Accessing this beach area from the small gravel parking lot requires crossing a creek that brings the water that is flowing through the hatchery back into Pendills Creek and then out into Lake Superior. In the 1970's, a small, wooden bridge was built by a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) summer crew, but after 30 years of use is was becoming a safety hazard.

Last fall, Alpena FRO biologist Heather Enterline wrote a grant on behalf of the hatchery which resulted in the allocation of $13,000 dollars of Coastal Wetlands money to repair the bridge and enhance the area, and prevent further erosion of the creek bank. This money was used to purchase a new culvert and many loads of gravel, dirt, and rock needed to keep it in place.

In August, Pendills Creek maintenance mechanic John Shuman, with the help of his favorite piece of equipment ? the bobcat, began by pulling out the existing retaining wall and bridge. Then, with the help of a few other staff members, proceeded to put in the culvert and repair the edge of the creek. Now, after of couple of weeks, grass is beginning to grow back along the bank of the creek and the culvert is not only a safer way to get to the beach, but is more aesthetically pleasing. Large boulders have also been placed around the parking area to prevent visitors from parking to close to the creek bank.

The future goal is to put down a boardwalk made of recycled plastic, from the parking lot, across the culvert and out to the beach, which would meet accessibility standards. Though details of this plan are still being decided, hatchery manager Curt Friez believes that there is enough money left over to buy enough of the recycled plastic planking to get across the culvert. The staff is hoping that additional grant moneys may be obtained in the next fiscal year to continue the boardwalk all the way to the beach and place interpretive signs along the trail to add an educational element to the site. The Friends of the Pendills Creek Hatchery have also pledged their support for the project.

Even if it takes several years to complete, everyone seems to agree that the replacement of the dilapidated foot bridge was a great start!