Michigan plans to remove century-old dam, restore 14 acres of wetlands
The historic removal of a dam in Michigan, over a century old, is set to rejuvenate the region's natural ecosystems. This collaborative project will facilitate the movement of aquatic life by clearing upstream habitats while addressing the environmental threats posed by polluted sediments. Restoration efforts will focus on enhancing wetlands and safeguarding vital cold water habitats downstream,…
A century-old dam in Michigan will be dismantled to restore natural ecosystems. The Sanback Dam on Beechwood Creek in Rose City, built in 1920, is no longer functional and poses a threat to both people and wildlife. This outdated structure obstructs fish migration and alters the water temperature, endangering cold water habitats crucial for the Saginaw Bay watershed.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Coastal Program is collaborating with partners to remove the dam, which will reopen a half-mile upstream habitat that has been inaccessible for over a century. Beechwood Creek hosts various native and naturalized fish species, including trout, sculpin, dace, chub, stickleback, minnow, and sucker.
A dam failure could release contaminated sediment, harming fish, burying habitats, and affecting a popular trout fishing location before reaching Saginaw Bay's valuable coastal wetlands. Rose City, alongside partners, has secured funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, Mershon-Neumann Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Walters Family Foundation to carry out this project.
The plan involves removing the dam, managing contaminated sediments, restoring wetlands with native plants, and reconnecting 0.5 miles of cold water stream to enhance wildlife habitats and safeguard 14 acres of wetlands and over 70 miles of downstream cold water habitat.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
