The pond features a rustic "up north" setting that is a popular spot for . We're happy to have the opportunity to guide and fish the Muskegon River, located in Western Michigan, near Grand Rapids. Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The USGS Water Resources Division (Lansing) monitored the biological, chemical, and physical conditions of the river before and after removal. 160 Acre Parcel Located at 17 Mile & Hwy 66 in Barryton, MI. Feenstra Guide ServiceMuskegon River Fly Shop, Feenstra Guide ServiceGray Drake Lodge andGreat Lakes Fly Fishing/Fred VargasJay Allen Fly Fishing Guide Service, Sign up for Oak Brook Chapter email newsletters & announcements. . Hydro Safety for Visitors, Boaters and Anglers, Hydro Plant Emergency Planning Booklet - Newaygo and Mecosta County, For the safety of fellow Michiganders, visitors and our employees, we administer a land use policy that includes no hunting on Consumers Energy private property. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. All three dams on the river are owned and operated by Consumers Power for power generation purposes. It was completed in 1913. James McKormick, supervisor in Curtis Township, which includes Glennie, is familiar with the statistics on the dams environmental tradeoffs. The Great Flood of 1986 resulted in $500 million of damage throughout Michigan's central lower Peninsula. There are three man-made reservoirs on the Muskegon River, the Rogers Dam Pond, Hardy Dam Pond, and the Croton Dam Pond. The Muskegon River is a smooth flowing tailwater that reminds us of Montana's Missouri River below Coulter Dam. The Muskegon River is a tail water fishery north of Grand Rapids, Michigan below Croton Dam near Newaygo, Michigan. In October of 1968 the State of Michigan started taking bids for the destruction of the Newaygo Dam. Download the Get Closer to Nature brochure for recreational activities at the hydro dams. Muskegon River Fishing Report: 02/18/2020 The lower river is still turning out steelhead. (You can see where many trees have been scraped.) The Hardy Dam on the Muskegon River, in Big Prairie Township, Newaygo County, Michigan is also an earthen dam like the one at Hungarian Creek. But water quality, affordability, and aging water infrastructure are vulnerabilities that have been ignored for far too long. Their owner, Consumers Energy, has begun to ask whether their existence still makes sense. Pigeon River At Vanderbilt. The Grand Rapids - Muskegon Power Company (a predecessor to today's Consumers Energy Company) built the Croton Hydroelectric Plant in 1906 - 1907. The men were leaving the house that Dewitt has been renting after checking for water damage. Newaygo Dam History At the time of its completion, it was the largest earthen dam in North America east of the Mississippi. Two years ago, the MRWA received a grant from the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund to identify dams in the watershed that are no longer viable. 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. Official websites use .gov E-mail: mrwa@ferris.edu, Copyright 2023 Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, Dam Removal and the Problem of Articulating Positive Change. For suggestions to find the best web browser for you The Newaygo Company sold their holdings including the dam to the Portland Cement Company who operated a new cement plant in Newaygo. For much of the last century, it was a cheap and reliable form of energy. It is Michigan's second largest river only to the, Being such a peaceful river, it promises ample opportunities for viewing wildlife. Open House Sunday January 15, 2023 1-3 $269,000 1 Bed 1 Bath 800 Sq. (1) USGS River gaging station on the Muskegon River near Croton. The 13 that remain provide just 1.2 percent of the utilitys annual power mix, barely enough to cover their $12.6 million in annual operating costs. Wes Stafford", Caption: Vassar, Mich.-- Emergency workers stroll through downtown Vassar Thursday, aiding merchants we were removing stock or placing it on higher shelves. It is the third largest earthen dam in the world and the largest east of the Mississippi River. The Muskegon River is expected to crest late Friday at over 7 feet above flood stage. 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. The heavy rains have caused the worst flooding in 100 years. Fluctuations to rivers flow from the fillup and drawdown of reservoirs interrupted natural rhythms that guide many river species reproduction and growth cycles. Those tourists frequent nearby canoe liveries and corner stores, restaurants and motels. It also refocused attention on the river and resulted in efforts to improve public access and provide additional community greenspace along the river. menominee river at white rapids dam near banat, mi -- -- -- 04066800: menominee river at koss, mi -- -- -- 04067500: menominee river near mc allister, wi . Documented Unsafe Conditions at Michigan Coal Ash Dams J.R. Whiting Power Station: According to an EPA inspection, the buttressing of the facility's significant hazard dam was The plant and its 110,000-volt transmission line (the highest voltage in use at that time) attracted international attention. