MAINSTREAM

President’s Message – Summer 2007

As I reflect back on the past 12 months and review our correspondence folders as well as the binders we keep in chronological order of important projects and activities, I begin to realize what a tremendous organization we have and the dedicated volunteers who labor on behalf of this precious resource, the PM. It will be more difficult next year because of the loss of four outstanding Directors. Carolyn Henne, who ran our Banquet the last two years and counseled us on vegetation issues decided her young family and a new job prevents her from continuing as a Director. Ken Sink, who has served on the Board over five years and has achieved remarkable successes on nearly a 100 erosion sites on the Middle Branch, has decide to retire. David Gibbs, who served admirably for nine years, has been everything from Banquet Chairman, Midwest Fly fishing Show Coordinator, Bull Dozer Operator in rock riprap activities, webmaster for our site and my Vice-President for two years. His young family needs more of his time and so he has decided not to stand for reelection. Jim Schramm, one of the most widely respected and knowledgeable conservationists in the state, an able attorney and president of GLC of FFF has decided after 15 years not to stand for reelection to the Board as well. We owe these dedicated individuals our heartfelt thanks for the many efforts they have made on behalf of our organization.

Pere Marquette Watershed Council Annual Banquet Saturday, July 14, 2007

Please join us in celebrating 37 years of continued fish habitat and stream restoration work in the Pere Marquette watershed. Our Annual Summer Fundraising Banquet will be held on Saturday, July 14th, 2007 at the Ramada of Ludington, US 10, Ludington, Michigan.

The evening, beginning at 5:00 p.m., includes a dinner buffet, cash bar, live and silent auctions and the ever-popular bucket raffles. Banquet tickets are $30 per person. Children 12 and under are $15 each. Your participation in this annual event assists the Council in its restoration work throughout the watershed.

Please RSVP at 231-745-8505

Summary of Projects and Activities: ( Note: Some of these issues have been covered in recent Mainstream issues so I will give them a cursory update)

Custer Weir: Although we sought to eliminate the use of either TFM treatment or electric weir operation, we did get a TFM treatment last August and funding was renewed by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in November for operation of the electric barrier through the next cycle (presume four years). Sampling during August ‘06 TFM treatment did not result in the capture of any ‘05 or ‘06-year class sea lamprey, which may indicate the electric barrier is operating more effectively. To date this year we have heard of no problems at the weir and have asked USFWS personnel to provide graphs of daily fish passage with water temperature and river flow rates overlaid on these graphs. This will help to determine what effects, if any, the weir has on fish migration upstream. Fish passage as of June: 41,000+ suckers, 7,386 steelhead, 30 browns, and 461 sea lampreys trapped for use in sterilized male program.

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US Forest Service River Management Plan: Suffice to say that this has been one drawn- out effort since we attended a public meeting and gave input to this updating effort in August 2003. During the past 12 months we met several times with Forest Service personnel strongly encouraging them to get this accomplished and demanding accountability on their part. The final Environmental Assessment (EA) containing the recommended river plan alternative was published in May 2007 and allowed for a 30 day written comment period. Our June comments included: • disagreement with closing of Gleason’s landing to drift boat operations; • concern with distribution percentages of watercraft permits allotted between commercial livery operations and the public; • insistence on Spring and Fall permit requirements tied to a particular section of the river • an emphatic statement about the lack of specific ways/means to ensure UNIFIED MANAGEMENT and ENFORCEMENT between the state and the federal governments regarding rules and regulations on the PM.

We will wait and see if any adjustments are made when the Plan is finally published.

DNR Access Sites To Fed’s Control: We had learned that there were discussions ongoing between the DNR and US Forest Service as the final draft of the River Plan was being produced. It was intimated that one way to get UNIFIED MANAGEMENT and ENFORCEMENT was to have ALL the access sites in the Federal government’s control. We drafted a letter to DNR Director Humphries expressing our concern and received an unsatisfactory reply. At this point we reached out to a member of the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) and made him aware of the possibility that under the DNR Director’s order a Mason County access site had already been approved for transfer to the Feds and that the remaining Lake County access sites were under review for similar action. After much communication, culminating in attendance at the NRC meeting in June and testifying before them concerning our opposition to any transfer, it appears that there will be no ceding of state owned access sites on the PM to the federal government.

Water Sustainability Symposium; Because of actions by Ice Mountain in a neighboring watershed, we have decided to host a symposium at Ferris State University in the fall. We have partnered with the White River Watershed folks and the Muskegon River Assembly to engage a wide variety of expert speakers who can inform us about the sustainability of the water resource when water is withdrawn from aquifers and any consequences resulting from such actions. Details will be published as soon as plans are finalized.

Conservation Resource Alliance 319 Grant Request: One of our long standing partners, Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA), has submitted a 319 grant request which includes nearly $125,000 for an update of our watershed management plan to EPA standards. This will entail a complete update of field inventories for banks and road crossings for the mainstem and sub watersheds. CRA expects to be notified in the fall if the request is approved and funded.

Baldwin River Headwaters Project and Baldwin Stormdrain Project: The Baldwin River project has been completed and over $150,00 was spent on bank stabilization and restoration activities. Monies came from several grant sources, PMWC contributions and riparian landowners. The village of Baldwin’s stormdrain project was delayed last year and is being revamped and hopefully can be implemented this fall. This would ensure that debris from village streets, which is now washed into the Baldwin River with storm water, could be removed and kept from the river.

Membership and Endowment: This past year has been very successful in membership renewals with nearly a 33% increase in regular membership and three new Life memberships received. Additionally, the PMWC Endowment at the Lake County Community Foundation has recently surpassed $10,000. We don’t intend to withdraw monies from this fund in the near term.

In conclusion, I want to thank all members for their continued dedication to this priceless resource. Hopefully we can leave the PM to the next generation in as good or better condition than it was yesterday. Conservation takes sustained perseverance and patience so we will continue to do what we think is right for the river. Please join us for our Annual Fundraising Banquet on July 14 at the Ramada Inn in Ludington at 5:00 PM. As usual we will have a terrific buffet dinner, raffles, and live and silent auctions. Hope to see you there.

Fred McLane President