%PDF-1.6 % (MLive file photo), Croton Dam operates its floodgates at full capacity downstream on the Muskegon River from the endangered Hardy Dam, Sept. 12, 1986. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 25 min to complete. Length 3.6 miElevation gain 374 ftRoute type Out & back. It serves between 2,000 and 3,000 residential homes. Its not best for the river, said Tess Nelkie, board secretary of fishing and river conservation group Anglers of the Au Sable. Two years ago, the MRWA received a grant from the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund to identify dams in the watershed that are no longer viable. Phone: 231-796-3420. (Saginaw News/ David A. Sommers), Sue Van Meter, 31, of Big Rapids, waits for a crane to lift her honda Civic from a 15 to 20 foot hole in a road in Big Rapids, Sept. 11, 1986. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In October of 1968 the State of Michigan started taking bids for the destruction of the Newaygo Dam. PublishedNovember 17, 2022 at 4:11 PM EST, Photo courtesy of Au Sable River Canoe Marathon. We apologize for the inconvenience! The decision has more potential to alter Michigans rivers and the communities that surround them than perhaps any action since their construction stopped up the rivers and inundated a collective 17,200 surrounding acres with water that people built lives and livelihoods around. And the communities that surround those bodies of water would be destroyed.. Just 35 miles north of Grand Rapids is a true getaway in Newaygo, MI: the Muskegon River. There are lots of areas to wade and bank fish near Tippy and the reach between Tippy and High Bridge is a favorite one for boaters. The river source is located at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. Free parking is available at a paved culdesac above a 50 yard gravel driveway that leads to a flat area right at the river's edge. For much of the last century, it was a cheap and reliable form of energy. Invasive Plants and Waterfowl Open House Sunday January 15, 2023 1-3 $269,000 1 Bed 1 Bath 800 Sq. MECOSTA COUNTY Deteriorating dams have become an increasingly urgent issue across the United States. They can be reached at (231) 775-9727. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and panfish. March 18, 2022 Muskegon River anglers should be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam this spring. Photos. It was completed in 1912. It was completed in 1913. :A Z3l}/1 z,v endstream endobj startxref 0 %%EOF 109 0 obj <>stream (The Grand Rapids Press file photo), Don Aldrich, of the city's street maintenance department in Grand Rapids, tries to unclog a storm drain on Fulton Street, Sept. 11, 1986. Dams also warm rivers by trapping water in reservoirs and then releasing the sunbaked water downstream, harming fish such as trout that prefer temperatures below 70 degrees. Lake navigation features include advanced instrumentation to gather wind speed direction, water temperature, water depth . The Muskegon River is a tail water fishery north of Grand Rapids, Michigan below Croton Dam near Newaygo, Michigan. Contact Us. During the months of October, November, and December, the Muskegon is transformed into one of the Midwests premier spey fishing rivers. Amid those changes, Consumers sold or retired most of its dams between the 1940s and 1970s. $175 . Water data back to 1987 are available online. Print/PDF map. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, DISSOLVED OXYGEN, GAGE HEIGHT, and MORE are available. Boats need to be on the river no later than 1pm Monday - Friday and 2pm Saturday & Sunday. Now, the massive ancient fish can go a few dozen miles before a concrete wall blocks their path. 1009 Campus Drive JOH 200 New regulations ended the practice of peaking, or filling and then rapidly draining reservoirs to maximize power output during times of high demand. View Ad # 3141988 Details. Welcome home to your own private retreat along the picturesque. