The erosion site, before repair work 5/2007, Heather Rawlings, USFWS

The erosion site after restoration work is completed. The fieldstone covers 4 large lunker structures. Large brook trout were electrofished out of these structures one month following construction. 8/2007, H. Rawlings, USFWS

During construction volunteers struggle to haul rock, biologs and trees down a steep slope so they can be properly placed in the river. Construction of the lunker structures was very time-consuming but paid off in the end by creating some excellent fisheries habitat for brook trout. 7/2008 H. Rawlings, USFWS

Two eroding stream banks on the main branch of the Black River in Montmorency County, Michigan, were restored in July 2007.

The 50-acre property is owned by a private individual and was recently placed under a permanent protective easement through the Headwaters Land Conservancy. The repair of these erosion sites was coordinated with many partners, and is part of a larger, locally-driven watershed restoration and protection effort.

Alpena NFWCO Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist Heather Rawlings was part of a watershed team that identified problem sites, prioritized work actions, secured necessary funding and implemented the restoration projects.

A robust brook trout population occurs in Hobbs Creek and the Main Branch of the Black River that run through this property. These waterways are high quality coldwater streams that provide both spawning and rearing habitat for brook trout, a Service Midwest Region priority conservation species.

Sedimentation into the streams remains the largest pollutant problem and degrades the substrate, reducing habitat quality and rendering it unsuitable for fish spawning. By restoring eroding streambanks this project helped to improve stream quality for brook trout and other aquatic resources.

Two large erosion sites, approximately 500 feet in length, were present on the property when the landowner purchased it. The weekend of July 21, 2007 approximately 20 volunteers from the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Black River Work Crew restored the two erosion sites in a marathon work weekend.

The spirit and value of volunteers was evident during the restoration process and demonstrates collaborative conservation. All materials had to be carried down to the creek through a winding path by hand and by wheelbarrow. A combination of biologs, lunker structures, tree revetments and vegetative plantings were used to stabilize the sites. The days were hot and sunny, but the river was cold, so there were plenty of volunteers offering to get wet.

Both sites were completed by the Black River Work Crew the following week. Due to the drought conditions, vegetative plantings will be completed in the spring of 2008.

In addition to the work crew from the Montmorency Conservation District and volunteers from Trout Unlimited, the Headwaters Chapter that completed the on-site work contributing $2,760 in labor, this project was supported in part through the North East Michigan Council of Governments, which contributed $2,000 in labor for the design, permitting, and implementation of the project. Huron Pines donated a vast amount of technical expertise and directed the volunteers during the work weekend, contributing $2,500 in labor.

The Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program contributed $5,000 toward materials and labor.  This project demonstrates how the PFW Program can engage a wide range of partners and become part of locally driven conservation efforts.