Maple River HomeWaters Update - Fall 2015 - West Branch Liberated

We added another beautiful timber bridge in Emmet County to our list of free-spanning structures on the Maple River this year. When traveling over the eastern crossing of Robinson Road and the West Branch of the Maple River, you’ll now see a 36’ wide 66’ long timber bridge. The former twin six foot culverts blocking fish passage and functioning as a dam are now gone. The West Branch of the Maple River now flows from its headwaters to its confluence with the East Branch, nearly 20 miles, completely unrestricted.

Biologist Chris Pierce also coordinated instream habitat work on the mainstem. Old metal spikes from structures originally installed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s were removed from Woodland Road to Brutus Road. The structures were intended to control erosion and to provide fish habitat but as they deteriorated, the exposed spikes posed a serious hazard. Over 3,000 lbs of metal came out of the river! And last but not least, an additional mile of instream habitat was enhanced downstream of Brutus Road.

To date, we’ve completed four of the nine major projects that make up this initiative. Plans to tackle the largest obstacle on the river, the Lake Kathleen Dam, are also underway.

Don't miss out on the action - become a CRA member to support practical conservation.

Become a CRA member!
 

Funders - Thank you for supporting this initiative!

    Baiardi Family Foundation
    Bay Harbor Foundation
    Challenge Chapter of Trout Unlimited
    Charles Wilson
    The Conservation Alliance
    Conservation Resource Alliance – River Care™
    DTE Energy Foundation
    Emmet County Road Commission
    FishAmerica Foundation
    Frey Foundation
    Great Lakes Council of the International Federation of Fly Fishers
    Harry A. & Margaret D. Towsley Foundation
    Henry E. & Consuelo S. Wenger Foundation
    International Federation of Fly Fishers
    Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited
    Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
    Michigan DNR
    Michigan Fly Fishing Club
    Miller Van Winkle Chapter of Trout Unlimited
    National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Sustain Our Great Lakes
    Offield Family Foundation
    Oleson Foundation
    Pat & Gill Clements Foundation
    Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
    Scientific Anglers
    U.S. Department of Agriculture – Conservation Innovation Grant
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Project Completion Fact Sheet