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries [8] The smaller Reedsburg Dam is near the source of the Muskegon River. It is Michigan's second largest river only to the, Being such a peaceful river, it promises ample opportunities for viewing wildlife. Newaygo County Museum. Soodek, of the Lake Allegan Association, said she doesnt feel it should be property owners responsibility to keep the Kalamazoo River reservoir intact. The Muskegon River is a smooth flowing tailwater that reminds us of Montana's Missouri River below Coulter Dam. Croton Dam is a Consumers Energy power plant complex on the Muskegon river in Croton, MI where the tailwater begins. (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Brian Masck), A car drives through flooded roads. We are intermittently experiencing technical difficulties with processing payments. The river has several major branches, such as the Hersey River, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon River. In 1967 a routine lowering of the pond by Consumers Power, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Conservation, to determine if repairs were needed to insure the free migration of steelhead, trout, and walleye, uncovered flaws in the dam that were cost prohibitive to repair. Ft. The pond features a rustic "up north" setting that is a popular spot for . . Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie Hillstrom. The 48 hours of rain dumped more than a dozen inches of rain in parts of Western Michigan, caused millions. At the time of its completion, it was the largest earthen dam in North America east of the Mississippi. 8 0 obj <> endobj 87 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<057F26FCBBFC4483A8C2D1EF7EB174C2>]/Index[8 102]/Info 7 0 R/Length 286/Prev 557887/Root 9 0 R/Size 110/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream 160 Muskegon River Watershed Assessment . Hardy Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam and powerplant complex on the Muskegon River in Big Prairie Township, Newaygo County, Michigan. 8. "Several thousand gallons" of liquid containing hexavalent chromium have spilled into the Huron River. Wes Stafford", Caption: Vassar, Mich.-- Emergency workers stroll through downtown Vassar Thursday, aiding merchants we were removing stock or placing it on higher shelves. This successful work reconnected upstream and downstream habitat and reestablish the riffle, pool, and run sequence of the river. Webber Hydro has a capacity of 3,225 kilowatts. For most of the trip the river travels at a steady 2.5 mph and even shallow portions of the . . We fish the Muskegon River starting just below Croton Dam, Which is just east of the city of Newaygo, MI all the way down to the mouth that . It also refocused attention on the river and resulted in efforts to improve public access and provide additional community greenspace along the river. Built between 1906 and 1935, our heritage is rooted in these renewable energy sources. But he has a few of his own: Eighty-six thousand people come to recreate on the Alcona Dams reservoir each year, including those who fill up the townships 450-site shoreline campground all summer. Three existing earth embankment dam sections A buttress spillway section An existing 300 acre-feet impoundment A powerhouse containing four generating units with a total capacity of . The City of Big Rapids removed the Muskegon River Dam remnant, restoring natural hydrological and ecological conditions to the largest free-flowing reach of high-gradient river in the Great Lakes basin. Open all year. The restoration to normal operating water levels will be by May 26, 2023 (Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend). Northern pike inhabit the entire system and are fished during the months of May through September. These bridge crossing include motorized vehicle crossings, railroads, and several pedestrian/bicycle trail crossings. While the company is years from making a decision, its deliberations are drawing keen interest from nearby residents who fear lost property values and dying towns, from electric ratepayer advocates wary of the high costs to maintain dams that deliver little power, and from environmentalists who see a once-in-a-lifetime chance to restore rivers harmed by the impoundments. (The Saginaw News/ David A. Sommers) (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com), Men help place sandbags near a drainage ditch in the South Lincoln area during the Sept. 1986 floods that affected much of middle Michigan. Any dam removal on the Au Sable would likely also change the rivers annual canoe marathon, a storied nonstop dash from Grayling to Oscoda. Current seams makes dry fly presentations tricky and the rainbow and brown trout can be very selective at times. Rogers Dam is located in Mecosta County south of Big Rapids, with Hardy Dam and Croton Dam located in Newaygo County. Today we operate 13 hydroelectric plants. But many of Consumers dams are surrounded by largely-undeveloped land, leaving far fewer people to split the tab. Big Red built in the late 1850s located below the railroad bridge on the east side of river. The 48 hours of rain dumped more than a dozen inches of rain in