Michigan TU Chapter Updates

Compiled by Joe Barker

Ann Arbor Chapter

AATU held its first post-Covid fundraiser banquet since 2019 in April and has reinstated classes with local schools on fly tying, casting, and conservation. They held its first in-person group outing in May, a visit to fish Paint Creek, a trout venue fairly close to Ann Arbor but generally unexplored by its members. Paint Creek was primarily created and developed as a trout stream by the Vanguard Chapter and further improved by the Clinton Valley Chapter.

AATU did something similar with its local Mill Creek (shown in the photo above) through cooperation with the DNR, thanks to dam removal, ongoing temperature monitoring, and brown trout stocking financed by the chapter and now by the DNR on an ongoing basis. They have already organized a woody debris management team, installed water-wash stations, done bank planting, and worked with local landowners to improve angler access.

The chapter is planning more ambitious efforts to improve Mill Creek as a trout fishery via significant habitat improvements. To guide their planning efforts, AATU is benchmarking the work that the Vanguard Chapter did in Paint Creek to share ideas and best practices. Chapter President John Zolan stated, “It is important that TU chapters work together, and we are very encouraged by the willingness of key contributors to similar efforts at the Vanguard Chapter on Paint Creek to help us in our planning process for improving Mill Creek trout habitat. This epitomizes how Michigan TU is supposed to work!”

Leon P. Martuch Chapter

The Leon P. Martuch Chapter had another successful year of providing support for a number of local Salmon in the Classroom programs. This program is a great opportunity for kids to learn about the life cycle of fish species. It can also be a bittersweet lesson in how pivotal environmental conditions are to healthy fish populations.

In 2016, LPMTU was gifted a plot of land along the Cedar River. Due to TU’s land ownership policy, the chapter chose to, in turn, hand over ownership of the land to a local group, Little Forks Conservancy. The chapter maintains a riparian easement on the property, effectively giving LPMTU control of the river and LFC control of the surrounding land. So far, it has proven to be a great model. The chapter can rely on the expertise and workforce of LFC to steward the land and use their own skills to improve the river. LFC hosted a dedicated ribboncutting event in 2021 to officially open the preserve and recognize George and Sue Lane’s incredible gift.

The Cedar River is the primary conservation focus of LPMTU. Beyond the two properties on which they hold easements, they also monitor some of the public river portions. In May 2021, the chapter placed or replaced several temperature loggers along the river. They will collect the data and transfer it to the DNR as needed.

Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter

In the early 1970s, the George Mason Chapter (now known as Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter) created an informal agreement with the city of Grayling to manage the East Branch of the Au Sable River below the fish hatchery as a kids-only fishing area. Signage for this informal designation was placed at the end of Connie Drive by TU, but no other action was taken to promote this family-friendly angling opportunity. The chapter has done insect surveys in this area for years and identified the tremendous potential to provide a quality angling experience for the community and visitors who wish to fish for trout in a non-technical environment. The township and county have also identified the potential for Grayling to develop a nature trail system for the community, visitors, and students in this area.

MGFTU is stepping up to rehabilitate this 1.25 miles of the East Branch. Permits were received in late August 2021 and a Fisheries Habitat Grant in May 2022. River habitat work will begin this summer to construct 27 sites, including four fishing platforms. This section of the Au Sable behind the hospital, elementary school, and library will have easy parking and access within walking distance from the center of Grayling, providing enhanced opportunities for family recreational activities. This project also complements a current MITU project to restore

connectivity of the upper East Branch via a bypass of the dam at the fish hatchery.

Schrems West Michigan

The Schrems Chapter is coming off a very successful banquet fundraiser and putting the funds raised to good use this summer. They currently have conservation efforts in the Rogue, Coldwater, White, Muskegon, Prairie Creek, and Buck Creek watersheds. The scope of these projects ranges from volunteer stream clean-ups, tree plantings, temperature, mayfly monitoring, debris removal, and bank stabilization. Unfortunately, the spring clean-up on the White River was canceled due to high water and unsafe conditions. Schrems is looking forward to the fall clean-up in September for the White River, followed by a member event in Whitehall. More details to come as they finalize these plans. Watershed planning efforts continue on the Coldwater, White, and Muskegon Rivers for large-scale projects partnering with many organizations from the state and local levels.

The chapter held a “State of the Trout” event at Creston Brewing, hosting MITU Executive Director Bryan Burroughs and DNR Director Dan Eichinger. This well-attended event allowed members to discuss important issues in a relaxed, informal setting. Both guest speakers gave excellent presentations and were available for Q&A afterward.

The annual Cast and Blast event is coming up on July 13. This event is held by Schrems and The Ruffed Grouse Society at Kent County Conservation Club. This fun-filled event brings both groups together to raise funds for the chapter’s youth education efforts and is always a great time. The Women on the Water weekend event is held at Pere Marquette River Lodge from July 8 through 10th.

Pere Marquette Chapter

The Pere Marquette Chapter has had a busy 2022 thus far. “The Cove” project began June 14 after many months of planning, permitting, and approvals. Located just upstream from the fourth clay bank in the popular flies-only section of the Pere Marquette River, the project is a bank stabilization, fish enhancement, and restoration project. Work should be completed within a week. The

Work on the Pere Marquette River. chapter will be giving back to the local community with their “Adopt-a-Road” clean-up efforts in the next month. PMTU has adopted all roads leading to the popular Green Cottage landing on the Pere Marquette. The Trout Opener was a great day on the river and for PMTU. The chapter’s annual Stealthcraft/Ruimveld boat raffle sold out 250 tickets in less than an hour, beating everyone’s high expectations. They anticipate another raffle next year. In another fundraising activity, the chapter will host a fall banquet in late September or early October this year, marking the first large get-together since Covid. The chapter’s board of directors has expanded with some great new action-oriented members bringing new ideas and perspectives to the chapter. The new board had a half-day planning session in early June to agree on three main goals for the upcoming year: working on three river projects, increasing membership, and continuing successful fundraising. Tactical plans are in the works for each goal.