The Chapter received 20 separate grant applications totaling $55,000. The Board of Directors approved 17 requests totaling $31,400. In addition, $1,000 was given to Trout Unlimited and $2,000 was given to the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, divided equally between the Executive Director’s Fund and the re-usable water bottle project. Details of this year’s PHY grants follow. Please do not hesitate to contact any of the Board members if you would like additional information concerning any of the grants or if you would like to participate in the granting process. Your input is valued and always welcomed.
Almont Schools Conservation Curriculum
Amount Granted: $200
Administered by: Almont Public Schools – Mike Savage
This project will teach children what is happening out of sight in a watershed. Through fly-fishing, the class will focus on aquatic life, both invertebrates and vertebrates as well as plant life. The course will look at the effects humans have on their watersheds and how that can affect life outside of their community. The students will learn what type of life is found in the water, how to protect it, and most importantly, why they should want to. They will learn about pollution, and how to leave a minimum impact on their environment.
S. Br. Au Sable River Roscommon Stormwater Project
Amount Granted: $3,000
Administered by: Huron Pines
The project involves an assessment of all stormwater and its impact to the South Branch Au Sable River originating from the village of Roscommon, MI. During the summer of 2009, surveys will be completed for locations where stormwater collects, where stormwater outfalls enter the South Branch, and logical locations where treatments could be installed to alleviate the stormwater impacts. This will involve a detailed study of the elevations and street pattern within the village, as well as a firm understanding of existing stormwater treatments. By the end of the assessment process, in autumn 2009, a picture of stormwater runoff and its impacts from the village of Roscommon will be complete.
Big Rapids Streams – Ferris State
Amount Granted: $200
Administered by: Ferris Trout Unlimited – Alex Forsberg
The lack of bank vegetation in certain local rivers has led to increased erosion, sedimentation and rising water temperatures. This project will plant trees in designated areas throughout the Big Rapids area under the direction of a forestry expert. The trees will help slow erosion and create shade and cover for trout.
Upper Black River – Habitat Improvement
Amount Granted: $750
Administered by: Upper Black River Restoration Committee
AGP funds will be used to support in-stream habitat enhancement work being performed in the main branch of the Black River in Montmorency County. The work will consist of the placement of natural woody debris, whole tree revetments and deflection logs.
Clinton River Coldwater Conservation Project
Amount Granted: $505
Administered by: Clinton River Watershed Council
Now in its 8th year, the Clinton River Coldwater Conservation Project (CRCCP) is a joint effort of local Trout Unlimited chapters, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division (MDNR), City of Auburn Hills, and the Clinton River Watershed Council. Its mission is to engage anglers in coldwater fishing and in river stewardship activities. CRCCP generates interest in trout fishing and coldwater conservation, recruits new trout anglers, and provides hands-on involvement with conservation projects.
Fish Passage Barrier Inventory
Amount Granted: $2,600
Administered by: Huron Pines
The objective of this project is to identify and address a dam in our service area to target for a dam removal project. Dam removal and management is currently at the forefront of habitat protection and restoration trends. Huron Pines believes that before a time and financial resources are spent removing a dam, it should be identified as a priority in the watershed. The process set forth in this project will enable Huron Pines to accurately select dam removal projects based on a systematic inventory and assessment process of all dams in the given watershed.
Ground Water Protection & Conservation
Amount Granted: $2,000
Administered by: Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC) shares the commitment of the Paul H. Young Chapter in preserving Michigan’s most precious cold-water resources. The grant will enable MCWC to enhance its effectiveness in working to protect these resources from multiple new water mining proposals. MCWC’s environmental experts and legal team will review and monitor the reports from watersheds and trout streams where Nestle (and others) are known to be collecting data from test wells. MCWC’s environmental experts and legal team will also monitor and challenge commercial applications for permits to mine Michigan’s water. MCWC will continue to work to improve Michigan’s water withdrawal laws.
Hodges Creek – RSX Restoration
Amount Granted: $2,700
Administered by: Huron Pines
Hodges Creek is a small coldwater tributary to Tubbs Creek that eventually drains into the Upper Black River. The Hodges Creek - Black River Road Crossing is currently impeding fish passage and contributing large amounts of sediment to the river system. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources conducted a survey of this stream segment in 2007 and found naturally reproducing brook trout populations. The purpose of this project is to replace the existing culvert with a larger elliptical culvert that will eliminate any fish barriers and to stabilize the embankment and road bed to reduce the amount of sediment entering the stream.