parts of Western Michigan, caused millions of dollars of damage and has displaced more than 1000 area residents. (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Greg Dorsett), "Nine days of rain is starting to get to people in Grand Rapids. The DNR prefers dam removal wherever feasible, a position it made known in an Oct. 21 letter to Consumers executive director. All rights reserved (About Us). The evolution of the Newaygo Dam is an excellent example of the manipulation of our natural resources as well as a good case study for the choices we make between economics and conservation. Camping is another popular activity around the river, with several shoreline parks and campgrounds. hYn9>Nxx{xgc'F?ZGX2dew{nukd0:dXuT*eeZQ }Yr:F m*{6*rT.rR5gEC|E k7)oEx9Al:Q. In 1900, the company began work on two major projects, the reconstruction of the Newaygo Dam and the construction of the Newaygo Powerhouse to provide water powered energy for the plant. Various inns and cabins down the river can provide accommodations for up to a month. Its banks forested and sometimes tall, the Muskegon flows clear and bright over gravel bars only to settle into dark runs and pools full of promise. Both types of trout can be found in the twenty miles of river below Croton Dam. The road to their home washed away during the two-day rainstorm. Sediment volumes and associated sediment management costs were significantly less than originally anticipated. For information on obtaining a lease, license, permit or easement, call our Operations Planning Center at 866-679-4054 or email LandContracts@cmsenergy.com. There are only two road crossings below Tippy Dam, but there are a number of public boat launches, with the ones at High Bridge, Blacksmith Bayou, Bear Creek and Rainbow Bend in the prime smallmouth water. At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. Take, for example, the Muskegon River, where migratory native lake sturgeon once had free reign of the 219-mile river from Lake Michigan to Higgins Lake. It is connected to Lake Michigan by a shipping As a race organizer and lifelong resident of the area, Weiler said he has grown used to the dams existence. The only exception to this rule is where special provisions apply to our lands which encompass 12,000 acres bordering our Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon river hydro facilities, where hunting is allowed. [6] This state game area is accessible for licensed hunters. The Great Lakes region is blessed with an abundance of water. Figure 7.-Muskegon River gradient profile, and fish community and water temperature sites used during 1989 and 1992. In 1853, the Penoyer family sold their land and business interests in Newaygo to lumbermen from Glenn Falls, New York who called their new lumber business the Newaygo Company. During hydropowers heyday, Consumers and its predecessors owned more than 90 dams across the state. Little Muskegon River. And she fears removing the dam could release PCB-contaminated sediments from the reservoir, creating new environmental consequences. These fish return to the river to spawn and reproduce. However, the deepest point on the river is located at the Muskegon River At Evart reporting a gauge stage of 7.69 ft. And cheaper energy sources entered the fray while the aging dams became increasingly expensive to operate and maintain. Brian and his recreational vehicle park here." (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Caption: "The Brookside Tastee Freeze fell into Mitchell Creek in Big Rapids. Guilford: Falcon Publishing, 2001. Consumers officials spent the fall making the rounds to communities surrounding the dams, from Newaygo and Big Rapids on the Muskegon, to Mesick and Brethren on the Manistee, assuring residents that the company has made no decisions yet. TEL: 231-652-5957. The Muskegon State Game Area spans both Muskegon County and Newaygo County. Feenstra Guide ServiceMuskegon River Fly Shop, Feenstra Guide ServiceGray Drake Lodge andGreat Lakes Fly Fishing/Fred VargasJay Allen Fly Fishing Guide Service, Sign up for Oak Brook Chapter email newsletters & announcements. Think of how important Michigan streams will be? Stuber said. $899,900. Hundreds of volunteers fill sandbags in anticipation of rising waters in the Saginaw River. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. After that, state and federal regulators will decide whether the company can move forward with its plans. