Purpose of the project
The Conservation Resource Alliance will coordinate the replacement of a degraded road crossing with a timber bridge and the complete restoration of the Flowing Wells Trout Farm for fish passage and habitat improvement.  Implementing this project will open up approximately 31 miles of tributary for fish passage and improve approximately 4 miles of instream habitat on the North Branch of the Manistee River.

The stream will no longer be impounded, sand and sediment will be transported naturally, stream temperatures will recover, stream habitat will improve, and wild brook trout will be able to return to a reach that has been segmented by 12 dams and two dredged channels for approximately 40 years. This project will also improve the overall ecological health of the riparian corridor by improving uplands and wetlands adjacent to the instream restoration work.

Project Timeline
Major earth moving and dam removal at the Flowing Well property will be complete by the fall of 2011.  Additional reptile and amphibian monitoring as well as instream and adjacent habitat improvements will be completed during the summer and fall of 2012.  The bridge at Mecum Road is scheduled to be completed by late 2011.

Partners
The Conservation Resource Alliance is spearheading this project and closely working with the following partners:  National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; Kalkaska County Road Commission; Kalkaska County Conservation District; Upper Manistee River Restoration Committee, Trout Unlimited, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Huron Pines.

Updates/Changes
At the Flowing Well Property the following items have been completed.

1st. Quarter, 2011
* Established project timeline for 2011 field season.
* Removed an abandoned beaver dam on upper portion of Flowing Well Creek, blocked adjacent dredged channel, diverted flow back into natural channel.
* Received all required permits including NEPA, SHPO, MDNR, MDEQ, SESC, and Natural Rivers.
* Conducted 2 meetings for potential contractors to begin the bidding process.

2nd Quarter, 2011
* Subcontractor conducted the second season of reptile, amphibian, and macroinvertebrate monitoring, a final report is pending.
* Two volunteer workdays were conducted to clear debris from the N. Branch of the Manistee with project partners (USFWS, MDNR, Trout Unlimited)
* Cleared both Flowing Well Creek and the North Branch of the Manistee River of excess woody debris and blockages including 7 large beaver dams.
* Removed the earthen berm and a buried culvert on Flowing Well Creek using CRA staff and a locally hired work crew. Water is now flowing in its natural banks.
* Performed gradual drawdowns by removing boards at dams #3, #7, and #8, all boards have now been removed.

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At the Mecum Road site the following has been completed.
* Seven project partner meetings were held to discuss project progress (2 on-site, 2 at road commission office, and 3 committee meetings).
* Contracting, bidding, and legal review of documents.
* County, State and Federal permits obtained: SESC, SHPO, NEPA, MDEQ, and MDNR Natural Rivers.
* Property owner outreach and easement – State of Michigan use permit and permission for easement from 1 private parcel on southwest corner of road crossing.
* Survey, hydraulic analysis, soil borings/analysis, and bridge design completed.

Media coverage updates

http://www.michiganrivernews.com/2011/06/river-rehab-projects-put-michigan-in-national-spotlight/

http://environmentreport.org/show.php?showID=544