Adams Trout Blog

The process to determine the fate of four dams on the Boardman River is moving along like the flow of the river, faster in some areas than others. And, if additional funding to keep the process moving isn't obtained soon, the flow will slow once again to a trickle.

There are an estimated 2,500 large dams in Michigan and 79,000 in the United States. Generally there is money available for removal, but not for the process itself. Locally and nationally there appears to be great interest in the Boardman River Dams process because it's unique in that it gives equal consideration to societal, economic, environmental, and engineering issues, coupled with the full involvement of the public in the process. It will become a model for many other communities to follow, but since this concept is so new, there's not a great deal of funding readily available, but we hope it's coming. The citizen-based Finance Team has recently sent out numerous proposals to local, state, and national foundations and other organizations in an effort to keep the process moving. We're confident the money will surface, but when is the key question.

So far, through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife grant to the Grand Traverse Band, wildlife and aquatic habitat data have been conducted, mapping, and baseline evaluations of the dams have been developed. The Army Corps of Engineers have collected cross section, sediment and other bathymetry data to determine existing flow conditions and to support hydraulic modeling. Contributions from the City, County, Light & Power, Rotary Charities, the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust, MDNR, MDEQ along with volunteer support from the general public and numerous organizations such as the Adams Chapter of TU, the Conservation District, CRA, the Watershed Center, NMC, and many others have brought the process to where it is today, but more cold hard cash is needed to keep the process moving.

The Adams Chapter's own Gabe Schneider is active on the Finance Team. Gabe is an aid for Senator Carl Levin and has been instrumental in alerting us to some potential funding opportunities, one for which a grant proposal was just submitted. Senator Levin has been a strong backer of the project and always provides letters of support.

Chapter members Jack Murray and Steve Largent serve on the Bottomlands Task Team
and Scoping Team. Pat Kelly is a regular at the regular monthly meetings.

Among numerous other activities, a critical next step involves determining the economic cost of the various alternatives both long and short term. This will help the community determine the ultimate fate of the dams due sometime late 2008, unless additional funding is not obtained.

The Boardman River Dams Project is the most comprehensive dam removal/retention project in Michigan history, with the potential reconnection of 161 miles of river with Lake Michigan. This is truly a community driven process. If you haven't already, please consider getting involved. For more information, or to share your thoughts, please visit www.theboardman.org or contact Steve Largent at (231) 883-9960.

Thanks to the support of more than 250 donors, the Grand Traverse Conservation District has begun construction on the Boardman River Nature Center!

The Nature Center will be located on the banks of the Boardman River at the Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve's Sabin Pond Trailhead on Cass Road. The new nature center, scheduled to open in the Fall of 08, will include an interactive exhibit gallery, community room/classroom and staff offices. No offense Ken, but this will be a great place to hold future board meetings!!

Through the Nature Center, up to 60,000 area children each year will be able to explore the wonders of nature, including what lives in healthy rivers and streams. Each year, hundreds of children and families enjoy the District's Discovery Nature Hikes ranging from "Creepy Crawlies" to the "Wonder of Ponds." "Fishing for Kids" and "River Ecology" are popular adventures often led by TU volunteers-thanks!

As we work to complete the campaign for the Nature Center and bring it to life, we welcome your support. And now, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by Grand Traverse County! Consider giving a gift to the nature center in honor of a loved one this holiday season. Visit www.gtcd.org to learn more. You may even "buy a brick" through our "Wildside Walkway" program. Order forms are available online or call 231.941.0960.

We would like to sincerely thank all of the following individuals and businesses who contributed to the success of our 2007 Adams Chapter banquet. The dedication of these individuals insures the continued preservation of our valuable coldwater fisheries in northern Michigan:

Deerings Market, Maxbauer's, Streamside Orvis, Cali's Cotton, Miners North, Frederico's Design, Amical, Century Auctioneers, Fieldsport, Stud Services Inc., Guntzviller's Taxidermy, Stein Motors, Nolan's Tobacconists, Martineks, Hannah Bistro, Trattoria Stella, Williamsburg Dinner Theatre, BMF Guide Service, The Backcast, Wal- Mart, Bay Bread, Burritt's, Chef's Inn, Mary's Kitchen Port, Gate's AuSable Lodge, Apache Trout Grill, Sixth Street Drugs, Backcountry Outfitters, Centre Street Café, Sladek's, Jons Guide Service, Scott Fly Rods, Diversions Hats, Rio Fly Lines, Scientific Anglers, Angling Consulting Services, Sage Fly Rods, The Northern Angler, Gander Mountain, The Wooden Gallery, Glenn Wolff Studios, Captain's Quarters, Current Works, LLC, Schmidt Outfitters, T.C. Eye Consultants, Hertler and Associates, efulfillment Service, Brady's Bar, Northern Images, Instant Framer, The Print Shop, Aggie and Arnie Ochs, Geoff Smith, Jeff Jennings, Rock Wilson, Bob Summers, Russ Maddin, Pat Moore, Sharon Largent, Duon rose, Jim Newland, T.J. Carroll, Gary Silverman, Dr. Pat Kelly, David Koschara, David Ruimveld, Simms, Action Optics, and of course our speaker Michael Delp.