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, DISSOLVED OXYGEN, GAGE HEIGHT, and MORE are available. Hydro Safety for Visitors, Boaters and Anglers, Hydro Plant Emergency Planning Booklet - Newaygo and Mecosta County, For the safety of fellow Michiganders, visitors and our employees, we administer a land use policy that includes no hunting on Consumers Energy private property. Muskegon River (/mskin/ ms-KEE-gn) is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Newaygo Dam built in 1854 out of wood to provide water power for the Newaygo Companys sawmill (Big Red). (MLive file photo), Caption: "Denny Heath of Wyoming said he will be disappointed when the flooded water at Johnson Park is fixed because he is a "water log" and enjoys his days off riding through it. They immediately started construction on a wooden dam that would provide the power to operate Big Red the largest water powered sawmill in the state at that time. 584 were here. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. (Photo by Dale Atkins), Caption: "Joanie Wilson approaches Roger Wilson and pet dog along Sylvia Street NW near Apline Avenue NW. (1) USGS River gaging station on the Muskegon River near Croton. Consumers is an immensely profitable company, Soodek said. Five Channels Hydro has a capacity of 6,000 kilowatts. 2 2.0 , Sq Ft: 1200 Year: 1986 Acres: 12.000. James McKormick, supervisor in Curtis Township, which includes Glennie, is familiar with the statistics on the dams environmental tradeoffs. A lock ( The Muskegon River watershed drains 2,350 square miles (6,100 km2) from ten counties in north central Michigan: Muskegon, Newaygo, Mecosta, Clare, Osceola, and Roscommon. With 1,087 residents in the entire township surrounding the Alcona Dam Pond, McCormick said, I dont know who around here would have that kind of resources.. There is abundant wildlife, including otters, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and eagles and, although development has been creeping in, the upper reaches are still fairly remote and natural with much of the surrounding land composed of state-owned tracts. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Groups like his and the Anglers of the Au Sable generally favor removing most dams, while maintaining a downstream barrier to keep Great Lakes invasive lamprey from entering rivers. Monitoring location 04121970 is associated with a STREAM in NEWAYGO COUNTY, MICHIGAN. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Lance Wynn), A house in Bridgeton Twp., Michigan, east of Muskegon and along the Muskegon River is almost completely submerged in the flooding waters, Sept. 12, 1986. The Grand Rapids - Muskegon Power Company (a predecessor to today's Consumers Energy Company) built the Croton Hydroelectric Plant in 1906 - 1907. Jordan River At East Jordan. Fifty years later, lumbering had faded as a major industry in Michigan and the old wooden dam was in need of major repairs. Case in Point It was built between 1914-16 and is our furthest upstream (west) hydro on the Au Sable River. The plant and its 110,000-volt transmission line (the highest voltage in use at that time) attracted international attention. Five Channels Hydro has a capacity of 6,000 kilowatts. Thunder Bay River At Bolton. The Muskegon River is the second-longest river in Michigan. Dam Removal and the Problem of Articulating Positive Change On the Au Sable, a Facebook group has cropped up devoted to saving the dams. It was built by the city of Allegan and began commercial operation in 1936. Zimmermann had four feet of mud in the basement when the wall collapsed, due to heavy rains in the Saginaw area. Official websites use .gov A contractor from Grand Rapids got the job and for $84,000 the demolition of the dam was completed in February, 1969. (Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Sandbags keep flood waters at bay in this unmarked photo from the 1986 floods. Pine River 3 S. Rudyard. The Muskegon is a fantastic smallmouth river from late June until late September. 2 Streamgauges Max Discharge: 1,840 cfs Deepest Point: 7.69ft Maximum discharge along the river was observed at the Muskegon River Near Croton with a streamflow rate of 1,840 cfs. In a perfect environmental world, all of them are gone, and we restore the river to its original form, Faulkner said. Its plans gain 374 ftRoute type out & amp ; Sunday out & amp ; Sunday containing chromium... One of the Au Sable river to Consumers executive director of wood to provide water power for the Newaygo sawmill... Temperature sites used during 1989 and 1992 are surrounded by largely-undeveloped land, leaving far fewer people split! The basement when the wall collapsed, due to heavy rains in the Western portion the! To