The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration selected WMSRDC’s proposal for the Lake Michigan Coastal Rivers and Wetlands Regional Partnership in 2020, with the potential for funding up to $14,123,471.00 for priority fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects. The NOAA/WMSRDC Regional Partnership is designed to restore fish and wildlife habitat in eastern Lake Michigan drowned river mouth systems and coastal wetlands.
NOAA has initiated the Regional Partnership with funding for three priority projects, including feasibility, engineering/design and implementation:
1) Little Cedar Creek Fish Passage and Stream Habitat Restoration in the Muskegon River Watershed in Muskegon County. Little Cedar Creek is the longest tributary of Cedar Creek and is a high-quality cold-water tributary to the Muskegon River. By replacing two road stream crossings and restoring 500 feet of in-stream fish habitat, this project restored 3.5 miles of fish passage and reconnected 12 acres of wetland habitat and essential spawning and nursery habitat for lake-run and resident fish species such as Brook Trout, Brown Trout and Sculpin. Project partners include Muskegon County Road Commission (MCRC), GVSU AWRI, GEI Consultants, and private landowners.
For instream fish habitat, log deflector structures were installed below the Michillinda Rd crossing. MCRC completed the culvert replacements at Sweeter Rd and Michilinda Rd crossings in 2023. To complete the project’s survey work, GVSU AWRI will duplicated the Tier 1 fish survey of both the Michillinda and Sweeter crossing locations, done prior to restoration activities, in the summer of 2024.
Little Cedar Creek and Sweeter Road after restoration activities were completed.
2) White River Fish Passage and Stream Habitat Restoration in Oceana County. The White River is a County Scenic River under Michigan’s Natural Rivers Act. This project includes three road stream crossing in Swinton Creek and one in Cushman Creek. By removing the impassable structures, replacing them with open span structures, and restoring 1,000 feet of instream habitat; 7.2 miles of stream has been reconnected, and 7.6 acres of wetland floodplain habitat is now open for the native fish and wildlife. Project partners include Oceana County Road Commission (OCRC), GVSU AWRI, GEI Consultants, Catskill Remedial, Knouse Outdoor Restoration, and private landowners.
Over 1,000 feet of Swinton Creek Habitat was restored, with 1,000 feet of restoration upstream of the Buchanan Road crossing and 150 feet immediately below the Pierce Road crossing.
In 2024, OCRC replaced the crossings at Buchanan Road/Swinton Creek and Roosevelt Road/Cushman Creek with open span timber bridges.
During implementation of habitat restoration on Swinton Creek.
Cushman Creek and Roosevelt Road nearing the end of restoration activities.
3) Stony Creek Fish Passage and Habitat Restoration in Oceana County. The project includes dam remnant removal, removal of two old bridges and three culverts, a bridge replacement, and 500 feet of instream habitat replacement. Opening 6.5 miles of stream and 18 acres of adjacent wetlands. Giving Lake Michigan anglers the opportunity to catch steelhead and salmon naturally produced in Stony Creek. Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) has funding for engineered designs of 2,000 feet of instream habitat upstream of the WMSRDC project footprint and inclusion of recreational access to the stream. Additional project partners include OCRC, GVSU AWRI, Oceana County Parks, GEI Consultants, Catskill Remedial, Knouse Outdoor Restoration, JE Kloote Contracting, and private landowners.
This project removed the existing bridges and culverts and constructed a new stream channel. A new timber bridge and roadway approaches were installed, and the creek was drawn down for dam removal and bank stabilization. Improvements to the habitat included removal of invasive species, plantings of native species, and installation of instream woody structures. In addition to the fish passage and habitat restoration, a boardwalk and fishing platforms will be installed for public access and recreation.
Stony Creek and Marshville Dam prior to restoration.
Stony Creek after dam removal.