Through a partnership between the Grand Traverse Conservation District and the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, seven streambank erosion sites were restored, four along the North Branch of the Boardman River and three on Kids Creek. Two sites along the North Branch were restored through Adams Chapter work bees. Newly elected Director Gabe Schwarz-Schneider and Zane Gum are shown here hard at work on one of the sites. Other volunteers not shown are Ken Gum, Steve Largent, Boardman River Intern Brad Wheat, Ben Purdy, and Gabe's Dad Tom.

The Boardman River Dams Committee (BRDC) has requested the City and County to authorize the issue of work orders to the engineering firm Environmental Consulting & Technology for the purpose of making recommendations for the fate of the four dams on the Boardman River in Grand Traverse County. This study will take approximately eighteen months to complete given adequate funding. The study will analyze the social, environmental, engineering, and economic benefits of removal or maintaining any or all of the dams. The Army Corp of Engineers are also conducting a study of the Boardman River Dams and both groups are encouraged to work together to avoid duplication of efforts and cost.

One of the latest developments that has come up is that the county is required to lower the Boardman pond by seventeen feet due to engineering concerns expressed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and FERC. This request is driven by the present design of the dam in question as to safety concerns related to high volumes of rain and water runoff. - Jack Murray

The five-year MDEQ permit to maintain three sand traps on the Boardman River expired last summer. New permits must be secured before the traps can be maintained. Grand Traverse Conservation District staff is hoping to renew the permits yet this winter but must determine how to dispose of nearly 5,000 cubic yards of clean fill located near the North Branch trap off Guernsey Lake Road, across from the Sand Lakes Quiet Area.

Since construction in 1994, an estimated 6,000 cubic yards of sand has been removed from North Branch of the Boardman River. Acontractor hauled away approximately 1,000 cubic yards a couple years ago, but the last cleanout this past summer filled the stor- age area to capacity. The current spoil storage area is only a couple hundred yards, at most, from the trap site. If the existing spoils are left where they are, subsequent spoils generated from future maintenance would have to be hauled several miles away, greatly increasing maintenance costs. District staff is work- ing with the Road Commission hoping they can use the extra fill on a nearby road project.

Interested in honing your fly tying skills or becoming initiated in the art? We are fortunate enough to have a couple wonderful options this winter right here in Traverse City.

THE NORTHERN ANGLER - Beginner classes will begin the week of January 8th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. Intermediate classes will begin the same week and will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The classes will go on for six weeks. Call Kirk Novak at the Northern Angler - Phone: 231-933- 4730 for details.

STREAMSIDE ORVIS - The Orvis shop on front street is offering classes on Monday and Wednesday also starting the week of January 8th. The classes will go for eight weeks and the time will be from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Call Dave Leonhard at the Streamside Orvis shop - Phone: 231-933-9300 for details.

Among the purposes for which this Blog Page was established, was a desire to share tips on where to gain access to productive trout waters and to allow our members to make connections with like minded fishermen for fishing trips with individuals unfamiliar with local waters. For instance, Bill Fernandez might post a time and date that he will be fishing the South Branch of the AuSable from Chase Bridge as an opportunity for a new member to learn access & egress points, etc. We aren't asking for you to give away your favorite secret hole, just a helping hand to new members looking for legal access and information on what to expect.

Please add your comments.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Administration has agreed to allow the decommissioning of the hydroelectric dams on the Boardman River. With this milestone passed, Traverse City Light & Power has a limited amount of time to cease generating electric power and remove the generating equipment from those powerplants. The ownership of the dams reverts to the City of Traverse City and to Grand Traverse County who must determine the fate of the dams. A committee has been formed to make recommendations as to the future of the Dams upstream of Boardman Lake, including their likely removal. The committee is currently evaluating "Statements of Qualification" from firms and teams of firms interested in conducting the Engineering Feasibility Study of possible dam removal. The study will take one to two years to complete and will include a study of engineering feasibility, environmental impacts, social impacts, and economic impacts of dam removal. The earliest that a decision will be made on actual dam removal will be some time in 2008. The Boardman River Dam Committee meets the last Tuesday of each month at Northern Michigan College (see the Traverse City or Grand Traverse County website for their schedule).

Of concern to many of us if the dams are removed is what limits, if any, should be placed on the passage of anadromous fish. The Dam Committee is not charged with making this decision, the Michigan DNR will be the ones to decide that issue following yet unscheduled public meetings, and their own justification (one way or the other). If you are concerned with this issue, keep your eye out for the time of the public meetings and let your voice be heard.

Leave comments on this blog to be passed on to our representative on the dam removal committee.

We're finally up and running with our new web site. As we become more familiar with the technology.. and as more of our members and interested trout fishers find out about us.. we hope that this blog will provide current fishing information, chapter activities and our perspective on coldwater environmental concerns. Feel free to provide your comments. We'll add to the discussions as new topics arise.