Our major ongoing project continues to be the Big South Branch Habitat Improvement Project funded by the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust . We’re now in year three of the five-year project. Construction was initiated in August 1999 – we were unable to begin that May, as we would have liked due to a combination of difficulty in obtaining a contractor as well as some delay in securing all required permits. The robust economy last year led to little interest from contractors to our initial bid requests for the entire construction package. Bid requests were sent to 20 contractors, 4 attended the required pre-bid tour of the sites, and we received 1 written quote, which the Board rejected. We then asked our project manager, Mainstream Resources, to investigate working with multiple subcontractors to get the construction phase underway, which was successful.

Michigan Council Trout Unlimited’s Stream Sweeper began working in Winnepesaug Creek in late August. PMWC co-hosted a demonstration day for the Stream Sweeper 9/2/99 which attracted approximately 130 attendees. After completing the Winnepesaug work (approximately 350 feet), the Stream Sweeper then cleaned approximately 300 feet of lower Cedar Creek above a site selected for artificial riffles.

Five artificial riffles were built: two on the Big South Branch proper, one each in Cedar Creek, Freeman Creek, and Tank Creek. All but the Tank Creek riffles were successful in hosting spawning steelhead this spring. The Tank Creek riffle was not completed until April, but did have spawning suckers this spring. Brook/Brown trout redds were documented on the Freeman Creek riffle last fall.

Chuck Bassett from United States Forest Service (USFS) in Escanaba inspected the two initial completed riffles in November. Chuck has twenty years’ experience with this concept in the Upper Peninsula and assured us that our design and construction was “up to snuff” and our structures should work.

In addition, one hundred linear feet of large woody debris was placed in the Winnepesaug last fall. Three eroding banks were stabilized with soft techniques on the Winnepesaug (approximately two hundred and fifty feet) and five rock riprap sites were done on Cedar Creek (approximately four hundred feet). Additional erosion control structures as well as oxbow diverters for sediment trapping are scheduled for completion this summer. Electroshocking fish census, macroinvertebrate counts, and redd counts are all continuing. All in all, the project is progressing well and we’re beginning to see favorable results.

New trout regulations went into effect April 1, 2000 and PMWC was involved with modifying DNR’s initial proposal released in April 1999 with the help of MCTU, FFF and others. We were successful in changing the initially proposed creel limit of three for the flies-only water to no-kill/catch and release. The existing creel limit prior to the new regulations was one fish, and moving to a three fish limit was a major step backwards in our opinion. The initial MDNR proposal also did not protect the brown trout below the flies-only water during the extended season (September 30 – last Saturday in April). PMWC’s position was presented at the August NRC meeting, and the final regulations released in September, 1999 included no-kill for brown trout during the extended season for the lower trout water (Gleason’s Landing to Indian Bridge). MDNR Fisheries Division should be commended both for rewriting the regulations to closer fit with biological management principles, as well as responding to the sound biological modifications proposed by PMWC and other stakeholders.

Another ongoing issue is the Aquatic Species Conservation Act, which would draw 22 existing laws regarding fishing and aquatic species under one piece of legislation. This proposed act is built upon the framework of the Wildlife Conservation Act (Proposal G), which was overwhelmingly supported by voters in November 1996. PMWC is a member of MUCC’s Working Group, which is following this important piece of legislation. The initial draft of the bill allows for all rules to be made by DNR Director’s orders. PMWC and the MUCC Working Group continue to recommend NRC oversight of all rule changes as was required in Proposal G for wildlife management rules. This will facilitate public input at NRC level and distribute authority over a wider base. PMWC and the rest of the Working Group will not support the bill without the NRC having final authority over the process of approving, rejecting or modifying orders affecting fish and other aquatic species, especially the setting of license fees.

An area in which we have just become involved this spring is the preparation of a DEQ-approved Watershed Management Plan. Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) of Traverse City has received a federal 319 grant for the Pere Marquette River, which we are hoping, can be used in part to prepare a management plan. CRA has assured us that PMWC will be represented on the Steering Committee for preparation of the plan. Completion of a DEQ-approved Water Management Plan will make the Pere Marquette River eligible for Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) monies, which can be used to further efforts in erosion control, predominantly in the tributaries.

Other activities the Watershed Council has been involved with over the last year:

• Our sand trap on the Middle Branch Pere Marquette was cleaned last fall by the MCTU amphibious dredge. We received a grant from the Trout and Salmon Foundation to continue our work at this site. We also anticipate additional funding from the Paul H. Young Chapter TU, who has supported this project in the past. With additional data from another five years of operation, we hope to be able to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of traditional sand traps.

• The Natural Rivers Zoning Review Board (PMWC has one seat) was successful in forcing a property owner to move an illegally constructed garage from the riparian zone. This was a 2—3 year process in which the local board’s decision to deny the retroactive variance application was upheld by the Administrative Law Judge and the Natural Resources Commission.

• We financially supported the USFS’s Kids’ Fishing Day at Nichols Lake and the Baldwin Trout-A-Rama fishing pond.

• Held a symposium in March at Dunrovin Conference Center on the recently completed Pere Marquette Watershed Assessment funded by the Frey and Steelcase Foundations.

• Paid for dump trucks to haul away 970 cubic yards of spoils from the DNR’s “Bell” sand trap on the Little South Branch in May 2000. Since built in 1993, this trap has yielded nearly 8,000 cubic yards of spoils.

• Purchased an electroshocking boat and equipment for the use of WestShore Community College’s Biology Department. We plan to use this equipment in completing some of our data collection for the Big South Project as well.

One area where we haven’t yet reached our goal is the issue of use of bait as an attractant in the flies-only water. Last winter, the PMWC Board of Directors adopted a resolution opposing the use or possession of bait, chum or scent on Categories 5, 6, 7 waters (flies only or artificial only). This position has been supported by: Michigan Council TU, Anglers of the AuSable, and Michigan River Guides Association. We hope to convince DNR Fisheries Division to include this item in next year’s fishing regulations.

Jan Potter is again busy preparing for our annual banquet to be held July 15 at Land’s Inn in Ludington. She has planned another fun-filled evening with many outdoors items for auction and raffle. Bob Garner, former co-host of the television show “Michigan Outdoors” and current Natural Resources Commissioner will be our guest speaker. Dave Cozad plans to give us an update on the Big South Branch Project. Hope to see you there!

James R. Bos
President
Pere Marquette Watershed Council, Inc.