The river flows over gravel bars, through fast runs and deep pools for nearly 20 miles of quality habitat, providing outstanding fish for both cold and warm water species of fish throughout the year. Pre-settlement, the river was a conduit for the movement and a source of sustenance for the native people. The majority of the bicycle and pedestrian trail crossings are former railroad bridges which have been converted to non-motorized traffic. The fall steelhead fishinggets to be very strong by the third week of October. If you receive an error, please return later this evening to view your updated balance and make a payment if needed. Contact Us. Permits can be obtained for whitetail deer hunting and waterfowl hunting. Two years ago, the MRWA received a grant from the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund to identify dams in the watershed that are no longer viable. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Caption: "Bay City, Mich.,-- Jesse Lopez had to push his bicycle to reach home in the area of Bay City where several streets were submerged and hundreds of basements flooded. The river has several major branches, such as the Hersey River, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon River. In early 1965 Consumers Power offered to sell the dam to the City of Newaygo for $1.00 but the offer was declined because the maintenance costs were too high. For suggestions to find the best web browser for you
Toxic PFAS forever chemicals threaten both humans and wildlife. (Bay City Times/ Wes Stafford), Caption: The corner of Forest St. and Franklin St. in Bridgeport as seen from a rowboat. Federal regulators consider Consumers' dams to be in satisfactory condition, with none of the alarming deficiencies that plagued the Midland dams. The Muskegon State Game Area spans both Muskegon County and Newaygo County. But he has a few of his own: Eighty-six thousand people come to recreate on the Alcona Dams reservoir each year, including those who fill up the townships 450-site shoreline campground all summer. We recognize that theres other values to these facilities than just the megawatts, said Marianne Walter, a senior engineer at the company. Our Address. muskegon river at evart, mi : 843 : 903 +60 : 04121507: twin creek at eight mile road near evart, mi : 6.20 : 6.32 +0.1 : 04121944: little muskegon river near oak grove, mi : *Appliance Service Plan is not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Steelhead enter West Michigan rivers as early as late September. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. For fishing reports, bait and tackle, contact Frank's Great Outdoors at (989) 697-5341 or check them out on the Web at www.franksgreatoutdoors.com. Muskegon River Dam Removal Year Awarded: 1999 Awarded: $755,000 Team Leader: City of Big Rapids The City of Big Rapids removed the Muskegon River Dam remnant, restoring natural hydrological and ecological conditions to the largest free-flowing reach of high-gradient river in the Great Lakes basin. Paris Park was Michigan's second fish-rearing facility when it opened in 1881. (The Saginaw News/ David A. Sommers) (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com), Men help place sandbags near a drainage ditch in the South Lincoln area during the Sept. 1986 floods that affected much of middle Michigan. hKBa}Z7hP\BCLD~PK-)-
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EcP!AD$nur{s5^Y-qA#Ml8 P/1t(S0#lIUowI4GS@QSB'bx{)Q9?O3 /tnSMP^,]w (Photo by Dale Atkins), Caption: "Joanie Wilson approaches Roger Wilson and pet dog along Sylvia Street NW near Apline Avenue NW. But licenses for 11 of the 13 dams will expire in 2034, putting the company on a timeline to decide whether its logical to make the investments needed to keep them safe for the future. The rain cons tines to fall and conditions are becoming worse. The ponds they created became destinations for boating, swimming and fishing, fueling tourism in a part of the state with limited jobs. Riverfront. Phone: 231-796-3420. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Rising water from the Cass River rose to over eight feet above flood level in Vassar, Sept., 1986. Loud Hydro has a capacity of 4,000 kilowatts. The concrete Childsdale Dam south of Rockford collapsed at 2:15 a.m. Sept. 12, 1986, sending floodwaters down the Rogue River toward the village of Belmont. Today, as you kayak or fish under the M37 Bridge you can still see the steel remnants of the Newaygo Dam reaching out from the bed of the river. The heavy rains have washed out a bridge in US-31, a main north-south route. Croton Dam and the Muskegon river just a short walk from the premises . [6] This state game area is accessible for licensed hunters. Behind Korb, water spills through the hole cut in the Hart dam to relieve pressure on the damn. After that, state and federal regulators will decide whether the company can move forward with its plans. Just 35 miles north of Grand Rapids is a true getaway in Newaygo, MI: the Muskegon River. (Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), A man stands near a collapsed road along the Muskegon River. It began commercial operation in 1907. It is approximately 41 miles from Croton Dam in near Newaygo, Michigan to Lake Michigan. You'll find the dam nine miles upstream from Lake Huron. Find Lake Homes & Real Estate Experts. We held public meetings and asked people from the areas around our river hydro plants to attend and share their thoughts. Consumers Power Company acquired the Dam for the purpose of developing hydro-electric power for the area. (The Bay City Times/ Wes Stafford), Caption: "Muskegon, Mich.,-- Judy Love, who lives along Little Black Creek in Norton Shores, looks out over her back yard that is now a small lake. Kentwood, MI 49512 (The Grand Rapids Press/ Marvin Laningar). Copyright 2022 Great Lakes Protection Fund
