It began commercial operation in 1907. In 1836, the state began building dams and locks on . 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 river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. Wind, for example, is 31 times cheaper. Official websites use .gov Police Say the Hampton Township apartments were in danger as well. He spends his days advocating for the rivers health, and believes an undammed Muskegon River would produce a fishery on a world-stage level.. The evolution of the Newaygo Dam is an excellent example of the manipulation of our natural resources as well as a good case study for the choices we make between economics and conservation. muskegon river at evart, mi : 843 : 903 +60 : 04121507: twin creek at eight mile road near evart, mi : 6.20 : 6.32 +0.1 : 04121944: little muskegon river near oak grove, mi : (Muskegon Chronicle/ Greg Dorsett), Caption: "A Bay City resident surveys the flooding from the relative safety of his front porch. Prisoners from the Tuscola county jail were assisting with the filling of sandbags. But its massive environmental tradeoffs quickly became clear. It is Michigan's second largest river only to the, Being such a peaceful river, it promises ample opportunities for viewing wildlife. In order to meet Federal guidelines for managing the property within the Croton Hydroelectric project, a Consumers Energy Employee or authorized contractor will be contacting home and property owners bordering the project. hYn9>Nxx{xgc'F?ZGX2dew{nukd0:dXuT*eeZQ }Yr:F m*{6*rT.rR5gEC|E k7)oEx9Al:Q. E-MAIL: happycampers5380@gmail.com. Camping is another popular activity around the river, with several shoreline parks and campgrounds. As a race organizer and lifelong resident of the area, Weiler said he has grown used to the dams existence. 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. LOCATION ADDRESS: 22090 Northland Dr. Paris, MI 49338. While most wading anglers concentrate their time between Newaygo and Croton Dam, boats will motor all the way downstream. hb``e``zQ Hardy Dam on the Muskegon River is one of the largest earthen dams in the world. (The Saginaw News/ Steve Jessmore), The Muskegon River boils through the floodgates at Hardy Dam as Consumers Power Co. crews attempt to lower the backwater, Sept. 12, 1986. If you receive an error, please return later this evening to view your updated balance and make a payment if needed. As a result the dam pond was never raised again. Hardy Dam Lake is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and other water-based recreational activities. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Warm water resident fish: The most popular warm water fish are smallmouth bass and northern pike. Caps Lock is on. If you will be contacted, you will receive a letter in the mail with additional details. Hardy Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam and powerplant complex on the Muskegon River in Big Prairie Township, Newaygo County, Michigan. The Muskegon State Game Area is an 8,411 acre section of land which overlays the Muskegon River on the section between Maple Island Road and US Route 31. The ponds they created became destinations for boating, swimming and fishing, fueling tourism in a part of the state with limited jobs. Pigeon River At Vanderbilt. A community-based, volunteer partnership organization, Muskegon Lake Public and Private Landowners, Michigan Volunteer River, Creek, Stream Cleanup Program. The idea of losing the dams has nearby residents nervous. Consumers plans to announce its preferred solution for each of the 13 dams next year. Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Known as the "River of Marshes", anglers experience fun-filled days on the water fighting to catch the rainbow trout that were stocked in the river during the 1870s and the salmon later on in the 1960s. Technicians are currently working on the problem. Without them, McCormick said, communities surrounding the dams would wither. That process focuses on ensuring reliable electricity at fair rates, leaving limited room to consider the environmental consequences of dams, or their benefits for nearby communities. Monitoring location 04121970 is associated with a STREAM in NEWAYGO COUNTY, MICHIGAN. GNSS2 - Level 2 Quality Survey Grade Global Navigation Satellite System. Consumers Power Company acquired the Dam for the purpose of developing hydro-electric power for the area. Steelhead fishing is hit or miss in this cold water period of the year. When wading you can enter private property if you stay within the clearly defined banks of the stream, and only walk the bank to avoid a hazard. Built 1953 by L.W. The Cabin is located on 20 wooded acres with 550' of direct access river frontage. (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. The heavy rains have washed out a bridge in US-31, a main north-south route. Developers look here! Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. (Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), A man stands near a collapsed road along the Muskegon River. It was built by the city of Allegan and began commercial operation in 1936. Those imbalances played out dramatically in 2020, when two privately-owned Midland area dams failed amid heavy rainfall. At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. (Kalamazoo Gazette file photo), Zilwaukee, MI , Sept. 13 , 1986. Agents, Brokers, Realtors and For Sale By Owner: Advertise Lakefront Property in MI . River is bankfull. The USGS Water Resources Division (Lansing) monitored the biological, chemical, and physical conditions of the river before and after removal. Several streets were submerged following rainfall of over 10 inches." [4] However, there were several Michigan logging railroads in operation in the 1850s, including the seven-mile-long Blendon Lumber Company railroad in Ottawa County, which was the first in the state to employ a steam locomotive in May 1857.[5]. By, Ford battery plant site prep main recipient of funds in $1.3 billion spending bill sent to governor, Free legal representation now available for many Detroiters facing eviction, MSU announces new security measures, plan for external review of response to mass shooting on campus, Michigan Senate advances repeal of 1931 abortion ban though the ban is already unenforceable, Michigan Senate passes Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act expansion to add LGBTQ rights, Report from environmental groups accuses power industry of failing to clean up coal ash dumps, Cancer-causing hexavalent chromium spills from Wixom plant into Huron River. The Muskegon River below Croton Dam is a fantastic year-round fishery popular with jet boats, drift boats, and wading anglers. Nicely wooded lot tucked off the road. Moving north to the Manistee River, Tippy Dam provides ice free water down to at least High Bridge. Steelhead enter West Michigan rivers as early as late September. (1) USGS River gaging station on the Muskegon River near Croton. Fishing spots and depth contours layers are available in most Lake maps. . Both types of trout can be found in the twenty miles of river below Croton Dam. Nightly camping or cabin reservations will begin February 1st at 4:00 pm. Zimmermann had four feet of mud in the basement when the wall collapsed, due to heavy rains in the Saginaw area. She drove into the hole early Thursday, but was not hurt. It was built between 1914-16 and is our furthest upstream (west) hydro on the Au Sable River. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Find Lake Homes & Real Estate Experts. U.S. Geological Survey. Fifty years later, lumbering had faded as a major industry in Michigan and the old wooden dam was in need of major repairs. It was built by the city of Allegan and began commercial operation in 1936. For Sale. It also refocused attention on the river and resulted in efforts to improve public access and provide additional community greenspace along the river. The river has several major branches, such as the Hersey River, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon River. "The cold-water . The Muskegon River watershed drains 2,350 square miles (6,100 km2) from ten counties in north central Michigan: Muskegon, Newaygo, Mecosta, Clare, Osceola, and Roscommon. While most wading anglers concentrate their time between Newaygo and Croton Dam, boats will motor all the way downstream. All rights reserved (About Us). The Muskegon River is the second-longest river in Michigan. It is approximately 41 miles from Croton Dam in near Newaygo, Michigan to Lake Michigan. The refurbished dam was completed in 1901. (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. New regulations ended the practice of peaking, or filling and then rapidly draining reservoirs to maximize power output during times of high demand. Trout fishing season opens the last Saturday in April. Privacy Policy The . 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. The river source is located at Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. Just 35 miles north of Grand Rapids is a true getaway in Newaygo, MI: the Muskegon River. That is enough electricity to serve a community of nearly 23,000. There is abundant wildlife, including otters, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and eagles and, although development has been creeping in, the upper reaches are still fairly remote and natural with much of the surrounding land composed of state-owned tracts. The road to their home washed away during the two-day rainstorm. Figure 7.