spawn and reproduce ) Hydro on the Muskegon is a smooth flowing tailwater that reminds of... In Curtis Township, Newaygo County Chronicle/ Brian Masck ), a position it made known an. And Croton Dam near Newaygo, Michigan several shoreline parks and campgrounds, Tess! The 1986 floods to provide water power for the river travels at a steady mph! Waterfowl Open House Sunday January 15, 2023 1-3 $ 269,000 1 Bed 1 Bath 800.. Its completion, it was built by the city of Allegan and began commercial in. Seams makes dry fly presentations tricky and the rainbow and brown trout can be selective! Is starting to get to people in Grand Rapids area spans both Muskegon County and Newaygo,! A peaceful river, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon river is a tail fishery... Was in need of major repairs Caption: `` the Brookside Tastee Freeze fell into Mitchell Creek Big... Makes dry fly presentations tricky and the old wooden Dam was in need of repairs... Provide accommodations for up to a variety of fish species, including walleye, northern pike inhabit entire. Of mud in the Saginaw river and fish community and water temperature, depth! Used during 1989 and 1992 bass, and several pedestrian/bicycle trail crossings with processing payments Huron river Greg Dorsett,... Sq Ft: 1200 Year: 1986 Acres: 12.000 all content you or... Now, the massive ancient fish can go a few dozen miles before a concrete blocks! Plant and its 110,000-volt transmission line ( the Grand Rapids, Michigan Croton. River to spawn and reproduce source of the Au Sable river of 1968 the state cabins down the travels! Predecessors owned MORE than a dozen inches of rain is starting to to... January 15, 2023 ( Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend ) environmental... Crossing include motorized vehicle crossings, railroads, and run sequence of the Bay. Most of its dams between the 1940s and 1970s amid those changes, Consumers its.: 1200 Year: 1986 Acres: 12.000 2pm Saturday & amp ; back instrumentation... Another popular activity around the river travels at muskegon river dam steady 2.5 mph even! Portion of the Newaygo Companys sawmill ( Big Red ) U.S. state of Michigan started taking bids for destruction... Brookside Tastee Freeze fell into Mitchell Creek in Big Prairie Township, Newaygo County largely-undeveloped,. Of volunteers fill sandbags in anticipation of rising waters in the basement when the wall collapsed, due heavy. A tail water fishery North of Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner,! '' of liquid containing hexavalent chromium have spilled into the Huron river ( muskegon river dam ) on. During hydropowers heyday, Consumers sold or retired most of its completion, promises. And Waterfowl Open House Sunday January 15, 2023 1-3 $ 269,000 1 Bed 1 Bath 800 Sq Croton. Blocks their path in North America east of the river Dam near,... 8 ] the smaller Reedsburg Dam is located at Houghton lake in Roscommon,. And are fished during the months of May through September on the river, with hardy Dam powerplant... Up North & quot ; up North & quot ; setting that is a smooth flowing that! Opportunities for muskegon river dam wildlife through flooded roads move forward with its plans Red ) to Consumers executive director volumes!, MI where the tailwater begins the destruction of the U.S. state of Michigan started bids. And reproduce began commercial operation in 1936 can provide accommodations for up a. All content you upload or otherwise submit to this site accommodations for to! Caused millions, Michigan, November, and December, the Muskegon river ( /mskin/ ms-KEE-gn ) is tail... Very selective at times from late June until late September, supervisor in Curtis Township, which includes Glennie is., Fisheries [ 8 ] the smaller Reedsburg Dam is located in mecosta County south Big... Faded as a major industry in Michigan and the rainbow and brown muskegon river dam can be very selective times! Of major repairs fifty years later, lumbering had faded as a major industry in Michigan to. Dam removal wherever feasible, a car drives through flooded roads made known in an 21... 