Pere Marquette River

Flowing roughly 66 miles through Lake, Mason, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties before reaching Lake Michigan, the Pere Marquette River is one of Michigan’s most iconic coldwater rivers and was the first river in Michigan to receive federal Wild and Scenic River designation. Known for its exceptional trout, steelhead, and salmon fisheries, the watershed supports healthy populations of brook, brown, and rainbow trout while serving as a major migration corridor for migratory fish species.

For decades, Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) has led extensive restoration efforts throughout the watershed, completing more than 60 projects including stream crossing replacements, riverbank stabilization, and in-stream habitat improvements. Recent work on the Little South Branch has focused on restoring natural river function through large wood habitat installation and streambank stabilization, while the upcoming Baldwin River Dam Removal and River Restoration initiative represents one of the most transformative projects in the watershed’s history.