To date the Michigan Chemical Council, which represents the personal care products industry in Michigan, opposes the proposed language. No bill is better than a bad bill, but when you live in a state with over three thousand miles of shoreline on four of the Great Lakes, 2,000,000 anglers, 38,000 sport fishing related jobs, $4 billion of economic impact and 22,000,000 fish stocked annually, elected representatives need to step up and protect the Great Lakes and connecting waterways.

The best approach is a national ban. U.S.

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Anglers of the Au Sable is opposing the permit as presently issued to Harrietta Hills Trout Farm to raise up to 300,000 pounds of fish at the old Grayling Fish Hatchery. The potential damage that can be wrought on a pristine blue ribbon trout river, such as the Au Sable, if not done carefully, can be examined by the experience with Big Spring Creek in Pennsylvania.

E. P. Macri Jr. in 2009 wrote, “The story of Big Spring Creek is one of legend. In the 1920’s through (the) 50’s the stream was so famous that the English sporting media regularly sent reporters over to do stories on this American spring creek, which was comparable to the best English chalk streams. Its native strain of brook trout were like no other that anyone could find.”

As written by Jim Chestney in an article entitled, “The Saga of Big Spring Creek,” some of the earliest conservation measures that were adopted in the United States may have originated on this stream back in 1850 when a creel limit was established of 50 trout per day with the river enjoying a glorious background in the annals of American trout fishing. Dr. John Black, in a column written in the Forum of Fly Fisherman magazine, describes that for a stretch of Big Spring before the hatcheries, no matter what time of day or season of the year, hundreds of rising trout could be seen.

Black in the February 1999 issue of Fly Fisherman magazine in an article entitled, “What Happened to Big Spring,” describes that for more than 40 years, the Big Spring trout fishery had been affected by two trout hatcheries, the first being a commercial hatchery developed in the mid-1950s about

a half a mile below the source of Big Spring. Several years after this hatchery reached a substantial level of production, the brook trout fishing declined below the hatchery. That hatchery eventually closed in 1968.

Thereafter in 1971, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission constructed a massive fish hatchery known as the Big Spring Fish Cultural Station. This hatchery was at the spring’s source. The remaining wild population of brook trout collapsed within a few years after it came online in 1972. Ironically, the Commission’s original 1972 news release stated that the hatchery was built above the spring “in order to retain Big Spring as top notch trout stream.”

So how was it that these hatcheries affected Big Spring Creek?

Black with Macri wrote an article in 1997 entitled “An Ecological Survey of Big Spring Creek with Emphasis on the Effects of Fish Hatchery Effluent,” laid the blame for the collapse of the fishery squarely at the feet of the Commission, the very agency that was supposed to protect and manage Pennsylvania’s fisheries.

As with any flow-through hatchery, there was effluent. The effluent affected, according to this article, the sensitive insect species, such as the sulpher dun mayflies that were once prolific and now absent. Biological diversity became limited to pollution-tolerant organisms such as cress-bugs and midge larva.

Another key finding in this survey was that with these hatcheries being present, low dissolved oxygen concentration occurred within the stream’s gravel bottom and spawning areas

What to expect from the Grayling Hatchery?: A Case Study of the Big Spring Creek Hatchery

by Joe Hemming Vice President, Anglers of the Au Sable

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Big Spring, using a conical clarifier helping to remove the waste, the treatment apparently did not afford adequate protection for the water quality needed for wild brook trout reproduction in a limestone stream. Production figures for the Fish Station run by Pennsylvania for 1994/1995 indicate a production of 365,207 pounds, which Black and Macri translate to approximately 900,000 trout per year.

Fly Fisherman magazine does report that by 2001, the Commission shut down the hatchery and a few years later the native brook trout and rainbow trout made a dramatic come-back.

The permit issued to at the Grayling Fish Hatchery allows an increase from under 20,000 pounds of fish per year to 300,000 pounds of fish, shifting from a hatchery to an industrial fish farm.