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Offering lodging on the famed Muskegon River, one mile downstream from the Croton-Hardy Dam. Sept. 12, 1986." Muskegon Lake is a 1,679 hectare drowned river mouth that was created historically by fluctuating Lake Michigan water levels and the closing of a channel by wind induced erosion of sand dunes. Mrs. Gunnerson was pronounced dead at the scene. On the Kalamazoo River, hundreds of residents who live on the reservoir created by the Calkins Bridge Dam have joined a property owners association that is lobbying for its survival. Roads and campsites are paved. In early 1965 Consumers Power offered to sell the dam to the City of Newaygo for $1.00 but the offer was declined because the maintenance costs were too high. Boats need to be on the river no later than 1pm Monday - Friday and 2pm Saturday & Sunday. Warm water resident fish: The most popular warm water fish are smallmouth bass and northern pike. "The cold-water . The plant was shut down at 2 a.m. Saturday. Free parking is available at a paved culdesac above a 50 yard gravel driveway that leads to a flat area right at the river's edge. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Rising water from the Cass River rose to over eight feet above flood level in Vassar, Sept., 1986. Brian and his recreational vehicle park here." Steelhead enter West Michigan rivers as early as late September. More then 10 inches of rain fell over the area causing local dams to fail. The Croton Dam Area . This factor attracts, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 23:07. In addition, dirt bikes, snowmobiling, ATVs and other off-road vehicles may not be operated on any company property (except for licensed trails). (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Brian Masck), A car drives through flooded roads. Technicians are currently working on the problem. It raised the level of the pond for better recreational opportunities and employed a gate that could be opened and closed for dam and pond maintenance. This years annual winter drawdown for Hardy Pond will begin early November 1, 2022 in preparation for a future auxiliary spillway project. Little Log cabin on the Big Muskegon River. 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. We fish the Muskegon River starting just below Croton Dam, Which is just east of the city of Newaygo, MI all the way down to the mouth that . As climate change warms the worlds rivers, environmentalists see dam removal as key to protecting coldwater fish like trout. In the late 1800s, Muskegon was home to many different industries, including lumber mills, chemical companies, foundries, a coal-fired power plant, and a paper mill. He spends his days advocating for the rivers health, and believes an undammed Muskegon River would produce a fishery on a world-stage level.. In Michigan, the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly is working to solve that problem. All rights reserved (About Us). The Muskegon State Game Area spans both Muskegon County and Newaygo County. . Little Muskegon River. In a perfect environmental world, all of them are gone, and we restore the river to its original form, Faulkner said. Muskegon River ( / mskin / ms-KEE-gn) is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Beth Erhart)", Caption: "Booth News Service, Mike McDonnell, 32, (far right) had just moved to Saginaw from Grand Island, Nebraska, he said that he has his doubts about staying, Sept. 11, 1986. (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Brian Masck), High water didn't deter Roger Wilson form trying his luck fishing on Sylvia St. NW near Alpine Avenue in Grand Rapids, Sept. 1986. It was built by the city of Allegan and began commercial operation in 1936. At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. Jordan River At East Jordan. Over time, the economics of power generation shifted, too. We offer docks, showers, water, and electricity, sewage disposal, playgrounds, and picnic areas. We held public meetings and asked people from the areas around our river hydro plants to attend and share their thoughts. Muskegon River Fishing Report: The Muskegon is at a normal winter level and is very clear. (The Saginaw News/ Michael Robb), Fritz Cain, of Bridgeport, and his dog Rambo paddle down Fayette St. so the dog could do his duty on dry ground. This provides enough electricity to serve a community of nearly 23,000. Bridge Michigan | But many of Consumers dams are surrounded by largely-undeveloped land, leaving far fewer people to split the tab. Located in the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's Delta County, the Carr Creek Dam has structurally failed yet inhibits fish passage. Big Rapids, MI 49307-2280, Phone: 231-591-2334 The river drains 2,725 square miles of watershed and passes over four major dams, Reedsburg, Rogers, Hardy and Croton on its journey to Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. Steelhead flies that represent Scuds, Sculpin, and Coho Salmon fry are also very effective near the Croton Dam. During hydropowers heyday, Consumers and its predecessors owned more than 90 dams across the state. Nicely wooded lot tucked off the road. The idea of losing the dams has nearby residents nervous. The river is cautiously wadable in levels below 6 feet and 2500 cubic feet per second along the north side of the river throughout the length of the park. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, DISSOLVED OXYGEN, GAGE HEIGHT, and MORE are available. But Consumers is also unlikely to relicense dams unless it gets regulators permission to charge ratepayers for spillway replacements, new generators, and other upgrades that the company says will cost about $165 million yearly. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Rex Larsen), After flood waters burst through the dam at White Cloud, water rushed downstream where it flooded residences and closed M-37 at the south edge of White Cloud, Sept. 12, 1986. More recently, it provides electrical power, a valuable recreational resource and a world class fishery. The flooding caused 6 deaths, injured 89, contributed to the failure of 14 dams, and damage to about 30,000 homes from Muskegon to Bay City. The structures generate electricity by stopping up rivers, flooding the land behind the dams and then releasing that water through the dam, where the force of its flow spins turbines to power a generator. (Bay City Times/ Wes Stafford), Caption: The corner of Forest St. and Franklin St. in Bridgeport as seen from a rowboat. Mill Iron Road at Muskegon River. Aluminum flat bottom fish boats with or without a trolling motor. The Muskegon River is expected to crest late Friday at over 7 feet above flood stage. Consumers Energy is authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue permits for the use and occupancy of project lands and waters. Consumers is an immensely profitable company, Soodek said. Along the way, the east branch of the Little Muskegon, Shinglebolt Creek, Cedar Creek and several other creeks dump into the Little Muskegon. Amid those changes, Consumers sold or retired most of its dams between the 1940s and 1970s. And she fears removing the dam could release PCB-contaminated sediments from the reservoir, creating new environmental consequences. Migratory fish : Lake Michigan steelhead, lake-run brown trout, and chinook salmon. The area around the town of Newaygo has access to the river, and the river is ideal for fishing and canoeing. It was completed in 1912. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Caption: "Midland, Mich: Sept. 11- Brian Armstrong carries clothing from the family camper that was overturned by reported tornado at 3am this morning. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Lance Wynn), A house in Bridgeton Twp., Michigan, east of Muskegon and along the Muskegon River is almost completely submerged in the flooding waters, Sept. 12, 1986. Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. A canoe and a boat pulled up to the front of the house to replace cars for transportation. Cars make their way along North Park Street. The powerhouse is still standing today and is located just down river from the railroad bridge. c/o Ferris State University Both types of trout can be found in the twenty miles of river below Croton Dam. WRSX 91.3 Port Huron is off the air due to network issues. (The Muskegon Chronicle/ Brian Masck), Caption: "Newaygo, Mich.,-- These homes near Newaygo, Mich., are nearly submerged Friday as water from the Muskegon River is keeping nearly 1,000 people away from their houses. March 18, 2022 Muskegon River anglers should be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam this spring. 2 Streamgauges Max Discharge: 1,840 cfs Deepest Point: 7.69ft Maximum discharge along the river was observed at the Muskegon River Near Croton with a streamflow rate of 1,840 cfs. Good numbers of fall steelhead on the Muskegon River. The majority of the bicycle and pedestrian trail crossings are former railroad bridges which have been converted to non-motorized traffic. Heavy rains over the past two days have caused the worst flooding in Western Michigan in over 100 years." Scott Looman click here. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Locked padlock If you like to swing flies, lean toward areas that are slower than walking speed or areas where you can get a fly down and keep it down. Kentwood, MI 49512 The . Since 1969, Wisner Rents Canoes has been offering canoe, kayak, tubeand boat rentalsfor locals and tourists. Hydropowers waning cost-competitiveness at times leaves dam owners struggling to cover those costs. And its not best for everything that lives in the river.. Alcona Hydro has a capacity of 8,000 kilowatts. Privacy Policy. Heavy rains sent the Cass River over its banks and into the Tuscola county community. 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. Paris Park was Michigan's second fish-rearing facility when it opened in 1881. (Saginaw News/ David A. Sommers), Sue Van Meter, 31, of Big Rapids, waits for a crane to lift her honda Civic from a 15 to 20 foot hole in a road in Big Rapids, Sept. 11, 1986. His daughter learned to swim there, his family goes pontoon boating daily, and his property value benefits from the dams existence. 5380 Croton Drive . Our Address. TEL: 231-652-5957. Please respect the rights of private landowners and do not trespass on posted lands. 2 2.0 , Sq Ft: 1200 Year: 1986 Acres: 12.000. Heavy rains will send the rover to record highs. (The Bay City Times/ David J. Sams), High water from Mitchell Creek in Big Rapids flooded out the recently completed sports facility at Big Rapids High School. (The Saginaw News/ Michael Robb), Lowell High School assistant football coach Greg Skipper is seen on the flooded football field. Figure 7.-Muskegon River gradient profile, and fish community and water temperature sites used during 1989 and 1992. The river is home to three groups of gamefish: migratory fish, cool water resident fish, and warm water resident fish. While most wading anglers concentrate their time between Newaygo and Croton Dam, boats will motor all the way downstream. Click here to read the letter A peaceful river, and electricity, sewage disposal, playgrounds, his! 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