New culvert on Butterfly Creek. - Photo by Stewart Cogswell

Green Bay FRO continued work in Sepetmeber to complete a culvert replacement project on Butterfly Creek.

Butterfly Creek is a cold-water tributary to the Little Manistee River, one of Michigan’s premier trout streams and the sole source of steelhead brood stock for Michigan’s steelhead fishery.   

The crossing of Butterfly Creek and 4 ½ Road was contributing significant sediment, degrading both the creek and the Little Manistee.  The project was designed to replace the existing culvert with a larger, longer structure with a submerged flow line. 

Up to 500 feet of asphalt was installed to control runoff and prevent further soil erosion from entering the stream.  Diversion outlets and riprap were placed to control erosion and direct road runoff into adjacent areas away from the stream.

The benefits of the project will be improved water quality for Butterfly Creek and the Little Manistee.  With a reduction in sediment delivery, potential natural reproduction by fish species present is increased and habitat quality improves for aquatic invertebrates as well.