Case in Point . Muskegon Lake is a 1,679 hectare drowned river mouth that was created historically by fluctuating Lake Michigan water levels and the closing of a channel by wind induced erosion of sand dunes. For much of the last century, it was a cheap and reliable form of energy. Little Muskegon River. (Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Sandbags keep flood waters at bay in this unmarked photo from the 1986 floods. The . (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Oceana County Sheriff Fred Korb watches the waters of the south branch of the Pentwater River at Hart Lake, Sept. 12, 1986. Here's a Link for the Boat Launches from Newaygo Downstream Webber Hydro has a capacity of 3,225 kilowatts. The two White River dams have a long history of negative effects on the fish in the river's mainstream and tributaries. (MLive file photo), Croton Dam operates its floodgates at full capacity downstream on the Muskegon River from the endangered Hardy Dam, Sept. 12, 1986. February 16th, 2023 | Grand Rapids Steelhead. Dam Hardy Dam Rogers Dam Big Rapids Figure 2.-Major tributaries and landmarks in the Muskegon River watershed. Alcona Hydro has a capacity of 8,000 kilowatts. In the late 1800s, Muskegon was home to many different industries, including lumber mills, chemical companies, foundries, a coal-fired power plant, and a paper mill. 1 Croton Dam.25 hrs : 1 mile float 2 Pine Street 2.0 hrs : 6 mile float 3 Thornapple 2.5hrs:6.5milefloat 4 Henning Park 1.75hrs:4.5milefloat 5 Anderson Flats Consumers Energy is authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue permits for the use and occupancy of project lands and waters. Large patios at all sites. Water data back to 1987 are available online. (Grand Rapids Press file photo), Caption: "Muskegon, Mich.,-- Lauren Martin (foreground) and Carl Pieczynski, both of Norton Shores, take a canoe ride through the mona Lake Mobile Homes Park in Muskegon Heights. Take, for example, the Muskegon River, where migratory native lake sturgeon once had free reign of the 219-mile river from Lake Michigan to Higgins Lake. To learn how were planning for the future, and see the presentations from each meeting, click the button. By, Ford battery plant site prep main recipient of funds in $1.3 billion spending bill sent to governor, Free legal representation now available for many Detroiters facing eviction, MSU announces new security measures, plan for external review of response to mass shooting on campus, Michigan Senate advances repeal of 1931 abortion ban though the ban is already unenforceable, Michigan Senate passes Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act expansion to add LGBTQ rights, Report from environmental groups accuses power industry of failing to clean up coal ash dumps, Cancer-causing hexavalent chromium spills from Wixom plant into Huron River. Jeff Bacon - Michigan River Fishing Guide 5388 E. Heathwood S.E. Welcome to Michigan's number one Steelhead fishing destination and guide service. 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint. Those efforts are met with counterpoints from environmentalists who see Consumers process as a rare opportunity to undo the environmental impacts of dams, which have thwarted the survival of migratory fish and other river life. Racers exit their boat to portage over each dams embankment, an opportunity to stretch legs cramped from hours in a canoe. (You can see where many trees have been scraped.) Newaygo Powerhouse/Old Newaygo County Museum 4-17-18, Newaygo Grain Elevator the in background (photo-N.Looman). (1) USGS River gaging station on the Muskegon River near Croton. The dam removal involved upstream sediment dredging, downstream sediment traps and restoration of natural flow and river bottom elevation. Nightly camping or cabin reservations will begin February 1st at 4:00 pm. The Muskegon Museum of Art and the USS Silversides offer a unique and historical take on the Muskegon River that allows for every member of your family to explore the area and create lasting memories. Invasive Plants and Waterfowl Various inns and cabins down the river can provide accommodations for up to a month. At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. Newaygo Dam built in 1854 out of wood to provide water power for the Newaygo Companys sawmill (Big Red). All rights reserved (About Us). Consumers officials spent the fall making the rounds to communities surrounding the dams, from Newaygo and Big Rapids on the Muskegon, to Mesick and Brethren on the Manistee, assuring residents that the company has made no decisions yet. Consumers, one of Michigan's largest electric utilities, began a lengthy process this autumn to consider the future of its 13 hydropower dams that plug five Michigan rivers: The Au Sable, Manistee, Muskegon, Grand and Kalamazoo. If you were to take out all the dams, said Scott Faulkner, executive director of the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, you would have a fishery that some have estimated is 50 to 100 times more productive than if the dams were here.. We apologize for the inconvenience! The river is home to three groups of gamefish: migratory fish, cool water resident fish, and warm water resident fish. Walleye will be collected with electrofishing boats starting as early as the week of March 20 and concluding by April 14. The Cabin is located on 20 wooded acres with 550' of direct access river frontage. The river source is located at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. We have a long history with hydropower, building the Croton Hydro on the Muskegon River in 1907. And its not best for everything that lives in the river.. GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System. Length 3.6 miElevation gain 374 ftRoute type Out & back. TEL: 231-652-5957. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Bitnzer), Record rainfalls continue to cause flooding evacuations, and dams to collapse Thursday in Western Michigan. 