May 4, 2007
Bring Back the Bear

Keeping momentum moving along in the Bear Creek Watershed, CRA and partners have helped stabilized another extremely large eroding streambank. Bear Creek is the largest tributary of the Manistee River below Tippy Dam and is known for excellent trout fishing and its large runs of Chinook salmon and steelhead. The site is approximately 250 lineal feet by 60 feet in height with the potential to deliver an estimated 385 tons of sediments/year. This project was successfully completed with partial funding support from the Great Lakes Commission and the USDA and help from many other project partners and volunteers, including the Michigan Fly Fishing Club, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and Bear Creek Watershed Council.

Bob Johnson, property owner, was extremely excited and impressed with the partnership model used to complete this project and the product we delivered. Bob was born on the property and has tried for many years to keep the bank from actively eroding at the rapid rate it was moving. Bob has lived there for more than 70 years and stated, “this site just keeps getting worse every year, no matter what I do.” Improper logging and agriculture practices in the 1800’s were the likely culprits of the erosion. The Johnson’s bought the property in the late 1800’s after it was logged and started a farming practice that is located atop the bank. Throughout the years Bob Johnson has planted a spruce buffer in between the bank and the farm field and has continually planted native grasses and pines to help hold the bank.

Stabilization efforts included fieldstone rip-rap with large woody debris incorporated along the toe of the stream bank and 4 rows of log terracing up the slope of the bank. To help efforts along, AP biology students from Athens High School in Troy, MI will help project partners with planting the slopes with native shrubs and trees. These students have helped CRA with similar projects for over 4 years and it always turns out to be a great event. The students come and participate in an environmental service project and learn about non-point pollution sources, erosion control, fish habitat, and water quality.