At its May meeting, the PHY Board approved the following grant requests submitted to the Chapter. $39,000 was channeled to project initiatives whose objectives, sound management, and commitment to habitat issues were consistent with PHY’s selection criteria. Paul Young is proud that, through the efforts of its membership and friends, it can parlay the success of the annual banquet and fundraiser directly back to those groups which foster a stewardship of the resource. Thanks to all for your continued support!

Anglers of the Au Sable – Kolke Creek
Amount Granted: $ 1,000
Administered by:  Anglers of the Au Sable
Website Link: Anglers of the Au Sable
Rationale: Support the efforts of the Anglers in exploring alternative approaches to address the environmental issues associated with Merit Energy’s Hayes- 22 oil well.

Au Sable River In-Stream Habitat Improvement Project
Amount Granted:  $ 3,000
Administered by:  Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee
Rationale: Large Woody Debris (“LWD”) is widely considered an integral component of a healthy aquatic ecosystem in northern Michigan streams.  LWD provides habitat diversity, cover for fish, habitat for invertebrates, reptiles, and other components of the aquatic food chain, adds nutrients to the aquatic system, and protects stream banks during high flow events.  Current-day levels of LWD on the Au Sable River are much lower, primarily due to the following reasons:  (1) the historical, wholesale removal to facilitate the downstream transport of logs, (2) the cutting of the pre-settlement old growth riparian forest, (3) removal to facilitate the passage of recreation watercraft. Thus, it is felt that current fish habitat is less than optimal in the Au Sable River, primarily due to the lack of large woody debris.

Cedar River In-Stream Habitat Improvement Project
Amount Granted:  $ 2,000
Administered by:  Gladwin Conservation District
Rationale: Thirty-one counties and twenty-one “outlier areas” within Michigan have been quarantined by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) due to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB); according to MDA-over 20 million Ash trees have been killed by EAB. Many of these valuable Ash trees are simply being “chipped” rather than being sawn into cants (having all of their bark removed) and being taken to saw mills to be made into valuable hardwood products.  The Cedar River, within Clare and Gladwin Counties, a MDNR designated trout stream, has 140 identified erosion sites.  Many of these sites could be economically treated by installing LUNKER Structures that would improve aquatic habitat and reduce sedimentation of the stream.  By combining each of these two problems, a value added solution can be found: turning the Ash logs into lumber that in turn is used to build LUNKER Structures to improve aquatic habitat while reducing sedimentation to the Cedar River.

Cedar River Sediment Trap Maintenance
Amount Granted:  $ 4,000
Administered by: Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Website Link: Leon P. Martuch Chapter
Rationale: In May of 2004, Gladwin County received two separate 25 year flood events within a 72 hour period.  Five roads were completely washed out by these flooding events and several erosion events occurred.  This site was an un-improved access/watering point for livestock.  It had been in use since 1978 with no additional erosion, but was scheduled for exclusionary fencing and to have a well replace the river as the watering source in 2005 through the Cedar River Restoration Project.  In May 2004, the site became a HUGE gulley that would require over 1,300 cubic yards of compacted clay to fill.  The 1,300 cubic yards that had eroded from this gulley; ended up choking an area of the North Branch of the Cedar River and has nearly filled a local swimming and fishing hole known as “the swimming hole.”  Since the source of the sediment is known and documented as well as repaired, the problem of sediment loading has been solved, however, without removing the sediment at this location, the sediment will simply continue to slowly migrate downstream.  This will ultimately cover up nearly all of the gravel bottom areas on the North Branch of the Cedar River, thereby reducing the spawning ability of the trout population.

Clinton River Coldwater Conservation Project
Amount Granted:  $ 500
Administered by: Clinton River Watershed Council
Website Link: Clinton River Watershed Council
Rationale: Watershed Benefactor contribution.

Connor Creek Survey
Amount Granted:  $ 500
Administered by:  Fred Waara Chapter Trout Unlimited
Rationale: Connors Creek is a tributary of the Dead River whose entire watershed was devastated by a flood caused by a dam failure in 2003.  Connors Creek is a high quality groundwater and low gradient stream with excellent potential as a brook trout nursery, but the habitat has been severely degraded in the lower 2 miles by the 2003 flood and in the upstream reaches by sedimentation from road crossings, beaver dams, and logging.  The stream also has several areas severely choked by snow-damaged tag alders which has resulted in redirection of water flow into the center of the stream channel and damage to  the banks.  The information collected in this survey will be used to apply for grants to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and other organizations for fisheries habitat improvement projects in 2007 and beyond.

Crapo Creek, Lovells Road RCX Improvement
Amount Granted:  $ 2,500
Administered by: Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee
Rationale: Replace current bridge over Crapo Creek with a bottomless culvert to improve fish passage and decrease sedimentation.  Harden both approaches and add four runoff turnouts to eliminate sediment from entering Crapo Creek.

Grayling Storm Water Management Project
Amount Granted:  $ 5,000
Administered by:  Huron Pines RC&D - Grayling Storm Water Management Committee
Website Link: Huron Pines RC&D
Rationale:  Minimize the impact of the surface runoff received by the Upper AuSable River from the rapidly urbanization of the Grayling sub-watershed.  If the remediation steps recommended in the completed engineering study are fully implemented, up to 85% of the storm water flows currently entering the AuSable River during a “flushing rain event” would be directed away from the river and/or subjected to treatment.

