Spanning the Headwaters of the Jordan River and Deer Creek
Project Highlights
Project Type
Three Stream-crossing Replacements
River Miles Connected
Jordan River (40.85 Miles), Deer Creek (9.6 Miles)
Location of Project
Antrim and Charlevoix Counties
Wildlife to be Benefited
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Steelhead, Salmon, Mottled Sculpin, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and 14 species of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies.
Deer Creek and Fuller Road (#WI-28)
Jordan River and Jordan River Road (East) (#WA-3)
Jordan River and Jordan River Road (West) (#WA-5)
Project Overview
CRA, alongside project partners, has reached a major milestone in the Jordan River Watershed, with construction now complete at three critical restoration sites. The final two undersized crossings on the river’s mainstem—located at Jordan River Road East and West—have been replaced with channel-spanning timber bridges. In addition, a third crossing at Deer Creek, where the stream flows under Fuller Road, has undergone a similar dramatic transformation.
These new bridges eliminate barriers to fish passage, reduce erosion, and prevent excess sediment from entering the river, directly improving water quality and aquatic habitat. With the project now fully complete, this work represents a significant step toward reconnecting and restoring the entire Jordan River system, including 40.85 miles of the Jordan River and 9.6 miles of Deer Creek.
A Quality Backdrop
The Jordan River, Lake Charlevoix’s largest tributary, provides quite the ecological backdrop to the region. Considered a pristine cold-water stream, the Jordan is designated as a Natural River and Blue Ribbon trout stream by the State of Michigan. It gracefully winds through the Jordan River Valley, an expansive 18,000-acre block of state-owned forest. The watershed is home to many species, including brook trout, brown trout, steelhead, salmon, mottled sculpin, and 14 species of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies.
An aerial photo captures the beautiful Jordan River Valley.
The Jordan River was the first to be designated ‘Natural River’ under the State of Michigan’s Natural Rivers Act in 1972.
Before Photos:
Before: Staff from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation tour site #WA-3 (Jordan River and Jordan River Road-East) in the summer of 2023.
Before: CRA Program Director Kimberly Balke measures the river’s velocity at site #WA-5 (Jordan River and Jordan River Road-West). The undersized culverts created a velocity barrier to fish and other aquatic species.
After Photos:
Timber Bridge at Site #WA-3 — Jordan River at Jordan River Road-East (Summer 2025)
Timber Bridge at Site #WI-28 — Deer Creek at Fuller Road (Summer 2025)
Projects like this are not possible without the help of our funders and partners.
We’d like to send a special thank you to:
Charlevoix County Community Foundation | Antrim and Charlevoix County Road Commissions | Conservation Resource Alliance | Friends of the Jordan River | Raven Hill Discovery Center | Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians | Bureau of Indian Affairs | Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians | Natural Resources Conservation Service | National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | Great Lakes Fishery Trust | The Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation | DTE Energy Foundation | Walters Family Foundation | Serra Family Foundation | The George Fund | Frey Foundation | Ted and Jane Von Voigtlander Foundation | Oleson Foundation | Trout and Salmon Foundation | Andrew R. and Janet F. Miller Foundation | Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council | Antrim County | Paddle Antrim | Scientific Anglers | OHM Advisors