Mark and Chris from Conservation Resource Alliance explain to Heather the potential options at the Wheeler Creek Dam site to remove the dam and keep an off channel impoundment. Photo by USFWS.

Heather Rawlings, Alpena National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) Biologist and Rick Westerhof, Green Bay NFWCO Biologist met with staff from the Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) on May 8, 2008 to see several fish habitat and fish passage projects funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Rawlings and Westerhof met CRA biologists Chris Pierce and Mark Johnson in Traverse City, Mich. and headed out to see several projects.  The first stop was at Dair Creek to see the results of removing the dam and opening up fish passage for native brook trout.  The project turned out great with some minor revegation to be completed this year.  Bear Creek was the next site, where the biologists met with the private landowners to see the stream bank habitat restoration work that was completed, and check out the others sites that will be done this summer.  The private landowners along with CRA and Heather have done an excellent job of maintaining and restoring Bear Creek. 

The third stop was at Silver Creek in Lake County to evaluate a potential perched culvert proposal for fish passage funding.  The site certainly qualified and is severely perched, blocking passage of native brook trout and other aquatic organisms.  The next stop was at Wendy’s Loop in the Manistee National Forest to see how badly eroded the stream bank was on the Pine River.  The site is in dire need of repair to reduce or eliminate tons of sediment that is entering the river.  The last site was at Wheeler Creek to see the dam and impoundments that are blocking and adversely impacting native brook trout.  The private landowner is willing to remove the dam, while maintaining one of the impoundments.  The project is in the engineering and design stage. 

Overall it was a wonderful tour of several projects spearheaded by CRA.  Many of the private landowners do not have the funds to remove dams on their property, but want to restore fish passage or the stream bank habitat to natural conditions for fish and aquatic organisms.  Pierce and Johnson exemplify the dedication and professionalism of the CRA staff, as they coordinate projects with private landowners and FWS staff to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife resources in northern Michigan.  The Partners for Fish and Wildlife and Fish Passage programs look forward to working with CRA for the benefit of natural resources in Michigan.