Work crew installing a "Lunker Structure".

COUNCIL PROJECTS

The council continually seeks to develop worthwhile projects and obtain funding to carry them out. We are currently cooperating with various agencies in several areas.

Habitat Enhancement – We are a partner with MDNR and the Pere Marquette Rod & Gun Club in a USDA Forest Service project to refurbish and/or rebuild various erosion control and fish shelter structures in seven miles of river between M-37 and Gleason’s Landing.

Putting the finishing touches on the first "Lunker Structure" in Michigan

Sand Trap Maintenance – We are a partner with MDNR and USDAFS maintaining a very large sand trap on the Little South Branch. The site is located on Forest Service lands. The MDNR excavates the trap twice each year. Each cleanout results in 600 to 1000 cubic yards of sediment requiring disposal on Forest Service uplands. The Council rents dump trucks to assist with disposal and provides material to keep the access road passable.

Freshly excavated sand from Little South Sand Trap

Sand Trap Evaluation – The Council has an ongoing cost/benefit project to determine the actual improvement in salmonid recruitment resulting from the establishment and maintenance of a carefully sited sediment basin on the Middle Branch. The sand trap costs are carefully recorded and compared to the resulting changes in stream morphology and salmonid reproduction in a study area immediately below the trap. We have been assisted in this project with funding provided by the Paul Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Great Lakes Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers, and the Trout & Salmon Foundation. Monitoring costs for this ten-year project are substantial and we are actively seeking funding so that we may continue without interruption. We need $25,000.00/year.

Big South Branch Habitat Improvement – This is a five-year project funded by a $750,000.00 grant from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust to develop new ways to improve salmonid recruitment for the Great Lakes. The project features removal of sediment from point bars and oxbows without establishing sand traps, utilizing the prototype “Stream Sweeper” dredge being developed by the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, and the creation of artificial spawning riffles in various tributaries. The five-year project is being managed by Mainstream Resources out of Bay City. Their monthly progress reports are available from the list below.

Trout Unlimited's "Stream Sweeper" at work.

Many people never see the origins of a river. This is the actual spring where Ruby Creek commences.

This is a view of Ruby Creek, just a few feet downstream from its origin.

A portion of the GLFT grant was allocated for the development of an Interpretive Center by the Ruby Creek Sportsmen’s Club. This group has been extraordinarily successful in bringing this project to fruition. An important component has been the development of an educational curriculum for the Mason and Oceana school districts with the Interpretive Center as the focal point. Photos of the project can be seen below.

Ruby Creek Interpretive Center

The Rudy Creek interpretive center is becoming a reality. With the work of many volunteers form the Ruby Creek Conservation Club the first stage of the interpretive center is taking shape. Construction began on June 10, 2000 with a strong showing of 40 club members.

View of the completed pavillion with the pond dredged and cleaned.

PMWC director Chuck Turk makes a point during the fall 1999 Project Steering Committee Meeting. Lt to rt: Dr. Robert King (Mainstream Resources), Jim Cline (USFS), Steve Spencer (MDNR), Les Russell (USFS), Dick Schwikert (PMWC), & Fred McLane.

Spawning Riffle construction on The Big South Branch of the Pere Marquette River and Freeman Creek