Anglers of the Au Sable have indicated in its objections to the permit as issued by the DEQ that the hatchery will be emitting all of the same substances that were released from the hatchery at Big Spring. That includes phosphorus, suspended solids, and other effluents, thereby reducing dissolved oxygen and thus affecting the growth of algae and adversely affecting the insects and health of the fish. The objections, along with similar ones filed by the Sierra Club, will be heard by an administrative law judge.

that were formerly used by the wild brook trout. The levels found were insufficient to support natural reproduction.

Black and Macri point out that after a commercial hatchery began operations about 0.6 miles below the source, at the point where this hatchery reached a substantial production of approximately 300,000 fish, the wild brook population failed downstream. There was a remaining wild population upstream from this hatchery.

Unfortunately, as referenced above, the Commission established the Big Spring Fish Cultural Station at the stream’s spring source in 1972. Thereafter, the remaining wild population collapsed by 1975. A small trout population of less than 10% of the historic population numbers remains, which is believed to be accounted for by stocked trout and hatchery escapism. The original strain of wild brook trout that made Big Spring famous no longer exists.

According to Black in Fly Fishman, when confronted with these findings, the Commission acknowledged deficiencies in the hatchery effluent process, but were quick to point out that their effluent level met all the current state and federal standards. Apparently, those standards were insufficient and Black pointed out that this was a poor trade-off given that America lost one its greatest trout streams.

As with any flow-through hatchery, where the river flows into the hatchery and flows out at the bottom, if not properly managed organic wastes and nutrients are discharged in hatchery effluent. This results in nitrogen enrichment and oxygen depletion, altering the waters below the hatchery. Mayflies and stoneflies cannot thrive in these types of waters, the proverbial canary in the mine shaft.

Even with the technology utilized at this state-run station at Grayling Fish Hatchery - July 1952

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Pigeon River Golden Lotus Dam Removal Update

by Dr. Bryan Burroughs

Up in the northeast corner of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan lies the “Big Wild,” also known as the Pigeon River Country; and in the heart of that lies the Pigeon River; and just about in the middle of that watershed is the Song of the Morning Dam (also known as the “Golden Lotus Dam”). This century old dam had a long time to do some good for people living in the area, and a lot of bad for the river and its aquatic life.

Back in the summer of 2008 we first reported on the most recent fishkill caused by the dam. There have been three dam failures leading to fishkills on the river over time. But in-between those catastrophes, the dam more subtly raised water temperatures in the river and blocked aquatic organism passage, diminishing the trout fishery for decades and decades.

In 1984, after the second large fishkill caused by the dam, Michigan Trout Unlimited went to court to have the dam removed from the river. That did not come to fruition and in 2008 when the dam once again led to a large fishkill (estimated around 500,000 trout), Michigan TU once again went to court to seek removal of the dam.

We began writing about this dam and this legal case in our summer 2008 issue of Michigan Trout magazine. The story was continually covered during the six or so years of legal proceedings that followed. All of these articles and back issues of our magazine can be found and reviewed at www.michigantu.org.

We last wrote about this issue when we

had reached final legal agreements that would resolve the case and move the dam removal forward. In the year or so since then, we and our partners have been busy designing, planning, implementing, fundraising, and executing various parts of the project. The goal of this article is to get you caught up on its status.

The final legal agreements set forth a steering committee framework to oversee and make decisions about implementation of the project. Members of that steering committee include Huron Pines (project coordinator), Golden Lotus, Pigeon River Country Association (our partners in the litigation), and Michigan TU. The first order of business for this project team was applying and successfully receiving a grant award from the Michigan DNR Aquatic Habitat Grant program to complement the monetary contributions to the project made by Golden Lotus. Unfortunately, despite legal agreements crafted with the aim of clarifying the project’s eligibility for federal grant programs, the U.S. Forest & Wildlife Service still interpreted the project as ineligible.

The lesson for future dam removal projects is twofold: 1) if dam owners wait until their aging dam causes damage, they may lose the chance to receive financial support for proactively removing it; and 2) if a voluntary agreement is reached to remove a dam as part of a court order, it will likely be viewed as “ordered by the court” (not voluntary) and deemed as “mitigation” and ineligible for many governmental grants. With 3,000 more dams in Michigan this will come up again.

