Area Near Pere Marquette River Opened to Public

Pere Marquette River flats (photo by jhy)

from Mason County Press

The area on the north side of the Pere Marquette River, south of Ludington, Michigan, where Conrad road meets Pere Marquette Highway (old US 31) has for many years been the location of a waterfowl viewing platform.

That platform will remain in place and an additional 51 acres of land (mostly cattail marsh) will now be open to the public.

The Michigan DNR has amended the land use which had restricted people from entering. The land was donated to the state by Ducks Unlimited in 1987. No restrictions were placed on the deed. No one seems to have a clear answer as to why it was closed to the public. The best surmise is that a discharge point from the Ludington sewage treatment plant presented a health hazard. However, that discharge point was decomissioned almost 10 years ago.

When a check of the deed showed no restrictions, the DNR rescinded the closure. Technically, the parking area and viewing platform have been in the restricted zone for decades. If the restrictions had been found to be valid, these amenities would need to be removed.

The area, including the north channel of the Pere Marquette River, are now legally open for public use.

See Pere Marquette River Flats


These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Pere Marquette, Pentwater, White Rivers to Be Treated for Sea Lampreys

sea lamprey in an aquarium (photo by jhy)

from a news release of US Fish and Wildlife Service

US Fish and Wildlife Service personnel will apply lampricides to the Pere Marquette River (Mason and Lake Counties) to kill invasive sea lamprey larvae burrowed in the stream bottom. Applications will be conducted between July 6 and 10, 2026, in accordance with State of Michigan permits. Application dates are tentative and may be changed due to either stream or weather conditions.

Sea lampreys are native to the Atlantic Ocean, but invaded the Great Lakes through shipping channels in the early 1900s. They attach to fish with their circular mouths lined with teeth and suck body fluids. Each lamprey can consume about 40 pounds of fish, and each spawning pair can produce 100,000 eggs. They must be controlled regularly in the larval stage.

Although the lampricide is not applied in a concentration high enough to harm humans, it is recommended that people stay out of the water during treatment. The water should not be used for agricultural purposes on the day of treatment. By implication, using river water for camping needs on these days would also be unwise.

The Pentwater and White Rivers will also be treated this summer.

For more information, call 1-906-226-6571.

See Great Lakes Fisheries Commission


These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Land Conservancy to Host Paddle on Pere Marquette River

paddling the Pere Marquette (photo by jhy)

a news release of Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Over the past 50 years, LCWM has worked with private landowners, community organizations and governmental bodies to permanently protect and care for the land. From planting native species to applying prescribed fire, LCWM has been committed to our land from day one, with conservation work that bridges its past, present and future.

Today, that work spans 165 properties across eight counties, totaling over 13,000 acres. Among them are beloved Michigan destinations such as Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, Upper Macatawa Natural Area and North Ottawa Dunes. Key to the success of these projects is a spirit of collaboration between multiple organizations, funders and the communities where these parks are established.

On June 6, The Land Conservancy of West Michigan (LCWM) celebrated its 50th anniversary with over 60 community members participating in bike rides exploring the "Eastern Glacial Corridor,” an ecologically unique region in Kent County, followed by a community celebration. The ride marked the second event of a three-part outdoor Exploration series honoring LCWM's conservation legacy and its ongoing mission to protect ecologically vital land across West Michigan.

“The second event of our Explorathon series exemplified our strategy of connecting people to nature and building a community of conservationists,” said Kim Karn, executive director of LCWM. “It was truly inspiring to celebrate the healthy habitats and protected lands along these trails with our community, and it is always exciting to see familiar faces return from previous events. We look forward to the next event in the series—a guided paddle on the Pere Marquette River later this summer.”

The final Explorathon event on Aug. 29 is set to include a guided paddle along the Pere Marquette River.

Register for the August 29 Paddle


These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Pere Marquette River Tidbits

Pere Marquette River below Indian Bridge (photo by jhy)

compiled from several sources

The Pere Marquette River flows from near Baldwin, Michigan, to Lake Michigan at Ludington. It is designated as a Wild and Scenic River between the junction of the Middle and Little South Branches to Scottville Road, a distance of 66 miles. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 preserves certain rivers which have outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Its watershed encompasses 755 square miles, and 380 miles of streams. It is the only completely free-flowing river in the Lake Michigan watershed. Brown trout from Germany were stocked in the Baldwin River, a tributary, in 1883. These were the first brown trout in the United States. The cool river continues to be an excellent trout stream, for both rainbow and browns.

Pere Marquette watershed (graphic by the USDA Forest Service)

The first universally designed access on the Pere Marquette has been installed at Custer Bridge, as a result of grants from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Great Lakes Fishery Trust. An accessible latrine has also been added at this site.

After logging in the early 20th century stripped the banks, the river was once labeled "dead." As the Manistee National Forest was established in 1939, many reforestation projects were undertaken, and the river began to recover. Now, many agencies and organizations work together to protect the river. For example, the Lake County Road Commission has installed open-bottom culverts on some tributaries to better provide for the health of fish and aquatic wildlife.

