[brcs-announce] Today's Update from Steve Largent

[Norman R. Fred]

This is what I got from Steve today.

There were a few photos but I can not forward them to you due to size restrictions on my server.

Look for them on the GTCD blog soon - hopefully.

Norm

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Thursday (11/1/12) – Next Thursday, November 8th, at 6:00 pm (Civic Center) the Boardman River Dams Project Implementation Team is holding an informational meeting regarding the dam removal project and the October 6 incident at Brown 
Bridge Dam.  The meeting will include a project update, information on 
issues related to the Brown Bridge Dam incident, and an opportunity for 
the public to ask questions. 
 
Over the past couple weeks since the last update Molon has continued to work in the upper end of the project area cleaning out sand traps, 
excavating the floodplain, and shaping spoil areas according to the 
original work plan.  At the dam AMEC and Molon received work plan 
approval from the MDEQ to divert the river flow into the Temporary 
Dewatering Structure (TDS) and continue demolition of the remaining 
lower concrete structure of the dam.  This work began this week and 
expect take approximately two weeks to complete.    
 
Biologists from the MDNR, Grand Traverse Band, and GTCD along with Adams Chapter 
of Trout Unlimited volunteers conducted a “Presence/Absence” fish survey in the river at two locations below Brown Bridge dam where the MDNR had previous population data.  A population survey wasn’t possible at this 
time because of the turbid (cloudy) water.   The first survey took place approximately 150’ downstream of Brown Bridge Road in an area that 
received the brunt of the breech.  Seventy five fish representing 13 
different species were captured and released in a 500 foot stretch.  
This included 12 brown trout and one brook trout.    The second survey 
took place downstream at Beitner Landing just upstream from Beitner 
Road.  Biologists surveyed a 250 foot section along the east bank where 
they captured and released 28 fish in less than 15 minutes of 
surveying.   Of these 26 were trout including a 20” brown trout in full 
spawning color. 
 
Harriet Gruber, who has a cabin in the impacted area, reported seeing a fish 
jump in front of her cabin last weekend.  David McCool also reported 
seeing three brook trout “redds.”  Redds are nests of spawning trout.  
 
Project staff continues to collect weekly cross-section and other data 
including turbidity readings using a Secci Disc, a tool commonly used to measure the clarity of lake water, which is this case has been modified for river monitoring. 
 
As always please let me know if you have any questions.  S.
 
 
Steve Largent
Boardman River Program Coordinator
Grand Traverse Conservation District
1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685
231.883.9960
231.941.0960 Ext - 16
www.natureiscalling.org
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