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The project steering committee met regularly in 2014, planning out the dam removal and associated sediment management. Michigan TU played a prominent role in the design of that plan. In spring 2014, the drawdown phase of the removal commenced. This involved slow and methodical removal of 4-inch stoplogs from the dam, essentially bringing the water level behind the dam down from 12 feet to close to 0 feet, four inches at a time. With each stoplog removal, water stored in the impoundment was released downstream, along with certain amounts of organic sediments; potentially dangerous to the aquatic life downstream if too much was released at any one time.

The plan predicted the volume of water and sediment releases, and the concentrations and their lethality downstream with each stoplog removal. Monitoring of dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, and turbidity was undertaken at various points downstream, and at various times after each stoplog was removed. We tracked how our predictions were holding up and if conditions were remaining safe for the fish downstream.

We couldn’t be more excited, proud, and fortunate to report that throughout last summer the entire dam drawdown was completed without incident and levels stayed well below our cautious predictions. This was the first dam removal in Michigan to

our knowledge that successfully navigated controlled releases of large volumes of fine organic muck sediments.

Upstream of the dam the river cut a river channel with the expanses of former open water revegetating quickly. It’s a dramatic change to the human eye. The river is looking like a river again, yet there will be much more change and restoration in the years to come. One quirk of the process was unexpected yet not surprising. Midway upstream in the former impoundment a large collection of wood debris (long ago sunk on the bottom of the impoundment), compacted with sediments, has resisted erosion from the new river flow and is still holding back sediments. This has partially worked to our advantage, giving the project team more time to fully implement sand management activities before it is removed.

When the dam removal itself occurs, sand from the upper portion of the former impoundment will begin moving downstream in large volumes. A sediment collection basin, or sand trap, will be constructed downstream of the dam to capture and remove as much of this as possible. This sand trap will be located just downstream of Golden Lotus’ geodesic dome (visible in aerial photos). It will be of sufficient width, depth, and length, and emptied frequently enough to be as effective as possible. It is not possible to collect the smallest particles of sand, but is designed

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Between guiding and taking friends out, I’ve spent more time on the oars than fishing over the past few years, which has enabled me to do a lot of observing. While doing so, I’ve noticed that there are some common casting and presentation problems that plague everyone from novices to veterans--stuff I haven’t noticed in the past when focused on putting my own fish in the net.

As they say, presentation, presentation, presentation. And a good presentation starts with a good cast. Getting a fish to take your fly is the final step in a chain reaction that starts before your line has even hit the water. I wanted to share a few common observations, as I think they’re probably problems most anglers are dealing with when it comes to making a good presentation, maybe even you.

Most people false cast too much. Try to get your fly where it needs to be within two or three false casts, tops. One is ideal. If it takes you more than three casts, and even three sometimes, reposition yourself so you can make the cast with fewer false casts. Just because you can cast 90 feet after false casting 18 times doesn’t mean you should. By excessively false casting and making casts beyond your comfort zone, you’re either putting fish down or making them more wary. In the dark, not so much, unless you’re in a boat and sending waves as you shift your weight with each false cast.

The other issue here is you’re not going to get a drag free drift, or very long of one, if you’ve got a ton of line out. The more line you have on the water, the more you’re fighting drag, which leads to my next observation.

Most people don’t recognize drag. Everyone can recognize drag when their fly is skating sideways across the current or when it starts to skate downstream. But it’s critically important to learn to recognize subtle drag on your fly that is less obvious. The issue here is if you can’t recognize subtle drag. You think you’re getting a good drift when you’re actually not. This leads to the trout getting inside your head and you think the fish won’t eat because you’ve got the wrong fly, the tippet size is wrong, or maybe that Saturn is aligned with Uranus. Assuming you can perform the basic fly cast, the first step towards a drag-free drift is how and where you’re positioned in relation to the fish.

When possible, I get myself and clients as close as possible from the side of the river that offers the easiest approach, then anywhere from a rods length upstream or downstream from the fish. When you’re casting to a fish even or downstream from your position, it’s generally easier to get a drag free drift if the end of your fly line is upstream of the fly. The second step towards a drag free drift is using a reach cast, which leads to my next observation.