The river is named for Jacques Marquette a Roman Catholic priest and explorer who traveled extensively in West Michigan in the 1600s. His traditional death location is near the mouth of the river, although his final grave is now located in St. Ignace.

The Wild and Scenic River designation means that the waterway will be kept in as pristine condition as possible. It does mean that permits are required to be on the water in the designated segment between the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend. Watercraft hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

An additional consequence of the designation is that it is unlikely the North Country Trail will ever have a single-use footbridge across the river. The crossing is now accomplished at Upper Branch Bridge on South Branch Road, and requires a short road walk to reconnect with off-road trail.

The Pere Marquette is popular with paddlers, anglers, and campers (at designated sites).

See XXX
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Portions of Pere Marquette River Re-Open after Rains

Indian Bridge (photo by jhy)

a news release of The Huron- Manistee National Forest

Heavy rainfall on July 20 generated significant flooding along the Pere Marquette Wild & Scenic River. Log jams have made the river impassable between Baldwin and Indian Bridge. The upper section of the river has been opened, but the USDA Forest Service has stopped issuing watercraft permits for the third section of the Pere Marquette Wild & Scenic River (between Upper Branch and Indian Bridge).

The closure will remain in effect until further notice. Crews are working to clear log jams in the river.

See Huron-Manistee NF
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Sea Lamprey Treatment Scheduled for Pere Marquette

sea lamprey (photo by jhy)

based on a news article in the Oceana Herald Journal, from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Every three to five years the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service treats infected Great Lakes tributaries with lampricides to control the devastating populations of sea lamprey. Larvae burrow in the mud of stream bottoms and, if not eliminated, grow to the adults that parasitize and kill fish.

Permits from the State of Michigan have been issued for treatment of the Pere Marquette River, to be completed between July 29 and August 7. A firm date cannot be established ahead of time because application depends upon weather and local stream conditions.

The lampricides used will be Lampricid and Bayluscide. These have been tested as posing no risk to humans at the concentration levels used for treatment. However, it is advised to minimize unnecessary exposure. There is some risk to certain fish, insects and broadleaf plants. Confined bait or other animals in the river should be moved because there is greater risk to crowded populations. In addition, no river water may be used for irrigation for a period of 24 hours following treatment.

Monitoring will be carefully conducted. Dye may be observed in the river as streamflow is gauged.

For further information, call 1-800-472-9212.

See Pheromones May Aid in Controlling Sea Lamprey
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

1700 More Acres Protected in Pere Marquette Watershed

Elliott property (photo by Tim Johnson)

condensed from the Spring 2011 Newsletter of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan

The protection of the free-flowing Pere Marquette River continued in 2010 as two more families protected their land by creating conservation easements with the Land Conservancy.

The Elliott family created an easement of 136 acres which helps protect the resident trout and migratory salmon and steelhead that use the Pere Marquette along their stretch of the river.

Wildlife benefits too. "They tell me that bobcats are nocturnal, but I see them throughout the night and day," notes Craig Elliott. There is also an active bald eagle’s nest in a tall white pine overlooking the river on the property.

A small stream originates within a cedar grove and runs through a majority of the Elliott property before flowing onto adjacent Michigan DNR land. By protecting their property with a conservation easement, the Elliotts have ensured that this stream will continue to be a cold-water feeder stream to the Pere Marquette.

Upstream of the Elliott property, the Lewis family has also made the permanent commitment of a conservation easement to protect their 17 acres along the Middle Branch of the Pere Marquette. The Middle Branch is known for its brown trout population. Because of surrounding open space, the Lewis property is frequented by bobcat, white-tail deer and black bear.

"We strongly believe that we don’t truly own the land, but are merely caretakers for coming generations," states Eric Lewis as he reflects on the desire of placing the property into a conservation easement.

See Land Conservancy of West Michigan
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Scottville Riverside Park Prevails in Permit Suit

based on a news item in the Ludington Daily News

Improvements made at Scottville Riverside Park last year have been hotly contested by Jeff Henry, owner of Henry's Landing Campground just downstream on the opposite side of Scottville Road. On February 11, Administrative Law Judge Richard Lacasse ruled that the City acted properly. The judge stated both that the city was the proper applicant and that the permit had been processed properly.

At issue are two handicap accessible observation decks that were added at the edge of the Pere Marquette River. Henry claims that fill added to the site has changed the currents of the river, and that now he will need to add a seawall to stabilize the bank near his campground.

Amy Hansen, Scottville City Manager, said that she was pleased with the outcome. "We knew we did nothing wrong," she affirmed. She also stated that it was too bad that the situation came to this. It has already cost the city over $10,000 in legal fees.

Henry, on the other hand continues to maintain that the river has been altered. He wishes that the case had been studied in the spring rather than fall, when the water was higher. He has not decided whether to appeal.

