In the late 19th century, the meandering banks of Stony Creek in Oceana County were home to a small settlement called Marshville. A gristmill, built in 1863, supported the surrounding community along with its post office and general store. The dam on site created a small pond that became a beloved fishing spot until the mill closed in 1917.
Ten years later, the Marshville Improvement Association rallied community support and rebuilt the dam out of concrete, restoring the site as a popular angling destination. In 1970, however, vandals breached the dam, damaging it beyond repair. For more than 50 years, the skeletal remains stood untouched. Just downstream, three undersized, fish-blocking culverts further disrupted the creek’s flow and limited passage for native species.
The decision to restore Stony Creek is a story of collaboration. Multiple agencies, community partners, and a blend of public and private contributions came together to reopen the river. The project—spanning Oceana County’s Marshville Dam County Park and neighboring private land—was launched in 2020 by the Oceana County Parks and Recreation Commission. The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) secured critical funding and led the stream crossing replacement and dam removal, while CRA provided additional support and management for stream and habitat restoration.
Construction began in spring 2024. By summer, crews had removed the old Marshville Dam and replaced the three culverts with a channel-spanning timber bridge, restoring the creek’s natural morphology for the first time in over 160 years. This work resolved long-standing issues of excess sedimentation and fish passage barriers, allowing cold-water species—such as salmonids and other native fish—to migrate upstream and spawn freely.
The next phase focused on revitalizing the stream corridor and its surrounding landscape. Nearly 12 acres of habitat were restored, with large woody debris strategically placed to stabilize the banks and create diverse in-stream habitat. Crews also planted 2,280 native trees and shrubs in areas once submerged by the dam’s pond, bringing shade and long-term stability to the riparian zone. To honor the creek’s cultural and recreational significance, a universally accessible fishing platform was installed, along with interpretive signage to share the site’s history, fishing regulations, and ongoing restoration efforts.
Stony Creek’s rocky road to restoration is already paying off. Thanks to this collaborative effort, a once-fragmented waterway has been transformed into a connected, resilient ecosystem. The result is a place where fish can thrive, visitors can safely recreate, and future generations can learn from and enjoy the creek’s renewed vitality.
Before Photos — Swipe to See More
After Photos — Swipe to See the Transformation
Project Partners & Funders
West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission • Conservation Resource Alliance • Oceana County Parks and Recreation Commission • Oceana County Road Commission • NOAA Restoration Center – Great Lakes Region • Michigan Department of Natural Resources • National Fish Passage Program • Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Green Bay Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office • Great Lakes Fishery Trust • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative • USDA Forest Service – Eastern Region State, Private, and Tribal Forestry • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation • Garry & Julie McKeen • John Wyns • GEI Consultants • Scott Civil Engineering Company • L.S. Engineering, Inc. • Catskill Remedial Contracting Services • Kanouse Outdoor Restoration • J.E. Kloote Contracting, Inc. • Krenn Timber Bridge • The Wege Foundation • GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute • Private Landowners • DTE Foundation • Andrew R. and Janet F. Miller Foundation • Walters Family Foundation • The Brookby Foundation • Trout and Salmon Foundation