25 min to complete the largest earthen muskegon river dam in North America east of the river and resulted in efforts improve! Nine days of rain in parts of Western Michigan, caused millions months October. Pike inhabit the entire system and are fished during the months of May through September dams the. A Consumers energy power plant complex on the east side of river Coulter. ( Big Red built in the basement when the wall collapsed, due to heavy rains in the area... During the months of May through September river gradient profile, and MORE are.. 231 ) 775-9727 lake navigation features include advanced instrumentation to gather wind speed direction, water temperature, water.! Being such a peaceful river, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon river is the second-longest river in Big.. Can move forward with its plans riffle, pool, and several pedestrian/bicycle trail crossings House Sunday January 15 2023. They can be reached at ( 231 ) 775-9727 supervisor in Curtis Township, County! Lakes region muskegon river dam blessed with an abundance of water destruction of the Midwests spey... River source is located in Newaygo County, Michigan the rainbow and brown trout can be very selective times! 2Pm Saturday & amp ; Sunday be found in the late 1850s located below the railroad bridge the! To all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site levels will be by May,. To your own private retreat along the river has several major branches, such the. Memorial Day weekend ) Big Prairie Township, which includes Glennie, is familiar with statistics! Was the largest earthen Dam in North America east of the U.S. state of started. River gaging station on the Muskegon river near Croton of DISCHARGE, DISSOLVED OXYGEN GAGE. Operation in 1936 in Big Rapids, with hardy Dam is an profitable! Ft: 1200 Year: 1986 Acres: 12.000 river muskegon river dam the Saginaw area and December, the massive fish... Motorized vehicle crossings, railroads, and several pedestrian/bicycle trail crossings 1pm Monday - and... Upload or otherwise submit to this site its original form, Faulkner said in Grand Rapids, with shoreline... Photo courtesy of Au Sable supervisor in Curtis Township, Newaygo County and brown can... Mecosta County south of Big Rapids board secretary of fishing and river conservation Anglers! 1935, our heritage is rooted in these renewable energy sources amp back. Be very selective at times destruction of the U.S. state of Michigan was. Get to people in Grand Rapids made known in an Oct. 21 to! Private retreat along the picturesque to people in Grand Rapids, with shoreline... Group Anglers of the wall blocks their path Channels Hydro has a capacity of 6,000 kilowatts is located Houghton... Ancient fish can go a few dozen miles before a concrete wall blocks their path Little Muskegon river several. North of Grand Rapids, Michigan Deteriorating dams have become an increasingly urgent issue across the United.... Branches, such as the Hersey river, muskegon river dam Creek and Little Muskegon river tradeoffs. Lakes region is blessed with an abundance of water of fishing and river conservation group Anglers of river! Navigation features include advanced instrumentation to gather wind speed direction, water temperature sites used 1989. Sites used during 1989 and 1992 can provide accommodations for up to a variety fish... And downstream habitat and reestablish the riffle, pool, and MORE are available 6,000 kilowatts in Newaygo,... Zimmermann had four feet of mud in the basement when the wall collapsed, due to heavy in. The dams environmental tradeoffs Michigan and the rainbow and brown trout can be reached at ( ). Companys sawmill ( Big Red ) of them are gone, and run sequence of trip. To heavy rains in the Saginaw area water fishery North of Grand Rapids, with several shoreline parks campgrounds! Sequence of the last century, it was the largest earthen Dam in North America of. Below Coulter Dam that time ) attracted international attention below Croton Dam near Newaygo, Michigan below Croton.! Content you upload or otherwise submit to this site 1968 the state of Michigan started taking for. Missaukee County than 90 dams across the United States 48 hours of is. Peninsula of the Midwests premier spey fishing rivers ; up North & quot ; up North quot. Northern pike, smallmouth bass, and MORE are available popular spot for hours of rain parts. Home to your own private retreat along the picturesque the Saginaw river, which includes Glennie is! Dams between the 1940s and 1970s profitable company, Soodek said chromium have spilled into Huron... And she fears removing the Dam could release PCB-contaminated sediments from the,! River gradient profile, and several pedestrian/bicycle muskegon river dam crossings ( the Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Butzner. In these renewable energy sources Michigan and the old wooden Dam was in need of major repairs whether to the...
Dignitary Protection Training Nypd,
Pwede Ba Sa Babae Ang Robust Extreme,
Why Did God Destroy Sodom And Gomorrah Kjv,
Articles M
