Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced an $89 million commitment to clean up and restore the Detroit River, Kalamazoo River and other waterways across Michigan.
Led by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Reclaim the Rivers will clean up pollution, revive healthy fish and wildlife and support habitat restoration. The project will also support Michigan’s economy because healthy, thriving rivers drive tourism, boating, fishing and waterfront development in communities across the state.
“Michigan is defined by our waterways, and it’s our responsibility to protect them,” Whitmer said last Thursday when the campaign was announced. “By working together, we can make lasting improvements to these rivers and create a healthier Michigan for generations to come. This investment is an opportunity to build on the progress already made and unlock the full potential of these waterways for communities across our state.”
The commitment includes nearly $50 million dedicated to cleaning up polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Detroit River, $25 million for river restoration projects in the Kalamazoo River watershed and a strategic fund of more than $14 million for river restoration projects across the state. Investments will support sediment cleanup, expand boating access, and restore fish and wildlife habitats.
“Reclaim the Rivers is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform two of the state’s most important waterways with a goal of achieving lasting, transformational change on both rivers by 2040,” EGLE Director Phil Roos said. “With these investments, we have an opportunity to address longstanding contamination while restoring the long-term health of our rivers. By working with communities and partners across the state, we can turn this investment into lasting progress for our state.”
The Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers run through some of Michigan’s most populated communities and have been affected by decades of industrial contamination, including PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mercury and other pollutants. Reclaim the Rivers will support projects that clean up contamination while restoring habitat, improving waterfronts, expanding boating and fishing access and enhancing parks and trails.
“Michigan is uniquely positioned to permanently transform two of our most important rivers,” DNR Director Scott Bowen said. “The Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers have incredible potential for recreation, economic development, fishing and wildlife habitat, but contamination has stood in the way. These investments give us the opportunity to address that contamination while creating new ways for millions of Michiganders to safely enjoy these waterways.”
In the Detroit River watershed, $50 million will support PCB cleanup and help attract additional public and private funding to support enhancing recreation and public access to the river. Under the bipartisan federal Great Lakes Legacy Act, Michigan can leverage state investments with a nearly 2-to-1 federal match for sediment cleanup.
“The Detroit River is a vital artery that has pumped life into communities throughout Southeast Michigan, from Detroit to Downriver,” said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor. “And the Kalamazoo River has done the same in West Michigan … Michigan is committing $86 million to help transform our rivers, restore wildlife habitats, and expand recreational opportunities across our state. And I am proud to have helped secure over $1.4 billion in federal investments over the past several years for EGLE to continue doing their critical work on projects like this.”
Investments will focus on completing sediment cleanup, restoring fish and wildlife habitats, expanding boating access, enhancing Belle Isle and other public lands and completing gaps in the Iron Belle Trail. The work will also support the Detroit River’s world-class walleye fishery and efforts to reduce fish consumption advisories. The Detroit riverfront already draws an estimated 3 million visitors a year and continued investment is expected to build on that momentum.
In the Kalamazoo River watershed, $25 million from the Morrow Dam settlement will support sediment, habitat and riverfront projects, including planned dam removals and stream restoration in communities such as Allegan, Otsego, Plainwell, Swan Creek and Trowbridge. The state will also explore opportunities to expand boating access, protect land and strengthen fisheries along the river, which connects communities to destinations including Allegan State Game Area and Fort Custer State Park.
“I’m happy to see these funds used to support river cleanup projects across the state, and particularly for the Kalamazoo River,” said State Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo. “I’m proud to have enacted a law that will continue to ensure that polluters are held accountable. Our natural resources are precious, and we must continue to protect and invest in them.”
An additional fund of more than $14 million will support restoration projects across Michigan, including dam removal, stream and wetland restoration, fish and wildlife habitat improvements and efforts to reduce fish consumption advisories.
EGLE and DNR have established joint project teams for the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers that will work with local governments, Tribes, community organizations — including Friends of the Detroit River and the Kalamazoo Watershed Council — industry, nonprofits and residents to develop short- and long-term plans for each watershed. Community input will help guide how the funding is used and identify projects that can make the greatest impact.
To learn more, please visit michigan.gov/egle.
Led by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Reclaim the Rivers will clean up pollution, revive healthy fish and wildlife and support habitat restoration. The project will also support Michigan’s economy because healthy, thriving rivers drive tourism, boating, fishing and waterfront development in communities across the state.
“Michigan is defined by our waterways, and it’s our responsibility to protect them,” Whitmer said last Thursday when the campaign was announced. “By working together, we can make lasting improvements to these rivers and create a healthier Michigan for generations to come. This investment is an opportunity to build on the progress already made and unlock the full potential of these waterways for communities across our state.”
