Betsie River & King Road Improvement Project

The Betsie River is a State Designated Natural River and is well known for its steelhead and salmon fishery. The Betsie River is a Lake Michigan tributary and it flows through Grand Traverse, Benzie, and Manistee Counties, with its headwaters starting in Green Lake. The Betsie River Watershed has 106 road/stream crossings with 64 recommended for some type of improvement. Site #B-20 is where the Betsie mainstem crosses King Road; this site was ranked severe with its steep, sandy eroding road approaches that washed over the bridge deck into the river with snowmelt and rain events. By partnering with the Grand Traverse Band, Environmental Protection Agency and the Benzie County Road Commission, sufficient funding was secured in order to harden the approaches and include curbing and diversion outlets to channel runoff away from the stream.

Best Management Practices:

• 1,700 feet of pavement
• Curbing
• 6 diversion outlets complete with rock riprap placement
• Guardrail

Project Benefits:

• Alt annual input of up to 15 tons of sediment from the roadbed into the Betsie River.
• Ensure safe roadway for vehicle traffic.
• Reduce road maintenance needs.

Partners involved:

Conservation Resource Alliance, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Benzie County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Betsie River Watershed Restoration Committee.