You don’t know what a reach cast is. Well, maybe you do, but three out of four people in my boat don’t, even guys with lots of experience. With a good reach cast, you often won’t need to mend. If you do need to mend, you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to do when set up first by a good reach cast. Unless the fish is rising directly downstream, you should always reach cast, even when casting directly upstream as you can use the reach

Observations from a Proby Alex Cerveniak

Owner/Guide Northern Michigan Fly Fishing

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fly. Don’t pick the fly up to recast until it is a few feet downstream of the fish. That’s easier said than done when it’s pitch black out, but try to listen for your fly coming off the water’s surface on the pickup, or better yet, look for the little white spot of water splashing when your fly comes off the water. Once you’ve done that, you can adjust accordingly on the next drift.

You splat the water a lot on your backcast. This is very common amongst anglers of all skill levels. The root cause is simple. On the backcast, your body tells your hand, which tells the rod, which tells the line, which tells the leader, which tells the fly to go down at the water. The fix isn’t just to tell your casting stroke to redirect the fly more upward. It starts in your back muscles/posture while backcasting. Most of us bend at the waist sideways during casting, which inherently directs the line downward. The center point between your shoulder blades is basically moving in an arc as you bend. It’s tough to articulate, but think of that center point between your shoulder blades. On the backcast, that center point should move towards your right shoulder (RH caster) to remove that arc in your torso, which will follow through to your shoulder and your casting stroke, sending the line upward.

cast to avoid “lining” the fish.You cast too far upstream or to the

rise. If your fly lands where you saw the rise, you’re actually fishing downstream of the fish’s feeding window. As a general rule, when dry fly fishing cast at least four or five feet upstream of the rise. If you need to mend, cast a little further up so your fly is drifting drag free when it reaches that four or five foot mark upstream of the fish. On the flip side of that, many people cast too far upstream so their fly is starting to subtly drag when it reaches the fish’s feeding window. Only cast as far upstream as absolutely necessary.

Going back to casting to the rise for a second, many anglers cast straight to the water, usually splatting their line and fly down, spooking fish in the process. It’s usually caused by them pointing the rod directly at the spot they’re aiming for after stopping the rod on the forward cast. There needs to be a split second pause after the stop before you bring your rod tip down. This pause will stop your line up above the water and let it float down instead of crashing down into it. Which leads to my next point.

The stop casts the line, not the forward/back stroke. I’m surprised how many people don’t realize this. The forward and back strokes serve to load the rod and tell the line which way to go. The stop lets the rod unload, sending your line forward/backward. It’s not like throwing a baseball, it’s more like throwing a lacrosse ball with one of those net thingies on a stick they use (what the heck are those things called, anyway? You can tell I grew up in the Midwest). A good indicator that your stop isn’t solid enough, or that you’re not accelerating fast enough into it, is that the fly on the end of your nine-foot leader lands two-feet from the end of your fly line.

You pick up the fly too soon. This is more of an issue when night fishing, where I see it often, even by myself, but also during daylight fishing. Picking up the fly over the top of the fish can put fish down, or worse, when you pick up during that split second before the fish was trying to eat your

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Editor’s Note: Brienna is a graduate of the Michigan TU Youth Camp who was chosen to attend the national TU Teen Summit. Thanks to the sponsorship of Dick and Marilyn Augustine, the Perrin-Lansing Chapter and the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter the cost of her tuition, waders, boots, and airfare were fully covered. The report of her experience follows.

The plane took off and my home state disappeared underneath the clouds. Just then I realized I had forgotten to get my camera back from my dad. I was headed to North Carolina for the Trout Unlimited Teen Summit camp. Definitely not something you want to forget your camera for. I had never been on a plane and had hardly left the State of Michigan other than going to Colorado for spring break earlier this year. It was a whole new experience, and I was so excited, yet scared at the same time. Holding my Redington rod I had gotten for my first TU camp in Michigan, I wondered what is waiting for me over this large sea of clouds. What was in this great state of North Carolina? But I just knew I was going to meet some great people and have a lot of fun.

