www.michigantu.org
“Bigelow Creek is an amazing coldwater fisheries resource. In addition to hosting migratory populations of steelhead, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon, it hosts resident brown and brook trout. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division data shows that Bigelow Creek has one of Michigan’s best wild brown trout populations. All salmonids in Bigelow Creek are naturally reproduced,” said Mark Tonello, Fisheries Biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Bigelow Creek has remained a top stream in large part due to the surrounding intact forested landscape. Trout and other coldwater species depend on shade, filtration, instream wood, and nutrient inputs that healthy riparian forests provide. Despite the lack of intensive human development on the landscape, Bigelow has been impacted by problematic road stream crossings. Failing road crossings can impact water quality and aquatic communities and lead to excessive erosion, increased sedimentation, and increased water velocities. Perched culverts or culverts with diameters less than the stream’s width can be barriers to fish and other aquatic organisms’ movement. Road crossings can alter essential stream processes and ultimately impact river ecosystem health. Since 2016, Trout Unlimited, in partnership with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, USDA Forest Service – Huron Manistee National Forest, MDNR, and Newaygo County Road Commission, has been working in the Bigelow Creek watershed to address stream crossings. A watershed-wide inventory of crossings was completed, followed by prioritization for replacement. TU has been working with partners over the last three years to improve fish passage and stream health through stream crossing replacements. To date, TU and partners have replaced five crossings reconnecting over 20 miles of coldwater habitat in Bigelow. The project team plans for an additional replacement in 2021 and one or two more in 2022-2023,
resulting in complete connectivity. Derek Wawscyk, the Newaygo County Road Commission manager, said, “Our goal is to minimize any negative effects on natural habitat while maintaining our network of county roads. Projects such as these have allowed us the opportunity to do just that. These collaborative efforts we enjoy with our partners are key to not only ensuring wildlife sees minimal negative impact from our daily activities, it allows for great efficiencies in project budgets which is something we all are proud to be a part of, and hope continues for the foreseeable future.” The Bigelow Creek Project Team includes TU, USDA Forest Service—Huron Manistee National Forest, Newaygo County Road Commission, MDNR, Michigan Department of Environment and Great Lakes, Muskegon Conservation District, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, and local communities. Project funding is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Newaygo County Road Commission, TU, and USDA Forest Service. To stay up to date on TU’s Great Lakes Program, follow us at facebook.com/GreatLakesTU and instagram. com/troutunlimitedgreatlakes.
Bigelow Creek and Walnut Avenue before picture.
Summer 2021
Bigelow Creek is a high-quality, coldwater tributary to the Muskegon River located in Newaygo County. Bigelow is classified as a top-quality trout stream and provides a thermal refuge for the marginal Muskegon River.
11
by Jeremy Geist,TU Great Lakes Stream Restoration Manager
MICHIGAN Trout
Managing Bigelow Creek Road Crossings