584 were here. Street View] Deck plate girder bridge over Muskegon River on M-37 & M-82 (Evergreen Drive) Open to traffic. The dam formed a lake ironically known as Hardy Dam Pond that boasts more than 50 miles of picturesque shoreline. hYn9>Nxx{xgc'F?ZGX2dew{nukd0:dXuT*eeZQ }Yr:F m*{6*rT.rR5gEC|E k7)oEx9Al:Q. Flood damage seen in an unmarked photo in the Grand Rapids Press files. About noon Sept. 13, 1986." For Sale. Rogers Dam is located in Mecosta County south of Big Rapids, with Hardy Dam and Croton Dam located in Newaygo County. As climate change warms the worlds rivers, environmentalists see dam removal as key to protecting coldwater fish like trout. Where are the people that actually live here, where is this community going to survive?. Roads and campsites are paved. We're happy to have the opportunity to guide and fish the Muskegon River, located in Western Michigan, near Grand Rapids. Additionally, spring steelhead fishing is underway in the nearby Muskegon, and Pere Marquette rivers, and in the White River below Hesperia. When wading you can enter private property if you stay within the clearly defined banks of the stream, and only walk the bank to avoid a hazard. It was built between 1914-16 and is our furthest upstream (west) hydro on the Au Sable River. 8 0 obj
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You may unsubscribe at any time. The powerhouse was built on the foundation of Big Red and used the same water races to supply power for the four water powered fly wheel turbines, producing 2000 horse power. (The Saginaw News/ Steve Jessmore), The Muskegon River boils through the floodgates at Hardy Dam as Consumers Power Co. crews attempt to lower the backwater, Sept. 12, 1986. And sediments became trapped in reservoirs, starving the river downstream while causing the ponds to fill with silt. Heavy rains over the past two days have caused the worst flooding in Western Michigan in over 100 years." Wes Stafford", Caption: Vassar, Mich.-- Emergency workers stroll through downtown Vassar Thursday, aiding merchants we were removing stock or placing it on higher shelves. His daughter learned to swim there, his family goes pontoon boating daily, and his property value benefits from the dams existence. State regulators are urging people not to play in or drink from the river until further notice. Documented Unsafe Conditions at Michigan Coal Ash Dams J.R. Whiting Power Station: According to an EPA inspection, the buttressing of the facility's significant hazard dam was Hunting is popular in the forests near by on public hunting land. As a result, the dams now operate at less than 40 percent of their capacity. Five Channels Hydro has a capacity of 6,000 kilowatts. U.S. Geological Survey. :A
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River is bankfull. This provides enough electricity to serve a community of nearly 23,000. But he also lives on Croton Pond, the impoundment created by one of Consumers three Muskegon River dams. The refurbished dam was completed in 1901. The future auxiliary spillway project is in the design and engineering phase. Click here to read the letter Hydropowers waning cost-competitiveness at times leaves dam owners struggling to cover those costs. Cool water resident fish: There is a very strong population of resident brown and rainbow trout. Envrionmental Modelling . While the company is years from making a decision, its deliberations are drawing keen interest from nearby residents who fear lost property values and dying towns, from electric ratepayer advocates wary of the high costs to maintain dams that deliver little power, and from environmentalists who see a once-in-a-lifetime chance to restore rivers harmed by the impoundments. The area received over 10 inches of rainfall in less than a 24-hour period." Scott Looman (The Grand Rapids Press/ Rex Larsen), After flood waters burst through the dam at White Cloud, water rushed downstream where it flooded residences and closed M-37 at the south edge of White Cloud, Sept. 12, 1986. Think of how important Michigan streams will be? Stuber said. That's not a perfect world for property owners., 91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids
But fast forward a century, and the same structures have become expensive, environmentally costly assets that deliver negligible amounts of power at a premium price. It is Michigan's second largest river only to the, Being such a peaceful river, it promises ample opportunities for viewing wildlife. MUSKEGON RIVER NEAR CROTON, MI Important Legacy real-time page Monitoring location 04121970 is associated with a STREAM in NEWAYGO COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Information and photos for this article was acquired from documents held by the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center. "The cold-water . The dam spans the Muskegon River and creates a large reservoir that covers an area of approximately 3,700 acres (7.3 square km). ", Jo Ann Fischer looks out at her house that is half-submerged in water, as White Creek swells with water in White Cloud, Sept. 11, 1986. Today, its one of the more expensive power sources we provide, said Adam Monroe, Consumers executive director of hydro operations. The City of Big Rapids removed the Muskegon River Dam remnant, restoring natural hydrological and ecological conditions to the largest free-flowing reach of high-gradient river in the Great Lakes basin. The forest along the river varies from mixed oak, pine and aspen to white cedar and hemlock stands. (MLive file photo), Flood waters from the Tittabawasee flood the Saginaw Township wastewater plant early morning, Sept. 14, 1986. Newaygo Dam at the centennial celebration in 1954. Print/PDF map. Croton Dam (or Croton Hydroelectric Plant) is an earth-filled embankment dam and powerplant complex on the Muskegon River in Croton Township, Newaygo County, Michigan. Over time, these industries filled in the shoreline of the lake and contaminated the water and sediment with compounds such as mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 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