I was wrong though; it wasn’t fun, it was awesome. By the time the plane landed I was so excited I could hardly breathe. There I met Franklin, the head coordinator of the camp. I stepped outside into the Carolina air and the first thing I realized was that I was definitely not dressed appropriately for the weather. It was hot, and I was wearing long pants and a thick sweatshirt. I’m a Michigan girl and I like winter, so to me it was ten degrees hotter than it really was. I couldn’t believe it was so hot.

Thank goodness the air conditioner was turned on in the car. I probably would’ve melted then and there.

That night I met all the councilors and helped them set up because my flight had gotten me there a day early. It was a long evening and before I knew it, I was falling asleep in a chair because my allergies started kicking in, not liking the new and different air. So, I went to bed for the first night ever in North Carolina.

After a nice, long 12-hour sleep, the day started and all the other camp attendees started pouring in slowly. The councilors decided to take the few kids who had shown up out fishing on the Tuck River. First thing I realized was the fishing was definitely not going to be like my home stream, the Au Sable River. The water of the Tuck was warm and the river was very wide. I would definitely be wet wading most of the time because it was so hot and humid. The river was so wide that I didn’t really have to worry about getting my fly caught in a tree or a bush. That didn’t stop me from doing so anyway and getting them hooked on rocks. I found out it wasn’t the best idea to wet wade in jean capris. All the same, it was beautiful. The scenery was breathtaking. It just couldn’t be described with words.

Before I knew it, we were packing up and heading back to the dorms, where we were staying to meet the other attendees. The Teen Summit had officially begun. The rest of the week flew by so quick it was crazy to believe I was there for a whole week. Where did it go? I learned so many new things, like the native

Teen Summit Experience is a Life Changer

by Brienna Shear

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grab kids’ attention, and what teen isn’t on social media today? We already have a Facebook page and Instagram. Also, we decided posters and stickers were a great way to get the word around (who doesn’t love stickers?). In the words of one of the head planners: “Sticker vandalism is advised.”

The last thing we decided would be a great idea was a handbook to help us plan events to get more people involved. Originally, they had used the Ducks Unlimited event planner book, but we decided it was time to make our own. Go TU Teens!

By the end of the week I was so sad to leave. I made some pretty cool friends, but I knew I would eventually meet them again, being that we were going to be working together over the next few years. The North Carolina mountains and streams were beautiful and I didn’t want to leave. Hopefully, one day I can go back to the beautiful state and fish again. But I boarded the plane leaving the beautiful state to go back over the sea of clouds to Michigan.

I want to thank everyone who made this possible for me, especially Richard Augustine and Karen Harrison. Without either of you I have no idea how it could’ve been possible. Also, I want to thank the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter. My life has truly been changed and I can’t believe it. It all felt like a dream. Thank you. Next time I won’t forget my camera.

Appalachian brook trout population is slowly dwindling. Deforestation has caused them to move upstream and new trout species have been introduced to block their return to their original territory.

I also met some pretty cool people. One person that came was part of the DNR and made informational underwater videos of trout. Meeting this person gave me an idea, why can’t I do this? Grayling, Michigan was the founding place of TU and hardly anybody I met at the camp had ever heard of it. I thought it would be a great idea to start filming the beautiful Au Sable River for its natural beauty and not its canoeing and kayaking.

Furthermore, I learned how to fish in the mountain streams. The mountain streams are definitely different from both the Au Sable and the Tuck. They are narrow, rocky, covered in trees, and surprisingly deep at some spots. At first I was like, how am I supposed to fish this? It was actually easier than I thought. Just don’t try to fish them with streamers, it’s a terrible idea.

I caught my first two fish at Sugar Creek. They were both tiny rainbow trout, but it was still pretty awesome. My last fish on Candy Creek was also a rainbow. My favorite mountain stream by far though was Ruffbutt Creek (yes Ruffbutt, very funny). It was high up in the mountains and had waterfalls every five feet. I wished I had my camera. It was beautiful and I am still in awe.