Hersey River Dam Removal Project
Amount Granted:  $ 3,500
Administered by: Pine River Area Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Rationale: The Hersey River is a primary tributary to the Muskegon River (2nd longest river in Michigan) & is a high quality coldwater stream.  The Hersey Dam is located 0.7 miles from the Hersey River mouth to the Muskegon River.  The Hersey River Dam blocks fish from proceeding further upstream.  The Hersey Dam is degrading water quality (thermal pollution) & preventing free migration of aquatic organisms between the Hersey & Muskegon Rivers.  The rational for the removal of the Hersey Dam is that this project will reconnect the Hersey River & Muskegon River and allow trout a thermal refuge from the Muskegon River mainstream during warm summer months.

Johnson Creek Celebration Project
Amount Granted:  $ 500
Administered by:  Johnson Creek Protection Group
Website Link: Johnson Creek Protection Group
Rationale:  The Johnson Creek Protection Group was formed to preserve, protect, restore and enhance the water quality, habitat and function of this cold-water stream and its watershed.  The Johnson Creek Protection Group is a venue in which residents, businesses and local officials can work together to identify actions in which the community can partake to preserve and restore water quality, as well as educate the public regarding their role in this on-going endeavor. Monies are Granted to purchase trout in support of the Johnson Creek Celebration Event.

McIntosh Creek, Webber Road RCX Improvement
Amount Granted:  $ 3,000
Administered by: Headwaters Chapter Trout Unlimited
Website Link: Headwaters Chapter
Rationale: The McIntosh Creek crossing along Webber (Montgomery) Road in Cheboygan County, Michigan causes erosion and sedimentation in the Pigeon River.  The crossing consists of a consistently failing and undersized culvert.  The creek overtops the road, and sand and gravel are washed into the stream.  Washouts contribute to stream erosion and downstream sedimentation.  About 0.3 tons of sediment enters the Pigeon River on an annual basis from this crossing.  The crossing is associated with backcountry roads, which can deposit large amounts of sand and gravel into streams during storm events.  Ultimately, the fish are impacted as a result of poor habitat, and so, too, is the water that eventually flows into Lake Huron.  The current road crossing at McIntosh Creek, tributary to the Pigeon River in Cheboygan County, will be replaced with tanker car or squashed tube in order to reduce stream erosion and improve fish access and habitat to McIntosh Creek.  Bio-engineering techniques will be used to stabilize the tie-ins of the structure.

Reeling & Healing Inc.
Amount Granted:  $ 750
Administered by: Reeling & Healing Inc. – Dick Walle
Website: Reeling & Healing Inc.
Rationale:  Breast Cancer survivors head to Schmidt Outfitters 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.

Recent Newspaper Article in the Toledo Blade
"Fly-fishing group eases worries of recovering breast cancer patients" By Steve Pollick read more...

Salmon in the Classroom
Amount Granted:  $ 1,000
Administered by: PHY – Ron Peckens
Rationale: Provide students an opportunity for hands-on environmental education.  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.

Upper Manistee River Sediment Trap Maintenance
Amount Granted:  $ 3,500
Administered by: Huron Pines RC&D
Website Link: Huron Pines RC&D
Rationale: This project will provide the necessary maintenance of 2 out of 5 sediment basins within the upper Manistee River.  Sediment basins keep spawning beds clear of excess sand and particulate materials.  Successful rearing of future trout populations is encouraged by keeping the river clear of excess sediment.  Sediment basins also help keep the river system in a natural state without excess sediment and maintaining optimum trout habitat.

Upper Manistee Watershed Maintenance Projects
Amount Granted:  $ 3,750
Administered by: Upper Manistee River Restoration Committee
Rationale: With the funding Granted, the Committee will restore to grade superstructure (traffic-control post-and-rail fencing) at five major angler accesses as follows: 3-Mile Bend - $1,500; Yellow Trees landing - $500; M-72 - $850; CR-612 - $500 (complete unfinished sections); and Old Deward - $650.  This structure, much of it nearing the end of its 15-year life expectancy, is vital in protecting river streambank at these high-impact access points from abuse and erosion.  With most material gratefully provided by the DNR, it will be addressed by the Kalkaska CD (labor/equipment/travel) during the 2006 work season in the order indicated.

Upper Black River Woody Debris Enhancement Project
Amount Granted:  $ 2,500
Administered by:  Montmorency Conservation District
Rationale: The Upper Black River has a lack of holding cover for its native Brook trout.  Past and present beaver activity combined with past logging practices has left many areas of the watershed without adequate holding cover.  This project will utilize naturally fallen trees in the area and arrange them in the river to be most beneficial for aquatic organisms and the native trout.

Trout Unlimited
Amount Granted:  $ 1,000 – Coldwater Conservation Fund

Michigan Council- Trout Unlimited
Amount Granted:  $ 500 – The Challenge
Amount Granted:  $ 500 – Executive Director Fund