The commitment includes nearly $50 million dedicated to cleaning up polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Detroit River, $25 million for river restoration projects in the Kalamazoo River watershed and a strategic fund of more than $14 million for river restoration projects across the state. Investments will support sediment cleanup, expand boating access, and restore fish and wildlife habitats.
“Reclaim the Rivers is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform two of the state’s most important waterways with a goal of achieving lasting, transformational change on both rivers by 2040,” EGLE Director Phil Roos said. “With these investments, we have an opportunity to address longstanding contamination while restoring the long-term health of our rivers. By working with communities and partners across the state, we can turn this investment into lasting progress for our state.”
The Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers run through some of Michigan’s most populated communities and have been affected by decades of industrial contamination, including PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mercury and other pollutants. Reclaim the Rivers will support projects that clean up contamination while restoring habitat, improving waterfronts, expanding boating and fishing access and enhancing parks and trails.
“Michigan is uniquely positioned to permanently transform two of our most important rivers,” DNR Director Scott Bowen said. “The Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers have incredible potential for recreation, economic development, fishing and wildlife habitat, but contamination has stood in the way. These investments give us the opportunity to address that contamination while creating new ways for millions of Michiganders to safely enjoy these waterways.”
In the Detroit River watershed, $50 million will support PCB cleanup and help attract additional public and private funding to support enhancing recreation and public access to the river. Under the bipartisan federal Great Lakes Legacy Act, Michigan can leverage state investments with a nearly 2-to-1 federal match for sediment cleanup.
“The Detroit River is a vital artery that has pumped life into communities throughout Southeast Michigan, from Detroit to Downriver,” said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor. “And the Kalamazoo River has done the same in West Michigan … Michigan is committing $86 million to help transform our rivers, restore wildlife habitats, and expand recreational opportunities across our state. And I am proud to have helped secure over $1.4 billion in federal investments over the past several years for EGLE to continue doing their critical work on projects like this.”
Investments will focus on completing sediment cleanup, restoring fish and wildlife habitats, expanding boating access, enhancing Belle Isle and other public lands and completing gaps in the Iron Belle Trail. The work will also support the Detroit River’s world-class walleye fishery and efforts to reduce fish consumption advisories. The Detroit riverfront already draws an estimated 3 million visitors a year and continued investment is expected to build on that momentum.
In the Kalamazoo River watershed, $25 million from the Morrow Dam settlement will support sediment, habitat and riverfront projects, including planned dam removals and stream restoration in communities such as Allegan, Otsego, Plainwell, Swan Creek and Trowbridge. The state will also explore opportunities to expand boating access, protect land and strengthen fisheries along the river, which connects communities to destinations including Allegan State Game Area and Fort Custer State Park.
“I’m happy to see these funds used to support river cleanup projects across the state, and particularly for the Kalamazoo River,” said State Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo. “I’m proud to have enacted a law that will continue to ensure that polluters are held accountable. Our natural resources are precious, and we must continue to protect and invest in them.”
An additional fund of more than $14 million will support restoration projects across Michigan, including dam removal, stream and wetland restoration, fish and wildlife habitat improvements and efforts to reduce fish consumption advisories.
EGLE and DNR have established joint project teams for the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers that will work with local governments, Tribes, community organizations — including Friends of the Detroit River and the Kalamazoo Watershed Council — industry, nonprofits and residents to develop short- and long-term plans for each watershed. Community input will help guide how the funding is used and identify projects that can make the greatest impact.
To learn more, please visit michigan.gov/egle.
Bluegills and Bucks
By Jack Payne
Four anglers in my boat. One angler, fish on a perch. A few minutes later he had another perch. And followed that up with a dandy crappie.
Well, that was all it took for me to switch over to minnows. Trust me, I might go 10 years without using a minnow.
That was quick, and I was into the action. While I would like to say we caught a four-man limit, the truth was closer to a two-person limit. However, the fish that we caught were impressive.
The largest bluegill of the year, with some pushing 10 inches. And all were caught on minnows. I caught tens of thousands of bluegills over my lifetime, but never so many on minnows and so many large bluegills.
We were fishing a 300-acre lake. We were catching fish in depths between 28 and 30 feet, all within a foot of the bottom. Another surprise to me.
With archery season just a few days away, fishing time will be reduced. Like most of us, I have a few favorite spots, and this year I have two new stand locations.
One new spot really piqued my interest. How I wish I could hunt a tree, but with a bum knee, this spot will be hunted from the ground.
The leafy wear is packed, and the briars and prickers are cleared just enough so that I can watch a 180-degree area.
I need a west wind to hunt this spot in the morning, or an east wind for the evening. I have six spots set to go, each for a particular wind. It's very doubtful that I hunt any of these spots more than five or six times over the first 5-6 weeks of the archery season.