The things I learned at the summit were pretty cool. I met some awesome people and fished some fantastic places. The whole reason for the summit has a deeper meaning than just fishing and conservation though. The point of the summit is to bring teens together to make plans about what we want to do now that we are part of the Youth Leadership Council.

Our group prioritized getting more teens and kids involved in TU because we really are the future. If we don’t carry on the tradition, who will? For a whole day we planned what we were going to do, splitting off into groups for videos, social media, posters, and handbooks. We decided videos would

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The 2015 Michigan Trout Unlimited Aquifer Club Outing is in the books. This club was established four years ago to ask individual MITU members for financial support to help cover costs without restrictions, particularly those associated with our conservation activity like River Stewards. The minimum annual contribution is $1000. To date, we have close to 30 members in the Aquifer Club. We also offer the Tributary Club that has an annual minimum contribution of $250. You can find more information on these two internal clubs of MITU on our webpage, www.michigantu.org, under the “Support Our Work!” and “Make a Donation to Michigan TU!” tabs.

This year’s outing was held at the recently renovated Riverview Lodge & Cabins on the Au Sable River at McMasters Bridge. Its owner, Damion Frasier, who is an Aquifer Club member, generously donated this venue for the outing.

Attendance was up from last year with just over 30 members. This is the fourth year for this event and every year attendance increases. The weather cooperated. While it was a little warm, it was dry. Dinner and refreshments were provided for our guests. The event goes from late afternoon

until a little past sundown. It’s very casual and couples participation is welcome and encouraged.

This year we had five speakers. That sounds like a lot but we purposely keep the presentations short. Before dinner, I led off welcoming all the guests and acknowledging the volunteers who helped put this event on. Our volunteers included my wife Libby, Sherry and Scott Hummon (Director Vanguard Chapter), Marie Harrington and David Smith (MITU Education & Chapter Assistance Committee Chair, Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter), Ed Roden (MITU Operation & Finance Committee Chair, Clinton Valley Chapter), Sue and John Walters (MITU State Chairman, Headwaters Chapter), and Mark Schultz (Vanguard Chapter & Marketing Manager-Riverview Lodge & Cabins).

Ed Roden followed my presentation and he gave a short update on new ways to donate

Aquifer Club Outingby Tom Quail

Michigan TU Vice Chairman

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to MITU, including stock contributions. He will have more on this at the MITU Annual Meeting, September 26, 2015 at the DNR Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center on the north shore of Higgins Lake, west of Roscommon. Please think about attending this meeting and watch for further information on the MITU website.

Following dinner, John Walters spoke briefly about the current direction of our organization and how we are improving communications with our membership, especially concerning the many critical environmental issues threatening our coldwater resources.

Bryan Burroughs, our Executive Director, spoke about more specific efforts addressed by MITU related to conservation. This included grant funding opportunities and partnerships with other likeminded organizations within Michigan. Bryan’s comments gave those in attendance a better understanding of what we do, why we do it, and how we do it, relative to funding and partnerships.

Our final speaker was Kristin Thomas, MITU Aquatic Ecologist. Kristin spoke about the River Stewards program and related mapping efforts that take place each summer by our interns. In addition, Kristin explained what happens to all the data that is collected and how it is disseminated and utilized for our grant request proposals and conservation priority efforts.

While this is a social event, it is also a learning and informational opportunity. The Aquifer Club members are truly engaged in MITU’s mission and vision. Through their financial support, we are able to see that mission come to fruition. It’s a win-win for everyone and on every front.

If you are interested in more information about this club, or the Tributary Club, please contact one of the Executive Board members. We greatly appreciate the participation to date and look forward to both of these clubs growing in the future.

Thank you!

aquaculture industry is proposing a major influx of fish farming. There are three methods of fish farming being considered: net-penning in the Great Lakes, flow-through systems in our rivers, and contained recirculating systems. As we have reported in previous issues of Michigan Trout magazine, there is currently an approved permit to allow a flow-through system at the Grayling Fish Hatchery that is being challenged by Anglers of the Au Sable. We support Anglers of the Au Sable with their challenge.

