We offer docks, showers, water, and electricity, sewage disposal, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Water in the downtown area was up to the awnings of businesses. Muskegon River Fishing Report: The Muskegon is at a normal winter level and is very clear. "They're not in business to give away money," he said. Large patios at all sites. Follow Us. And the communities that surround those bodies of water would be destroyed.. Boats need to be on the river no later than 1pm Monday - Friday and 2pm Saturday & Sunday. A home south of Saginaw near highway M-13 sits surrounded by sandbags and high-water, Sept. 16, 1986. (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. It also refocused attention on the river and resulted in efforts to improve public access and provide additional community greenspace along the river. Warm water resident fish: The most popular warm water fish are smallmouth bass and northern pike. The road to their home washed away during the two-day rainstorm. Pre-settlement, the river was a conduit for the movement and a source of sustenance for the native people. Trout fishing season opens the last Saturday in April. The City of Big Rapids removed the Muskegon River Dam remnant, restoring natural hydrological and ecological conditions to the largest free-flowing reach of high-gradient river in the Great Lakes basin. 1 Croton Dam.25 hrs : 1 mile float 2 Pine Street 2.0 hrs : 6 mile float 3 Thornapple 2.5hrs:6.5milefloat 4 Henning Park 1.75hrs:4.5milefloat 5 Anderson Flats Police Say the Hampton Township apartments were in danger as well. Cool water resident fish: There is a very strong population of resident brown and rainbow trout. Paris Park was Michigan's second fish-rearing facility when it opened in 1881. The smaller Reedsburg Dam is near the source of the Muskegon River. A contractor from Grand Rapids got the job and for $84,000 the demolition of the dam was completed in February, 1969. 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. Paddling Michigan. The river corridor features steep banks and unique scenery. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS It was built in 1907 under the direction of William D. Fargo by the Grand Rapids - Muskegon Power Company, a predecessor of Consumers Energy. Thats far from certain. The pond features a rustic "up north" setting that is a popular spot for . Various inns and cabins down the river can provide accommodations for up to a month. For Sale. More than 90 years ago, the Hardy Dam was constructed on the Muskegon River in Newaygo County, and it was known as the largest earthen dam east of the Mississippi River. The primary area for recreation boating along the Muskegon River extends just under 55 miles from Croton Dam (1) to Maple Island (7) and will take about 15 . Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Marvin Laningar). Since 1969, Wisner Rents Canoes has been offering canoe, kayak, tubeand boat rentalsfor locals and tourists. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Ben Beversluis), Wayne W. Allswede of Frankemuth cleans out mud from under the hot water heater in friend Ralph Zimmermann's home in Saginaw Township. 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. Download the Get Closer to Nature brochure for recreational activities at the hydro dams. Hardy Dam Pond features a 50-mile shoreline that surrounds nearly 4,000 acres of water. 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. " Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Muskegon River never freezes so we fish all winter long, offering great fishing year around. 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. Fifty years later, lumbering had faded as a major industry in Michigan and the old wooden dam was in need of major repairs. In its day, the system of locks and dams helped open the state and the entire Midwest to trade and development. If you receive an error, please return later this evening to view your updated balance and make a payment if needed. It began commercial operation in 1907. 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 . For information on obtaining a lease, license, permit or easement, call our Operations Planning Center at 866-679-4054 or email LandContracts@cmsenergy.com. Built 1953 by L.W. Rogers Dam is located in Mecosta County south of Big Rapids, with Hardy Dam and Croton Dam located in Newaygo County. (Muskegon Chronicle/ Greg Dorsett), Caption: "A Bay City resident surveys the flooding from the relative safety of his front porch. Hillstrom, Kevin, and Laurie Hillstrom. Hydro power produces clean, reliable power that weve counted on for more than 100 years. (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. Dam Hardy Dam Rogers Dam Big Rapids Figure 2.-Major tributaries and landmarks in the Muskegon River watershed. Originating in Higgins and Houghton Lakes, the Muskegon River flows 219 miles to its confluence with Muskegon Lake. 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. The river passes through Clare County, Osceola County, Mecosta County, Newaygo County, and Muskegon County, a. Information and photos for this article was acquired from documents held by the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center. But water quality, affordability, and aging water infrastructure are vulnerabilities that have been ignored for far too long. Mrs. Gunnerson was pronounced dead at the scene. Muskegon River Fishing Report (231) 519-7348 June 22, 2021 Happy New Year! WRSX 91.3 Port Huron is off the air due to network issues. The river passes through Clare County, Osceola County, Mecosta County, Newaygo County, and Muskegon County, and generally flows southwesterly to its mouth at Muskegon, Michigan, where it empties into Muskegon Lake. Wind, for example, is 31 times cheaper. The Little Muskegon's beginnings are on the outlet of Horsehead Lake near Mecosta. But he also lives on Croton Pond, the impoundment created by one of Consumers three Muskegon River dams. An official website of the United States government. E-mail: mrwa@ferris.edu, Copyright 2023 Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, Dam Removal and the Problem of Articulating Positive Change. Take, for example, the Muskegon River, where migratory native lake sturgeon once had free reign of the 219-mile river from Lake Michigan to Higgins Lake. Heavy rains over the past two days have caused the worst flooding in Western Michigan in over 100 years." The river is home to three groups of gamefish: migratory fish, cool water resident fish, and warm water resident fish. Mill Iron Road at Muskegon River. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Lance Wynn), Al Dewitt paddles as Steve Clark starts the boat engine. You may unsubscribe at any time. Heavy rains over the past two days have caused the worst flooding in Western Michigan in over 100 years. Federal regulators consider Consumers' dams to be in satisfactory condition, with none of the alarming deficiencies that plagued the Midland dams. A lock ( In 1967 a routine lowering of the pond by Consumers Power, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Conservation, to determine if repairs were needed to insure the free migration of steelhead, trout, and walleye, uncovered flaws in the dam that were cost prohibitive to repair. MECOSTA COUNTY The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly and its partners have received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support the removal of Altona and Buckhorn dam projects, according to a news release from the organization. Sturgeon River At Wolverine. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and panfish. To learn how were planning for the future, and see the presentations from each meeting, click the button. This years annual winter drawdown for Hardy Pond will begin early November 1, 2022 in preparation for a future auxiliary spillway project. U.S. Geological Survey. Explore nature trails or hunt our 20-acre property. Its banks forested and sometimes tall, the Muskegon flows clear and bright over gravel bars only to settle into dark runs and pools full of promise. 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. Built between 1906 and 1935, our heritage is rooted in these renewable energy sources. It began commercial operation in 1924. For the best performance on this website and others, please upgrade Regulators for years had flagged safety issues at the dams, but Boyce Hydro insisted it lacked the money to make fixes. Water data back to 1987 are available online. Consumers plans to announce its preferred solution for each of the 13 dams next year. Newaygo Dam at the centennial celebration in 1954 In October of 1968 the State of Michigan started taking bids for the destruction of the Newaygo Dam. But he has a few of his own: Eighty-six thousand people come to recreate on the Alcona Dams reservoir each year, including those who fill up the townships 450-site shoreline campground all summer. Print/PDF map. 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. (Bay City Times/ Wes Stafford), William and Adelle Hall, are evacuated from their home in the flood waters of the Muskegon River Friday afternoon by Lt. Butch Barnes of Muskegon County Emergency services as the Hall's dog, Brownie, heads for the boat, Sept. 12, 1986. . About noon Sept. 13, 1986." 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. The forest along the river varies from mixed oak, pine and aspen to white cedar and hemlock stands. Years later, lumbering had faded as a major industry in Michigan the. 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