MAINSTREAM December 2004

Its time to bring you up to date on all the activities your Council is involved in. One doesnt fully appreciate the scope of our efforts until you review the entire list.

Lets start with the Restoration Committee The 319 grant from the federal Clean Water Act for repairing road/stream crossings has finally run out. Over the 2-3 years we were able to use $603,686 in reducing nonpoint source pollution, sending running water off roadways into the river. Ten bridge over troubled water erosion sites have been repaired through the cooperative efforts of the Mason, Newaygo, Lake, and Oceana Road Commissions, Pleasant Plains and other township governments, the U.S. Forest Service, Lansing Chapter of Trout Unlimited, as well as the Watershed Council, Conservation Resource Alliance, and contributions from volunteers.

The next major restoration project was on the Baldwin River, a project initiated by a challenge grant from the Orvis Corporation. Fourteen moderate or severely eroding streambanks, all on private land, were identified for repair. Work began in 2004 and will run into next year. To date $54,381 has been spent on the upper section above Foreman Road on seven banks, one over 400 long. The stretch from Foreman to the mainstem will be completed this winter and next spring. Once again it is a cooperative partnership, this time with many of the riverfront owners matching funds with CRAs River Care monies.

We continue to work to resolve the MDOT/Village Stormdrain problem. Several alternative proposals have been discussed without reaching a decision on how best to handle the disposal. The Watershed Council decided on a temporary solution, placing a screen at the outlet basin to catch floatable trash from entering the river. Its interesting to see just what it is that people throw away on the downtown streets, but, as you might expect, cigarette filters seem to be a favorite. We would like to see a permanent trash and contaminant fixture soon, and we will continue to press for construction in 2005.

We had very little direct involvement in the replacement of Indian Bridge, but maybe you would be interested in some of the details. Mason County replaced the Reek Road facility this past summer using Critical Bridge Funds. The old 16x62 pony truss bridge was replaced with a 30x106 weathering steel truss structure. The cost came to $560,000 with the Forest Service contributing an additional $150,000 to pave and lip gutter over a half mile of approaches. Erosion will be controlled by sheet piling. Some objection has arisen since it is no longer possible to float a boat under the bridge; canoes may squeeze under, depending on the passenger ballast. The height of the decking is exactly the same as the old bridge, but the old design had cross beams parallel with the river current while the new trusses run from footing to footing which blocks passage beneath the span. The Forest Service and Road Commission are looking into a possible new access site near the south east terminus for take-outs.

Dow Chemical has provided a matching grant to assist riverfront owners to repair their frontage before it becomes a major problem. Erosion sites, or trees tilting or falling are usually slow insidious processes which make you think &well its not all that bad and it may fix itself. Usually not. If you know of someone or have a problem, we will take a look at it, suggest some solutions, and possibly be able to help fix it now before it becomes serious. We call it the Riparian Rehabilitation Pilot Project & we know, its supposed to straighten out the river bank, not the owner. Drop us a note describing the situation and well see if we can help you out.

The Council has also been involved in a lot of other things you may not have heard about. Kevin Morlock and Dave Gibbs are running a fund-raising effort to buy night-vision glasses for the DNR Conservation Officers to use. Weve bought one pair already and the first night they were used the COs wrote tickets for over $1,300 in fines. Were looking for other conservation groups to chip in to buy more pairs.

Rick Conney will be setting up a clean-up program along the lines of MDOTs Adopt a Highway project. Well be picking up litter and trash around some of the more heavily used access sites, and areas not covered by the state highway or river clean-up projects. We will tie it in with Earth Day starting next spring, and we need volunteers & let us know if you can help.

Our Annual Cast for Conservation® fishing tournament is planned for the morning of our Fund Raising Banquet, July 16th this year. Were hoping to get more new contestants for the event. If youre interested in a fun day of floating and fishing, followed up by the banquet, Bob Kennedy will send you a copy of the rules and an application. Its a great way to introduce your significant other or maybe a youngster to our beautiful river.

The Natural Rivers Zoning Review Board is chaired by Paul Bigford & he was our guest speaker at the last banquet. He mentioned to our Board recently that more and more river owners are undertaking construction without a DNR permit. Hes asked that we remind all riverfront owners that they must have the DNR permit (its free) before starting any construction within 400 of the river. This is to make sure that any work done complies with the Natural Rivers Act. Dan Pearson is administrator for the P.M. and is in the watershed 2-3 times each month; he is more than willing to meet with you, discuss your plans, and get you the permit as quickly as possible. Contact the Watershed Council before starting your project and we will help move it along.

Jim Bos started our Endowment fund last year and is once again asking for support & his letter is enclosed. This fund will provide a financial trust for our organization which will ensure we will have the monies necessary to continue our work to protect the river in the future.

The Board of Directors has discussed this newsletter, indeed the whole issue of how best to communicate with you in the future. First and foremost we see a need for improved dialogue with information, questions, ideas, problems, you-name-it coming from you, our members, not the current Mainstream telling you whats going on. With the upcoming Dues Renewal notices we will be asking for your e-mail address and whether you prefer to receive the Mainstream electronically or by hardcopy. We assure you that our policy remains the same: We will not divulge your name, address, phone, e-mail to any other person, organization, or agency. Period. We will continue our affiliation with the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) for those of you who wish to receive their magazine Michigan Out-of-Doors. We will not be conducting a membership survey but we do ask that you let us know your opinions on what were doing, what we should be doing, what we shouldnt be doing, and how were doing it. Call us on the phone, chat by e-mail, write us a note, give us your thoughts. After all, this organization is yours.

This will be my final Mainstream, not because of this new electronic age. Ive been your author (except for the annual Presidents Messages) for thirteen years now & its time for a change. Ive truly enjoyed doing it and I hope to be able to write an occasional article in the future. The one on Sand was one of my favorites, and apparently a lot of you enjoyed it too. Thanks for the opportunity to be able to talk with you & I appreciate it.

Dick Schwikert Scribe

I pray that I may live to fish

until my dying day, and

when it comes to my last cast

then I must humbly pray

when in the Lords great landing net

I lay, peacefully asleep

That in His mercy I be judged

Big enough to Keep.

Unknown