Two key things stand out to me when archery hunting. First, understand how to access your stand. Do everything possible to avoid a chance encounter with a deer when walking to the stand.
Second, play the wind. Don't risk hunting a stand with questionable wind. No matter how badly I desire to hunt a particular stand, I will wait.
Last year one stand produced my two best archery bucks ever. I hunted this stand on the second night, spotted both bucks, and they walked six yards from me. Both walked behind me, which is a near-impossible shot, especially if hunting from the ground.
Two weeks passed before I had the proper wind for an evening hunt. A morning hunt would wreck this spot. No way to access this stand without a good chance of bumping a deer. This stand produced a dandy eight-point and, two weeks later, a very desirable 10-point. Three hunts in this stand.
Scent-free is the third step. I keep my clothes in a plastic tote and often air them outside. When I hunt two or three days in a row, I rotate the pants and shirt or coat.
After each hunt, I record the moon phase, wind speed, and whether the temperature was more than 10 degrees warmer or colder than normal. I also record what I saw and what I learned.
One thing that I detest is a morning hunt with a full moon. Add in a warm wind, and well, there is a reason to go fish. I love a new moon in the morning, and I enjoy hunting when the temperatures are 10 or 15 degrees below normal.
A light drizzle never bothers me. When fishing, a spit of moisture extends the morning bite.
Once again, I record certain aspects of each trip out. I record the major and minor feeding periods, the wind speed, the water and the air temperatures.
I also record what worked, like using minnows. We'll use minnows again this fall. And we learn from other anglers. We share everything with other anglers. I throw out marker buoys and have no problem with another angler fishing our general area.
Most of my angling friends share information, and most often we each do something slightly different than the rest. This is how you learn something new each day.
Enjoy early October, shop at Bob's Gun and Tackle, and have fun outdoors.
Four anglers in my boat. One angler, fish on a perch. A few minutes later he had another perch. And followed that up with a dandy crappie.
Well, that was all it took for me to switch over to minnows. Trust me, I might go 10 years without using a minnow.
That was quick, and I was into the action. While I would like to say we caught a four-man limit, the truth was closer to a two-person limit. However, the fish that we caught were impressive.
The largest bluegill of the year, with some pushing 10 inches. And all were caught on minnows. I caught tens of thousands of bluegills over my lifetime, but never so many on minnows and so many large bluegills.
We were fishing a 300-acre lake. We were catching fish in depths between 28 and 30 feet, all within a foot of the bottom. Another surprise to me.
With archery season just a few days away, fishing time will be reduced. Like most of us, I have a few favorite spots, and this year I have two new stand locations.
One new spot really piqued my interest. How I wish I could hunt a tree, but with a bum knee, this spot will be hunted from the ground.
The leafy wear is packed, and the briars and prickers are cleared just enough so that I can watch a 180-degree area.
I need a west wind to hunt this spot in the morning, or an east wind for the evening. I have six spots set to go, each for a particular wind. It's very doubtful that I hunt any of these spots more than five or six times over the first 5-6 weeks of the archery season.
Two key things stand out to me when archery hunting. First, understand how to access your stand. Do everything possible to avoid a chance encounter with a deer when walking to the stand.
Second, play the wind. Don't risk hunting a stand with questionable wind. No matter how badly I desire to hunt a particular stand, I will wait.
Last year one stand produced my two best archery bucks ever. I hunted this stand on the second night, spotted both bucks, and they walked six yards from me. Both walked behind me, which is a near-impossible shot, especially if hunting from the ground.
Two weeks passed before I had the proper wind for an evening hunt. A morning hunt would wreck this spot. No way to access this stand without a good chance of bumping a deer. This stand produced a dandy eight-point and, two weeks later, a very desirable 10-point. Three hunts in this stand.
Scent-free is the third step. I keep my clothes in a plastic tote and often air them outside. When I hunt two or three days in a row, I rotate the pants and shirt or coat.
After each hunt, I record the moon phase, wind speed, and whether the temperature was more than 10 degrees warmer or colder than normal. I also record what I saw and what I learned.
One thing that I detest is a morning hunt with a full moon. Add in a warm wind, and well, there is a reason to go fish. I love a new moon in the morning, and I enjoy hunting when the temperatures are 10 or 15 degrees below normal.
A light drizzle never bothers me. When fishing, a spit of moisture extends the morning bite.
Once again, I record certain aspects of each trip out. I record the major and minor feeding periods, the wind speed, the water and the air temperatures.
I also record what worked, like using minnows. We'll use minnows again this fall. And we learn from other anglers. We share everything with other anglers. I throw out marker buoys and have no problem with another angler fishing our general area.
Most of my angling friends share information, and most often we each do something slightly different than the rest. This is how you learn something new each day.
Enjoy early October, shop at Bob's Gun and Tackle, and have fun outdoors.
