Michigan TU Chapter Updates

by Joe Barker

Vanguard Chapter

It has been an active six months for the Vanguard Chapter despite challenges presented by the lingering pandemic. In late summer, the Chapter completed phase II of its instream habitat improvement project on Paint Creek within the Clinton River watershed and, in the process, fulfilled the requirements of the Embrace-A-Stream grant that was secured for this multi-year project. Included in this effort were electro-shocking fish surveys with Michigan TU’s Aquatic Biologist Kristin Thomas. The Chapter also installed a stairway on Paint Creek at an access point experiencing significant bank erosion due to the heavy foot traffic on the prior pathway leading to the creek (shown in the photo above).

Looking ahead into calendar year 2022, the Chapter has several conservation efforts planned, including planting native vegetation at the aforementioned angler access site, maintenance work on instream structures installed in Paint Creek in prior years, and the continuation of sediment monitoring on the creek. They are also looking forward to participating in the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in March and the annual fishing weekend on the Au Sable River in June.

Copper Country Chapter

The Copper Country Chapter continues to support coaster brook trout research at Michigan Tech University. In collaboration with USFWS and Michigan DNR, 23 large brook trout were implanted with acoustic tags to track their migrations in Lake Superior and tributaries around the Keweenaw Peninsula. This information is critical to understanding coaster habitat use and identifying potential restoration strategies. CCCTU will be offering a competitive research fellowship to an Upper Peninsula college student studying fisheries or coldwater habitats.

In 2021, CCCTU purchased and deployed temperature loggers in six different streams. These will be redeployed along with some additional loggers in 2022 to establish a long-term stream temperature dataset for important trout streams in the western Upper Peninsula.

CCCTU also hosted a beginner fly tying class and turned out an impressive variety of woolly buggers. Additional fly tying and fly fishing workshops are planned for the coming year.

Clinton Valley Chapter

October thru December 2021 found the Clinton Valley Chapter working on various items. In October, the Chapter worked on a joint effort with the Michigan Fly Girls on a woman’s “Introduction to Fly Fishing” event. The event was sponsored by the Michigan Fly Girls with CVTU members as additional support to the instructors. The event taught the participants about fly rods and reels, leaders, tippets, casting, and safe wading practices.

To close out 2021, CVTU, along with the participation of the Paul H Young, Challenge, and Vanguard chapters, joined together for a holiday social. This is their season-closing event in which they work to raise funds for a particular event. That event was a raffle to support The Michigan Grayling Initiative, managed by Nicole Watson. The chapters were honored to have Nicole at the social to describe her work and answer all their questions.

Starting 2022, Chapter members braved the elements and worked with the Clinton River Watershed Council on a stonefly search. The activity, as always, was a great success. The Chapter will sell tickets for its 2nd Annual March Madness Raffle starting in February. This will consist of 1000 tickets for 31 days of great prizes. Check the CVTU Facebook page and website for further information. In March, the Chapter will have the drawing for its grayling raffle and set up at the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo on March 12th and 13th.

Going into spring, CVTU will start with its river cleanups, classes with the Boy and Girl Scouts, and get out in the rivers for fly fishing.

Fred Waara Chapter

Last fall, the Fred Waara Chapter worked with the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and Partners for Watershed Restoration to complete the Lost Creek tree planting project that was started in 2020. A combined team of more than 42 volunteers planted 1,240 native trees, including white pine, white cedar, and hemlock.

Farther south, FWCTU completed another temperature monitoring season in both the Paint River and Iron River watersheds. Data from the arsenal of 39 temperature loggers are being evaluated as decisions are being made about plans for future temperature monitoring. In addition, the Chapter completed its fifth year of brush bundle work on Cooks Run. They are currently working with the DNR and Forest Service to determine whether future brush bundle

work is needed.

Looking forward, the Chapter is working on a grant to construct several creek-crossing bridges and a long boardwalk to help protect coldwater resources in the Dead River Community Forest, which the Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy is developing. This project will result in a 309-acre community forest, including roughly three miles of Dead River access.

Last fall, FWCTU and Two Hearted Chapters combined forces to address coldwater conservation across the eastern two-thirds of the Upper Peninsula. For the first combined project, plans are underway to evaluate the condition of and make necessary repairs to a set of fishing access steps that the Two Hearted Chapter had built on its namesake river. The project may also include some riparian tree planting to help facilitate recovery from the Duck Lake fire.

Charles Fellows Chapter

This year the Charles Fellows Chapter is again sponsoring five Salmon in the Classroom tanks in three local school districts, including one each in Romeo and Grand Blanc and three in Lapeer. The Chapter is looking forward to participating in the release and sponsorship with each classroom. Their goal each year is to expand support to alleviate the entire cost of the tank and all expendable supplies needed for the season.

The Chapter will once again be hosting their bi-annual Future Anglers of Michigan (FAM) two-day mini-camp in late spring. The focus is on family, fishing, and conservation. Attendees will learn fly and jig tying and fly casting and fishing, and participate in a river bug study. A portion of day one will be dedicated to a local river cleanup, while day two features a drift boat trip where both kids and adults will put their new fishing skills to the test.

After taking a year off, the Fellows Chapter will be bringing back a fundraising banquet at the Redwood Lodge on March 11th. The evening will include beer tasting paired with a five-course meal.

The Chapter has also worked closely with Reeling and Healing Midwest (www.fishon.org), providing volunteers and financial sponsorship. Over the past several years, the Chapter has made this an annual commitment that they plan to continue for years to come.

Pine River Chapter

The Pine River Area Chapter was happy to see the finalization of two bank stabilization and fish cover spots in September 2021, located on the Pine River mainstream below the Silver Creek campground. The Conservation Resource Alliance headed the project doing site plan mapping and design and permit applications. Funding for the project was made possible through multiple parties: MDNR, USWLS, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, FFF, Scientific Anglers, Pine River Association, Michigan Fly Fishing Club, Multiple TU Chapters (Kalamazoo, Challenge,

Fred Waara TU volunteers hauling trees 14 miles through the woods to Lost Creek. Pine River Area), and including many other parties totaling $123,450.00. Future bank restoration projects are being explored. PRATU partnered with Wexford-Missaukee Technical Center Agriscience and Natural Resource program students with a hands-on planting of seedlings for shading on Cole Creek, a small tributary of the Manistee River, where a county road crossing was closed due to the removal of a culvert. Additional plantings with the students are in the works for 2022. The Chapter polled chapter members and past banquet participants on the possibility of a 2022 Banquet. Its board has decided not to have its annual conservation banquet in May again this year due to COVID concerns and the responses to the questionnaire. PRATU will sadly miss board members Ron Hamilton and Denny Douglas, who passed away in 2021. Both served on the board for many years. A student scholarship is being planned in their memory.

Adams Chapter

2021 witnessed the Adams Chapter soldier on, despite the circumstances, in the name of conservation and community engagement. The year began with the Chapter, led by past President Cory Golden and current President Liz McKellar, leading a pack of scouts from Traverse City Scout Troop #35 in fly fishing instruction, leading towards a “Fly Fishing” merit badge. In partnership with the Grand Traverse Conservation District, the Chapter also participated in spring and fall work bees at the Brown Bridge Quiet Area and Jack’s Landing on the Boardman/Ottaway River. All told, more than 25 TU volunteers participated in these efforts, which shored up approximately 50 feet of riverbank with coir logs and ...continued on page 23