Riverfront. Over 100 foot frontage on the Muskegon River approximately 100 steps to the river. When wading you can enter private property if you stay within the clearly defined banks of the stream, and only walk the bank to avoid a hazard. We held public meetings and asked people from the areas around our river hydro plants to attend and share their thoughts. Street View] Deck plate girder bridge over Muskegon River on M-37 & M-82 (Evergreen Drive) Open to traffic. Data from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Consumers is considering one of four options for each dam: Relicense and continue generating power; sell to a new owner who would maintain the impoundment; remove the dam and restore a free-flowing river; or build a new barrier that generates no power, but preserves a reservoir. Those tourists frequent nearby canoe liveries and corner stores, restaurants and motels. At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. ParisPark@MecostaCountyParks.com. His daughter learned to swim there, his family goes pontoon boating daily, and his property value benefits from the dams existence. The Great Flood of 1986 resulted in $500 million of damage throughout Michigan's central lower Peninsula. Water in the downtown area was up to the awnings of businesses. Access points and highlighted lands are closely approximate. The Muskegon River never freezes so we fish all winter long, offering great fishing year around. The rain cons tines to fall and conditions are becoming worse. Just west of this tiny town near Oscoda sits one of six hydroelectric dams that tamed the Au Sable River a century ago to supply power to a growing population. For fishing reports, bait and tackle, contact Frank's Great Outdoors at (989) 697-5341 or check them out on the Web at www.franksgreatoutdoors.com. We have a long history with hydropower, building the Croton Hydro on the Muskegon River in 1907. The three major dams of the Muskegon River (Rogers, Hardy and Croton) generate about 45,600 kilowatts, with about 30,000 of that from Hardy Dam. Consumers, one of Michigan's largest electric utilities, began a lengthy process this autumn to consider the future of its 13 hydropower dams that plug five Michigan rivers: The Au Sable, Manistee, Muskegon, Grand and Kalamazoo. Text >>(231) 519-7348. Large patios at all sites. . Foote Hydro has a capacity of 9,000 kilowatts. Consumers Power Company acquired the Dam for the purpose of developing hydro-electric power for the area. The Little Muskegon's beginnings are on the outlet of Horsehead Lake near Mecosta. Hardy Dam Lake is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and other water-based recreational activities. This is a popular local launch for small boats, canoes and kayaks. (The Saginaw News/ Michael Robb), Caption: "M-46 at River Road. Steelhead enter West Michigan rivers as early as late September. Newaygo, MI. Groups like his and the Anglers of the Au Sable generally favor removing most dams, while maintaining a downstream barrier to keep Great Lakes invasive lamprey from entering rivers. Migratory fish: Lake Michigan steelhead, lake-run brown trout, and chinook salmon. Perhaps Croton and Hardy dams stay put, but with new fish ladders to let migratory fish pass upstream, and better technology to cool the water coming out of the impoundments. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Oceana County Sheriff Fred Korb watches the waters of the south branch of the Pentwater River at Hart Lake, Sept. 12, 1986. The Muskegon State Game Area is an 8,411 acre section of land which overlays the Muskegon River on the section between Maple Island Road and US Route 31. Heavy rains sent the Cass River over its banks and into the Tuscola county community. Nightly camping or cabin reservations will begin February 1st at 4:00 pm. Hydro power produces clean, reliable power that weve counted on for more than 100 years. The energy from the powerhouse was used by Portland Cement Company until the mid 1920s when the company switched to steam power and sold the dam to Consumers Power Company Consumers Energy as we know it today. (Saginaw News/ David A. Sommers), Caption: Vassar, Mich.