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The Jordan River was designated the state’s first Natural River in 1972 and is a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream. On the lower river an electrical sea lamprey barrier was operated in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the agency charged with treating Michigan’s streams to prevent uncontrolled reproduction of sea lamprey. Unfortunately, the barrier began to fail after ten years of operation and required an estimated $250,000 in repairs to make it fully operational. As a result, the USFWS turned to chemical treatments (TFM) to reduce lamprey populations. Thus, the barrier remained an obstacle to some fish, and started to break down, no longer serving any practical purpose. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, agreed that its removal is in the best interest of the watershed. In fact, its removal is a management option identified in the Jordan River Assessment written by MDNRE Fisheries Division (Hay 2004).
At the mouth of the Jordan River near the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, salmon weir gates were built attached to a foot bridge in East Jordan. The gates are no longer used and unfortunately trap woody debris and vegetation floating down the river. The gates will be removed, allowing the natural movement of fish, wildlife, woody debris and sediment.
Best Management Practices:
- Removal of weir deck, headwalls, fencing and shed.
- Fieldstone placement, topsoil & revegetation.
Project Benefits:
- Removal of a velocity barrier
- Removal of a navigational hazard
- Restore natural stream morphology
- Removal of manmade structures that were starting to break down and could pose as safety hazards in the future
Partners involved in site work:
Conservation Resource Alliance, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Friends of the Jordan River, the City of East Jordan, Pete’s Contracting and Molon Excavating.
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