| June 25, 2008 |
HURON HAPPENING
By: Doris Parker
Cheboygan Daily Tribune
Watching your front yard slowly eroding into the Ocqueoc River is unnerving, to say the least. The river current was coming into a curve, undermining the bank, and in turn felling several large trees.
A coalition of groups focused on a stream bank stabilization project recently on Brege Road, under the auspices of Huron Pines. Huron Pines specializes in resource management. It is a non-profit organization serving 11 counties in Northeast Michigan. Its service area encompasses more than 4 million acres and parts of 10 major river systems.
Aiding in this project were volunteers from the Paul H. Young chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Ocqueoc River Commission, the Hammond Bay Area Anglers, the Presque Isle Conservation District and Huron Pines AmeriCorps.
Members of Trout Unlimited traveled from Detroit to aid in the project. A total of 22 individuals worked l00 hours. Cedar poles were inserted to form terracing, bio-logs made out of coconut were added, black dirt was brought in and grass planted at the top of the steep clay bank. Fiber was placed over the grass plantings for protection. The bio-logs (technically called coir logs) will naturally turn into organic matter and blend into the landscape.
Heavy machinery was brought in to fell and place large logs. The logs were then wired together and staked at the water's edge. Native vegetation including dogwood, ninebark, spruce, cedar and birch trees were planted. The root system of the plants will increase the stability of the site.
"The trees that were taken down are considered 'Large Woody Debris.' The beauty of LWD is that it functions as both an erosion control technique, but also as really nice natural fish habitat by providing in-stream structure. The organic matter of the decaying trees will also feed the base of the food chain, mostly the insects anglers try to replicate when fly-fishing," said Patrick Ertel of Huron Pines.
The project was funded by the Ocqueoc River Commission, Paul H. Young Trout Unlimited, Wolverine Power, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the landowner Ted Elick.
The Ocqueoc River Commission met recently at the Case Township Hall. Charlie Lyon, Drain Commissioner and Ralph Stedman of the Conservation District met with the Road Commission and U.S. Fish & Wildlife to survey
nine road/stream crossings in the watershed.
Two of these projects were considered urgent by the Road Commission. It was reported monies expended by the Road Commission would count for matching funds when applying for grants on additional projects.
One of the sites had a culvert that was too small for fish passage. The representative from U.S. Fish & Wildlife said she would seek funds to replace it with a larger culvert. "What is good for the fish is good for the stream is good for the environment."
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