Over the last year, CRA has continued to restore and enhance the Upper Manistee River at the former Flowing Well Trout Farm. Projects have concentrated on building habitat for both aquatic and terrestrial species. The placement of woody structures along stream channels has created high-quality aquatic habitat.

While many people recognize how our projects improve water quality and fish habitat, less is known about how reptiles, amphibians and birds are impacted by our habitat improvement projects. Learn more about how we are using plant and animal surveys to prioritize upcoming invasive species removal projects in one of Michigan biodiversity hotspots.

By 9&10 News

Today supporters of  the Boardman River Restoration Project celebrated new beginnings at the site of the old dam.

The Boardman River Restoration Project aims to remove a series of three dams so the river can go back to the way it looked before the dams were put in over 90 years ago.

Ecologists say that since the dams removal, a process that started last fall, it's already evident how much stronger vegetation and fish populations are growing in their new free flowing habitat.

By Michele Wheeler, Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Partnership Coordinator

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Partnership are pleased to announce the approval of nearly $400,000 in grants aimed at supporting on-the-ground fish habitat work in the Great Lakes under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the National Fish Habitat Partnership.  

By Jacob Johnson, 9&10 News

A Northern Michigan water way will get an upgrade to help allow fish to swim up and down streams and rivers. A $20,000 federal grant will help replace a culvert on the Bancroft Creek near Kingsley, which flows into the Boardman River. $645,000 is being awarded to Michigan and other Great Lakes states to remove structures that are stopping the fish.

By Emily Clegg, The Nature Conservancy

Published in Precast Solutions, Summer 2013

In stewarding our natural resources, we can’t be too cautious about protecting the aquatic life in our rivers and streams. Indeed, thousands of manmade dams and stream diversions have seriously degraded and obstructed the natural habitat of our native fisheries. But that’s precisely where precast concrete can help.

Saving Birds Thru Habitat Executive Director Kay Charter recently recognized Eric Ellis as the Conservation Partner of the Year. Eric has been a Habitat Wildlife Biologist for CRA since 2007. Over the years, he and Charter have worked on a variety of conservation projects.