Silver Creek Road Crossing on the Little Ocueoc River after restoration - USFWS photo

Silver Creek Raod Crossing Before Restoration. - USFWS photo

On October 24, the Presque Isle County Road Commission completed a culvert replacement at the Silver Creek road crossing on the Little Oqueoc River in Northern Lower Michigan.  The project identified two undersized and perched culverts that negatively impacted native brook trout passage in the Oqueoc River Watershed.  In addition to impeding fish movement, the aging and undersized culverts contributed to large amounts of sediment entering the system during high water events when the water was backed up by the small culverts and would flood the gravel road. 

The project was completed by replacing the failing culverts with a bottomless culvert constructed from a railroad tanker car.  This design was utilized to reduce cost, provide durability and allow for unimpeded fish access to habitat upstream.  Replacement of the culvert will decrease the sediment load entering the system and improve fish habitat.  Oversight for the project during construction was provided by Alpena FRO Biologist Wells and Kris Bruestle from Huron Pines RC&D.  Funding for this project was provided by the Region 3 Fish Passage Program, the Presque Isle County Road Commission, and Huron Pines RC&D.