A perched culvert in the headwaters of Mullett Creek is an example of one of the impediments to brook trout noted during the tour. This particular road crossing additionally is a source for sediment loading due to poor road maintenance. - FWS photo

On April 26, Tim Cwalinski, Fisheries Biologist, Michigan DNR, Perry Smeltzer, District Conservationist NRCS, and Heather Rawlings toured the entire length of Mullett Creek. 

Mullett Creek is a small tributary of Mullett Lake, part of the Cheboygan River Watershed, and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife focus area in Northern Michigan. 

The biologists spent the day traveling to all of the road crossings, walking reaches of the creek, and noting agricultural and erosional impendiments found in the watershed. 

This small tributary 15 years ago was a noted brook trout stream.  Recent events such as development, road-building and increased agricultural use have impeded the stream to a point at which brook trout presence is limited to the headwaters. 

A two-day electrofishing survey led by the Michigan DNR is scheduled for June 4-5 to gather some pre-restoration data.  All three agencies have agreed to focus efforts toward this tributary in the hopes of turning the stream around before the current impediments become a permanent situation