The concerns Michigan TU has with aquaculture in Michigan include:

• Water temperature and dissolved oxygen• Nutrient pollution• Antibiotics & growth hormones • Diseases• Escapement • Interruption of existing uses

• Regulatory standards as a whole

The State must establish regulatory standards prior to any additional aquaculture operations begin in Michigan’s inland lakes and streams or the Great Lakes. A robust independent monitoring and enforcement system completely funded by aquaculture industry permit fees must be implemented. Additionally, operators must provide adequate bonding for abandonment, restoration, and reclamation. The risks posed are significant and the potential harms are devastating.

The Executive Branch of the State of Michigan and its agencies must approach aquaculture with caution and come together to ensure that Michigan’s recreational traditions and incredible water resources, and benefits they provide to this State, are protected. Michigan TU believes that if the above protections are implemented then aquaculture may be able to co-exist with Michigan’s well established and valuable water uses.

For amplification of these two Michigan TU policies, please visit our website at michigantu.org.

We are living in the Good Ol’ Days.

I am honored to serve as your Michigan TU State Chairman.

MITU Chairman Report... continued from page 4

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Photo Credit: D

avid Smith

to capture a majority of them. [For more background on the details of designing sand traps, see the Spring 2014 issue of Michigan Trout – archived at www.michigantu.org.] The permit for the sand trap has been granted and we expect construction to occur in late August or early September, prior to the final dam removal activities. Golden Lotus is funding these activities.

In another unfortunate obstacle for the project, and an important lesson learned, the cost of this sand management, predicted to be at least $76,000, and largely to occur AFTER the dam removal, was deemed an unusable match for the state grant funds. The state requires any matching funds to be spent prior to or concurrently with grant funds. This means that most of the $76,000 match from Golden Lotus for sand management turned out to be unusable for matching and releasing state grant funds for the project, which led to further fundraising needs for the project. Most grant programs simply require match to be expended based on the total project costs and duration.

In 2015, the project team has worked to evaluate dam removal plans and bridge replacement options, estimate costs, acquire additional funding, and initiate contracting bids and the selection process. All bids for the project came in over predictions. The team is now working to complete fundraising for the balance of the project costs. If funding is secured quickly, the dam removal and bridge replacement will occur in September 2015. If not, the project will likely be on hold until the early summer of 2016.

The removal process will involve demolition of all concrete abutments and the base of the dam in the bottom of the river. It is the concrete base of the dam and water acceleration over it that continues to block fish passage in the river. The river is currently constricted to 22 feet in width through the remaining dam. Upon full removal of the dam, the river will be restored to its natural bank width of 35 feet. Utility lines through the dam are being rerouted deeply under the river. The road over the top of the dam will be replaced with a new bridge spanning the 35-foot width

Pigeon River... continued from page 15

of the river. We may also have to manually remove the wood debris jams in the former impoundment to help begin the stream slope restoration process. This will allow the river to cut a channel to its new equilibrium point and provide a higher slope, faster water, more gravel substrates, and allow numerous other restoration processes to continue.

Currently, the following list of entities have financially contributed to the project: MI DNR – Aquatic Habitat Grant (angler license fees derived), Golden Lotus Inc. (dam owners), reallocated fines from Golden Lotus to the DEQ, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Great Lakes Energy People Fund, Pigeon River Country Association, Otsego County Community Foundation, Patagonia, and several individuals.

No big, important, profound change comes without tremendous effort. It took three fishkills on the Pigeon River, six years of legal efforts, years of careful planning and design, and unforeseen obstacles to fundraising to get this profound dam removed. The Pigeon River is one of the highest quality rivers in our state and has land protection around it to ensure it stays so for a long time to come. This dam has been the biggest fundamental detriment to its quality. There has been nothing else so powerful and meaningful we could do to help this river achieve its full potential. It’s been pure work at every step of the process to get to this point, but it’s all been worth it. Michigan TU is thankful to its supporters and members who have given us the ability to contribute to it. We’ll report to you when the final project is completed. We hope All celebrate this victory for the river!

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