Upper Manistee Watershed Maintenance Projects
Amount Granted: $3,500
Administered by: Upper Manistee River Association
Within the Upper Manistee River system there are many large projects underway or being developed. Many smaller projects such as stream bank erosion sites or the ability to utilize fallen trees for LWD can also have a significant collective impact on the cold-water resources of the Upper Manistee River. The AGP funds (together with that from other sources) the Committee, through the Kalkaska Conservation District, will (1) systematically manage (i.e., cut where necessary, move and tether in place) the increasing number of in-river treefalls as LWD to enhance trout habitat as well as facilitate navigation; and (2) upgrade the public access site a few river miles above the CCC Bridge.
Upper Manistee Northern White-cedar Reforestation Project
Amount Granted: $500
Administered by: Cedars for the Manistee – Howard Johnson
Project will involve planting cedar seedlings surrounded by protective enclosures along the banks of the Upper Manistee River in Deward. The project will be done in cooperation with the Michigan DNR and volunteer conservation groups.
Pere Marquette River – Habitat Improvement
Amount Granted: $2,000
Administered by: Conservation Resource Alliance
AGP funds will be used to support in-stream habitat enhancement work being performed in the main branch of the Pere Marquette River. The work will consist of the placement of natural woody debris, whole tree revetments and deflection logs.
Reeling & Healing
Amount Granted: $750
Administered by: Reeling & Healing – Dick & Judy Walle
Reeling & Healing promotes physical and mental healing and provides social support for breast cancer survivors while gathering in beautiful natural setting to learn fly fishing. The grant will be used to purchase supplies for use at this year’s retreats.
Reeling & Healing, Midwest
Amount Granted: $750
Administered by: Reeling & Healing – Cathy Sero
Breast cancer survivors head to Gates AuSable Lodge for a weekend to get away from treatment and learn about Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and connecting with nature, which is truly a "healing" experience. Reeling & Healing Midwest New Participant retreats offer introductory fly fishing skills to participants as well as an opportunity to build a support network beyond the hospital and their families and physicians.
Salmon in the Classroom
Amount Granted: $500
Administered by: PHY
This grant will provide ongoing support to the five schools actively involved with the PHY Salmon in the Classroom project. By studying salmon habitat, water quality, and the salmon themselves, students can learn about the interrelationships of species within their local watershed. In learning how to protect the salmon's environment, the students are ultimately learning how to protect their own environment.
Silver Creek Super Project – Ocqueoc Watershed
Amount Granted: $2,500
Administered by: Huron Pines
Eliminating barriers to fish passage and minimizing the sediment delivery from roadways to nearby surface water is vital to resource protection. Many projects occur annually throughout Great Lakes watersheds that focus on implementing these strategies. What makes this project innovative and ambitious is that the goal is to address all major obstacles to fish passage and treat all of the sources of sediment runoff and to focus all of those practices in the headwaters of the highest-quality tributary of the watershed. The concerted effort and intensity, the inclusive scope and the focused collaboration among partners, are what make this the Silver Creek Super Project.
Volunteer Projects in 11 Counties
Amount Granted: $1,700
Administered by: Huron Pines
The objective of this project is to identify, plan and execute a volunteer conservation project in each of the eleven counties in Huron Pines service area. The goal is to broaden the public awareness of volunteer opportunities throughout N.E. Michigan and to provide seed money to get the projects started.
Watershed Protection / Restoration Fund
Amount Granted: $1,150
Administered by: Huron Pines
This AGP grant will provide Huron Pines with the capability to immediately address small-scale watershed issues identified by concerned landowners or conservation groups. Having funding with flexibility to visit landowners, provide expertise, develop permits, and fundraise allows Huron Pines to create well-rounded projects incorporating the best resource protection strategies.
General Funding
The Board unanimously agreed to provide $1,000 to Trout Unlimited (National) and $2,000 to the Michigan Trout Unlimited, divided equally between the Executive Director’s Fund and the re-usable water bottle project. The Board renewed the $3,000 annual funding for the Lake & Stream Leadership Institute. The Board also provided $500 in general support to the Pere Marquette Watershed Council, $250 to support Michigan Trout Unlimited 50th Celebration on July 18th in Grayling and $500 for the Kalamazoo Chapter’s Youth Trout and Conservation School.