-- Much of the Vassar business district was under water Thursday after the Cass River surged over its banks. As a race organizer and lifelong resident of the area, Weiler said he has grown used to the dams existence. The dams fragmented rivers and warmed their water, harming fish. Thats far from certain. The Great Lakes region is blessed with an abundance of water. The dam spans the Muskegon River and creates a large reservoir that covers an area of approximately 3,700 acres (7.3 square km). Think of how important Michigan streams will be? Stuber said. The evolution of the Newaygo Dam is an excellent example of the manipulation of our natural resources as well as a good case study for the choices we make between economics and conservation. The two White River dams have a long history of negative effects on the fish in the river's mainstream and tributaries. During hydropowers heyday, Consumers and its predecessors owned more than 90 dams across the state. We offer docks, showers, water, and electricity, sewage disposal, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Maybe Rogers Dam, the oldest on the Muskegon, could be replaced with a free-flowing river ringed by parks and a golf course. All rights reserved (About Us). Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie Hillstrom. (The Grand Rapids Press flee photo), A boy is seen floating in the flooded roads near Sylvia Street and Alpine Avenue NW in Grand Rapids during the flood of Sept. 1986. The Gannett Outdoor Advertising company this week finally decided to seek a little comic relief from the gloomy skies by posting this billboard on U.S. 13. " At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. hYn9>Nxx{xgc'F?ZGX2dew{nukd0:dXuT*eeZQ }Yr:F m*{6*rT.rR5gEC|E k7)oEx9Al:Q. A community-based, volunteer partnership organization. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. This is truly a unique family getaway! Muskegon River Fishing Report: 02/18/2020 The lower river is still turning out steelhead. Muskegon River (/mskin/ ms-KEE-gn) is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. "They're not in business to give away money," he said. These fish return to the river to spawn and reproduce. Racers exit their boat to portage over each dams embankment, an opportunity to stretch legs cramped from hours in a canoe. And across the state, large crowds showed up at public meetings with Consumers to voice their fears about the future. Where are we gonna buy our bread? the 67-year-old resident said through tears at a recent public meeting hosted by Consumers. Print/PDF map. It began commercial operation in 1924. While most wading anglers concentrate their time between Newaygo and Croton Dam, boats will motor all the way downstream. We don't think that customers should be paying the full cost of a dam if the reason its going to continue to operate is other than hydropower, said Douglas Jester, an energy policy expert who has represented the ratepayer advocacy group Citizens Utility Board in ratemaking cases. It flows in a south, southwest direction before it dumps into the Croton Pond above Croton dam. He spends his days advocating for the rivers health, and believes an undammed Muskegon River would produce a fishery on a world-stage level.. Au Sable River At Red Oak. The idea of losing the dams has nearby residents nervous. (Muskegon Chronicle file photo), Caption: Muskegon, Mich.,-- Maple Island Road, on the Muskegon and Newaygo county line, was washed out for about 200 yards across and dropped about 20 feet, where the road disappeared about 1 a.m. Thursday morning due to heavy area rain, Sept. 11, 1986. Muskegon River Fishing Report (231) 519-7348 June 22, 2021 Happy New Year! The Croton Dam Area . From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan, where it empties into Muskegon Lake. The Muskegon River is expected to crest late Friday at over 7 feet above flood stage. (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Brian Masck), Melanie Hummel (13) of Newaygo has a wonderful time running through the flooding waters over M-37 in Grant, Mich., Thursday afternoon. PublishedNovember 17, 2022 at 4:11 PM EST, Photo courtesy of Au Sable River Canoe Marathon. Viewing Consumers eventual exit from the hydro business as inevitable, he and his colleagues have begun working with Muskegon River communities to envision a future that doesn't involve the dams in their current form. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the That's not a perfect world for property owners., 91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids Canoe, Kayak, Inner Tube, & Flat Bottom Boat Rentals on the Mighty Muskegon River. Ft. (Bay City Times/ David Sams), Caption: "An emergency crew surveys the damage in downtown Vassar, where the Cass River surged over its banks Thursday. Warm water resident fish: The most popular warm water fish are smallmouth bass and northern pike. hKBa}Z7hP\BCLD~PK-)- I EcP!AD$nur{s5^Y-qA#Ml8 P/1t(S0#lIUowI4GS@QSB'bx{)Q9?O3 /tnSMP^,]w *Appliance Service Plan is not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission. With 1,087 residents in the entire township surrounding the Alcona Dam Pond, McCormick said, I dont know who around here would have that kind of resources.. They can be reached at (231) 775-9727. These bridge crossing include motorized vehicle crossings, railroads, and several pedestrian/bicycle trail crossings. Fifty years later, lumbering had faded as a major industry in Michigan and the old wooden dam was in need of major repairs. The only exception to this rule is where special provisions apply to our lands which encompass 12,000 acres bordering our Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon river hydro facilities, where hunting is allowed. It is connected to Lake Michigan by a shipping As a result the dam pond was never raised again. And the communities that surround those bodies of water would be destroyed.. Camping is another popular activity around the river, with several shoreline parks and campgrounds. The men were leaving the house that Dewitt has been renting after checking for water damage. Any dam removal on the Au Sable would likely also change the rivers annual canoe marathon, a storied nonstop dash from Grayling to Oscoda. Case in Point Andrew and the other passenger, Lee DenBraber, suffered minor injuries in the accident." Migratory fish : Lake Michigan steelhead, lake-run brown trout, and chinook salmon. (Grand Rapids Press file photo), Caption: "Muskegon, Mich.,-- Lauren Martin (foreground) and Carl Pieczynski, both of Norton Shores, take a canoe ride through the mona Lake Mobile Homes Park in Muskegon Heights. Removal of this dam. The Newaygo Company sold their holdings including the dam to the Portland Cement Company who operated a new cement plant in Newaygo. (The Saginaw News/ Gary Netzley), The Brookside Tastee Freeze fell into Mitchell Creek in Big Rapids, Sept. 12, 1986. (The Saginaw News/ Steve Jessmore), Saginaw, MI: Sept. 14/1986: Saginaw Township resident Ralph Zimmermann's basement wall fell in Thursday, Sept. 11, and family and friends are still cleaning up the mud from belongings and throwing out those beyond help. On the Au Sable, a Facebook group has cropped up devoted to saving the dams. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. Lock ", Jo Ann Fischer looks out at her house that is half-submerged in water, as White Creek swells with water in White Cloud, Sept. 11, 1986. Lake navigation features include advanced instrumentation to gather wind speed direction, water temperature, water depth . Mrs. Gunnerson was pronounced dead at the scene. Newaygo Dam built in 1854 out of wood to provide water power for the Newaygo Companys sawmill (Big Red). (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Greg Dorsett), "Nine days of rain is starting to get to people in Grand Rapids. The heavy rains have caused the worst flooding in 100 years. Like many of its neighboring streams, the Muskegon was one of the favored logging rivers during the boom years of the 1880s-1890s, and a keen eye can still pick out remnants of stray logs embedded on the river bottom, left over from the spring logging runs. Starting at $120 Starting at $40 Starting at $80 We have a drift boat for all your river fishing needs. (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Brian Masck), Charlie Eisenlohr, Superintendent of Hart Hydroelectric , takes a short break on a pile of sandbags after working all day with a crew of employees and volunteers to try and save the Hart dam. The watershed encompasses a variety of land uses including agricultural, forest, recreational, urban, and commercial uses. muskegon river at evart, mi : 843 : 903 +60 : 04121507: twin creek at eight mile road near evart, mi : 6.20 : 6.32 +0.1 : 04121944: little muskegon river near oak grove, mi : Michiganders pay to offset the dams environmental impacts: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources spends $1 million annually to stock salmon and trout in the Muskegon and Au Sable, where state fisheries chief Jim Dexter said heat from dams puts waterways in a marginal category for trout survival.. And sediments became trapped in reservoirs, starving the river downstream while causing the ponds to fill with silt. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We're currently experiencing system issues which may result in website slowness. Steelhead fishing is hit or miss in this cold water period of the year. 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