One of three perched culverts on Bark Creek in Ottawa County, Michigan. - FWS photo

Steve Van Hoeven, Environmental Coordinator from the Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC) heard about the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) National Fish Passage Program and contacted Rick Westerhof from the Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office to see what all the excitement was about.  Steve was interested in getting some assistance with identifying potential fish passage projects in his neck of the woods. 

So on August 14, 2007, Rick and Steve toured six potential fish passage sites near Spring Lake, Grand Haven and Holland, Michigan.  All the sites were good candidates for fish passage funding, but two sites floated to the top.  They were Castle Creek and Bark Creek, which are in the Lower Grand River watershed.  Both sites have culverts that are failing and are perched, preventing passage of fish and aquatic organisms. 

Steve then took to the streets to gather information for the fish passage proposals.  During the process, he contacted Grand Valley State University Annis Water Resources Institute's Assistant Professor Carl Ruetz III, Ph.D.  Dr. Ruetz was excited about the potential projects, so he and Steve electro-fished both creeks to gather baseline information on fish species present.  Dr. Ruetz assisted Steve by writing several sections in each proposal and decided to write a monitoring and evaluation proposal of his own.  The proposal will examine the effects on fish communities and stream habitat of removal and replacement of perched culverts on Bark and Castle creeks and provide the OCRC information on fish communities at six road stream crossings.

"Fish Passage Hats Off" to OCRC, Steve, Grand Valley State University Annis Water Resources Institute and Dr. Ruetz, for their interest in making fish passage better for aquatic organisms in the Lower Grand River watershed.  The Service is excited about Steve and Dr. Ruetz participation in the National Fish Passage Program, as we expand the program into Southwest Lower Michigan.

Rick Westerhof, Fish Biologist

Steve Van Hoeven, Environmental Coordinator

Dr. Carl Ruetz, III, Assistant Professor