Executive Summary

While we have been able to successfully demonstrate that habitat improvement techniques are effective in providing more spawning opportunities, you have to consider the situations which confronted us. We knew when we chose the Big South Branch that it was a very different stream than the Baldwin, Middle Branch, or Little South tributaries. It drains an area that has historically seen more agricultural development than the other tribs, resulting in decreased summer base flow rates, and higher water temperatures. It is also known for its flashy flow regime meaning significant water level changes during storm or spring melt periods. There are several places where debris and litter are found four to five feet high in trees following high water.

Another problem that quickly became apparent is the very high load of sand & youll remember from the last Mainstream the problems this provides, but it is a condition which is treatable (I suppose almost all these problems are treatable given enough money!). Faced with extreme fluctuations in water levels in a stream loaded with nearly overwhelming sandy stretches, we were given a challenge to try to improve the habitat to give us more trout and salmon in the Big South. But as Gaylord Alexander pointed out when we were planning the study, its easier to show improvement going from bad to good than it is to show the change from very good to excellent.

Also, as the Summary indicates, we were constrained by nature itself. The study was limited to a five year span with the planning portion, the collection of baseline and reference data, and the actual construction taking most of the first year or two. Chinook salmon have a three to four year life cycle to maturity, so any effects we would be able to make would not be measurable until the study was completed. Any increased numbers of salmon smolts that hatch and make it safely to Lake Michigan wouldnt be returning until this falls spawning run .. six months after the study ended last April. We are continuing attempts to monitor the returning runs to better document the success of our efforts.

One of the conditions of our grant from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust was to discuss any difficulties or unsuccessful aspects encountered during the study. All in all we consider the project to be an overwhelming success, but there were a few things which might have made it even better. The flashy high flood waters are a result of the farming done in the upper headwaters of the Big South, primarily the area east of Walkerville and west of Brohman. Much of this area was drained and bermed to channel the water into unnaturally straight canals. This results in two conditions which are detrimental to the study & water is collected from the farm fields more rapidly, then it rushes more rapidly down the chute causing the flash floods downstream. Sections of Beaver Creek would lend themselves to breaching sections of the berms which were dredged from the drains, which would allow floodwaters to disperse across the adjacent lowlands. We were unable to develop a plan for accomplishing this potential solution to the problems this causes downstream.

A second problem was the failure of a Freeman Creek dam on private property upstream of one of the sandtrap/artificial riffles combination. The sediment released when the dam broke completely overwhelmed the sandtrap and smothered the gravel bar destroying the effectiveness of this site. The dam was replaced without a permit and the owner has been cited for the illegal work as well as costs to repair the damage to our habitat, but the case has not yet been resolved.

A third disappointment was our inability to use the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimiteds Stream Sweeper " dredge as fully as we had intended. This method of removing sand from low swampy areas is unique, as its wide tread enables it to access otherwise inaccessible locations, and heavy equipment is not needed to remove the spoils. Unfortunately mechanical modifications made it unavailable at the time we needed it on the Big South.

Another unexpected occurrence was the nature of the stream following spring snow melt. The turbidity resulting from the flashy flow and an extremely high tannin concentration in this system makes observation of spawning steelhead very difficult, resulting in under-estimates. The low counts thus made it very difficult to extrapolate to true meaningful projections.

A fifth disappointment was really not anticipated in that the constructed riffles were so productive that they attracted considerable illegal poaching which most certainly had a negative influence when it came to calculating numerical changes. The sites selected for improvement in most cases were remote from roads which made it difficult for our staff to monitor for the bad actors, and resulted in time delays if we did call for law enforcement. One way of looking at it, their illegal fishing is proof of the success of our work.

Taking all this into consideration, what were the conclusions from the study? We have successfully demonstrated that:

" Constructed riffles have provided a substrate that is much more suitable for stream flora and fauna; not only have we created more stable environments and velocities, the new stream stretches are also more aesthetically pleasing. " Newly created riffles are all sustaining salmonid spawning activity at levels higher than baseline; in Tank Creek, Chinook successfully reproduced where there is no previous record of successful spawning. " Gravel added to the river and tributaries for spawning supports a higher density and a higher diversity of macroinvertebrates than the naturally sandy areas. Proof of this is the significant increase in numbers of Cedar Waxwings seen feeding on the insects. " The flooding of the Lower Freeman Creek site resulting from a dam bursting demonstrated a negative impact on both the insect communities and the fish fingerlings being counted. This verifies what we know about excess sand bedload having a deleterious effect on fish and their forage. " One last finding should prompt further consideration. Calculations done from counts derived from the Big South study indicate we can generate a naturally-produced migrant salmon smolt for nine cents each compared to DNR Fisheries estimate for hatchery reared fingerlings at eleven cents apiece. Since scientific literature indicates that naturally reproduced fish have a greater fitness than those raised in hatcheries, we should explore ways to supplement existing opportunities for natural reproduction.

In Closing we should mention some ancillary accomplishments that were generated by this investigation:

" A classroom curriculum and field water quality testing program has been set up for students in the Mason-Lake-Oceana Intermediate School District. Students from 3rd to 12th grade will participate in learning more about the ecology of our rivers while providing monitoring of the P.M.s water. " A 4000 square foot pavilion was developed in cooperation with the Ruby Creek Recreation and Conservation Club. This interpretive center and trail will explain the various techniques which were used in the Big South project, both explaining what was done and why, and providing a fishing and observation platform. " Excess material for constructing the riffles was available and a generous grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation enable construction of a second riffle on Cedar Creek. " Four graduate students from Central Michigan University were conducting their own research projects while assisting as field biologists in constructing and monitoring on this project. Andy Carl is studying the effects of decomposition of Chinook salmon on macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity. Aimee Genung is investigating macroinvertebrate colonization of the newly constructed gravel bars. Matt Heiman is looking at salmonid egg survival and mortality within the new riffles. And Matt Kerr is studying the drift of macroinvertebrates off the gravel bars. This work will expand our understanding of the structure and function of gravel bars, possibly developing protocols for the proper maintenance of artificial riffles.

The Pere Marquette Watershed Council expresses its extreme appreciation to the Great Lakes Fishery Trust for support of this project. We are pleased that we have accomplished the goals we set, on time, on budget with tangible benefits to our river, Lake Michigan, and the fishery resource. The Big South will be improved, more fish will mature in the Big Lake, students will learn environmental importance, and new findings and discoveries will ensue. This project has definitely improved our lives in the Great Lake State.