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Bigford Family Conservation Easement on the Pere Marquette

Paul Bigford photo credit Danielle Fogel

excerpted from the newsletter of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, "Bigford Family Preserve Pere Marquette River Frontage," Fall 2008

Paul Bigford knows every bend and curve of the Pere Marquette River as it meanders through his family’s 150 acres. Ever since he was a young boy he has been exploring the banks and enjoying the natural beauty and rich history of the area. In December, the Bigford family worked with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to permanently protect their land with a conservation easement. [see West Michigan Land Conservancy Aids in Protecting Pere Marquette Acres]

In 1958 Paul’s grandfather, Harold Bigford, purchased 200 acres on the Pere Marquette for $20,000. As the eldest grandchild, Paul helped his grandfather with numerous projects including restoring the 1916 house on the property, building fences, and picking up trash on the south side of the river where Harold had created a camping area for the public to use, free of charge.

“Working and protecting the land got into my blood during the summers that I was grandpa’s go-fer,” Paul explains. Harold passed away in the fall of 1964. Paul’s father inherited the land, but unfortunately not before 50 acres on the south side of the river was sold off.

The next summer 14-year-old Paul was in Baldwin with his family for the “Troutarama” festival. He spotted a flyer in the window of a realty office advertising riverfront land for sale and instantly recognized the map - he had traced the path of the river through his grandfather’s property many times and entertained himself by creating maps. The 50 acres including the camping area) sold when Harold passed away were split up into 21 lots that were for sale for approximately $2500 each. Paul knew then that he would do everything he could to ensure the remaining 150 acres were protected forever.

Paul and his brother Doug inherited the property when their parents died. Together with Paul’s son Kyle they formed a limited liability corporation and worked with the Land Conservancy to create a conservation easement that will forever protect their 150 acres and ensure that the land will not be fragmented into small shoreline lots.

“As I look at the framed arrowheads on my wall I pray that the river will still flow, free and undammed and wild, for another 300 generations. I feel good that we have done our part,” says Paul.

See Land Conservancy of West Michigan
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

West Michigan Land Conservancy Aids in Protecting Pere Marquette Acres

Pere Marquette easements thumbnail- see www.naturenearby.org for full scale map

Five new parcels of land in the Pere Marquette watershed have been recently protected with conservation easements. Such easements allow a property owner to prohibit development in perpetuity.

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan states in their Winter Newsletter, "Beloved by anglers and other river enthusiasts alike, the PM, as locals refer to it, is the longest un-dammed river in Michigan and known to be one of the finest trout streams in America. With all of its outstanding scenic, recreational, and wildlife habitat attributes, it's no wonder that the PM was the first river in the state to be listed as a National Wild and Scenic River."

The recent additions to protected land are:

• 150 acres in Sweetwater Township near Tank Creek. Bigford family.
• 22 acres in Pleasant Plains Township near Baldwin, by Rich Rasmussen. placed 22 acres near Baldwin under an easement.
• 150 acres containing the 60-acre Cashion Lake in Webber Township, by the Bunch, Duffing, Anderson and Hendrickson families.
• Two other properties — 155 acres in Newaygo County’s Home Township and 14 acres in Lake County’s Lake Township — were also protected in 2007.

For more detail, follow the links below.

from the Ludington Daily News, "Land in P.M. watershed protected", Feb 1, 2008
See Land Conservancy of West Michigan
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch

Pere Marquette River Management Plan - Big Changes

Indian Bridge

The new Pere Marquette River Management Plan would bring big changes to local recreation spots along the river. Comments on the plan will be accepted through December 10.

Huron Manistee National Forest Supervisor, LeAnne Martin says that the new plan attempts to preserve a balance between the needs of recreation users, and protecting the river resources. The plan, if adopted as is close access to the river from federal land from midnight to 4 am. It would also impact the following locations, alphabetically:

40th St:
expanded facilites

Bowman Bridge:
parking plowed in winter

Elk Campsite:
restroom facilities improved

Logmark Campsite:
restroom facilities improved

Gleason's Landing:
a back-down boat launch will be added
boat slide removed
parking expanded including Jorgenson's
parking plowed in winter

Green Cottage
parking plowed in winter

Indian Bridge:
bridge modified to accomdate drift boats

Lower Branch Bridge:
10 parking spaces built

M-37 Bridge:
parking plowed in winter in Forest Service takes over management

Maple Leaf Campsite:
restroom facilities improved
parking expanded
parking plowed in winter

Rainbow Rapids:
parking plowed in winter

Sulak Landing:
parking plowed in winter in Forest Service takes over management

Upper Branch Bridge:
parking plowed in winter

Walhalla Bridge:
parking plowed in winter in Forest Service takes over management

The biggest changes could come to Indian Bridge. When the bridge was rebuilt three years ago, the deck remained at the same elevation, but a different substructure now hinders passage of boats except for canoes or kayaks. The county estimates that to raise the bridge could cost as much as $200,000.

Changes would come as well to the watercraft permit system. All watercraft would be required to have a permit from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Weekends from Labor Day through October 31 would also be under the permit system.

Riparian permits will be recalled and reissued with each tax parcel receiving one permit.

from the Ludington Daily News, Nov 23, 2007
See Pere Marquette River Plan, Huron Manistee National Forest
Email comments to Les Russell or call 231-745-4631.
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Pere Marquette River