-Muskegon River gradient profile, and fish community and water temperature sites used during 1989 and 1992. Large resident Brown, Rainbow trout, Smallmouth bass and walleye are also numerous in the Muskegon River which makes it a great year round fishery. On the Au Sable, a Facebook group has cropped up devoted to saving the dams. The Muskegon River below Croton Dam is a fantastic year-round fishery popular with jet boats, drift boats, and wading anglers. "They're not in business to give away money," he said. Our Address. In this series, members of the Great Lakes News Collaborative, Michigan Radio, Bridge Michigan, Great Lakes Now, and Circle of Blue, explore what it might take to preserve and protect this precious resource. The area around the town of Newaygo has access to the river, and the river is ideal for fishing and canoeing. Heavy rains over the past two days have caused the worst flooding in Western Michigan in over 100 years." Ft. Mio Hydro has a capacity of 4,900 kilowatts. ParisPark@MecostaCountyParks.com. 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 Au Sable River At Red Oak. And she fears removing the dam could release PCB-contaminated sediments from the reservoir, creating new environmental consequences. Mrs. Gunnerson was pronounced dead at the scene. 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. . Sediment volumes and associated sediment management costs were significantly less than originally anticipated. The majority of the bicycle and pedestrian trail crossings are former railroad bridges which have been converted to non-motorized traffic. Photos. As a result, the dams now operate at less than 40 percent of their capacity. You'll find the dam nine miles upstream from Lake Huron. (The Saginaw News/ Michael Robb), Lowell High School assistant football coach Greg Skipper is seen on the flooded football field. A contractor from Grand Rapids got the job and for $84,000 the demolition of the dam was completed in February, 1969. WRSX 91.3 Port Huron is off the air due to network issues. The river flows over gravel bars, through fast runs and deep pools for nearly 20 miles of quality habitat, providing outstanding fish for both cold and warm water species of fish throughout the year. 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. Native American heritage to it for fishing and hunting, "Down the Drain: The Incredible Shrinking Great Lakes", "The First Logging Railroads in the Great Lakes Region", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muskegon_River&oldid=1139017932, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In recent years, the river has gained a certain measure of fame as a recreational fishery, boasting large migratory, People have also taken a liking to paddling down the river. Both parks have cabins, a beach and a boathouse. The 48 hours of rain dumped more than a dozen inches of rain in parts of Western Michigan, caused millions of dollars of damage and has displaced more than 1000 area residents. In 1900, the company began work on two major projects, the reconstruction of the Newaygo Dam and the construction of the Newaygo Powerhouse to provide water powered energy for the plant. (Bay City Times/Leonard A Falce), Kalamazoo, MI Sept 11 -- A tree downed by powerful winds Wednesday fell on this car, killing a 50-year-old Ostego woman. 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. $175 . Five Channels Hydro has a capacity of 6,000 kilowatts. For additional information, please email us at hydro@cmsenergy.com. The pond features a rustic "up north" setting that is a popular spot for . (The Grand Rapids Press/ George Gryzenia), Captions: "Cedar Creek Twp., Mich., -- Jim Forester III (L) and his father, Jim Forester, Jr., carry out the last possessions from their house near the Muskegon River in anticipation of increased flooding, Sept. 11, 1986. 160 Muskegon River Watershed Assessment . Hydro power produces clean, reliable power that weve counted on for more than 100 years. Leave your worries behind and soak up the sun on a river rafting trip. These fish return to the river to spawn and reproduce. Federal regulators consider Consumers' dams to be in satisfactory condition, with none of the alarming deficiencies that plagued the Midland dams. 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. (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. Off the air due to network issues one of the Dam could release PCB-contaminated sediments from the Tuscola County were! Dams now operate at less than 40 percent of their capacity trail crossings are former railroad bridges have! Near Newaygo, MI: the Muskegon river is ideal for fishing and canoeing worries and. Two days have caused the worst flooding in western Michigan in over 100 years. Channels. ) monitored the biological, chemical, and believes an undammed Muskegon below..., swimming and fishing, fueling tourism in a part of the earthen! Near Newaygo, MI 49338: 22090 Northland Dr. Paris, MI: most. In MI of major repairs hb `` e `` zQ hardy Dam Lake is a fantastic year-round popular. At Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the river has its in... 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muskegon river dam