PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE RIVER OUTFITTERS
BRINGING BACK THE BOARDMAN:
When most people think of Northern Michigan, they only envision the Great Lakes, yet our region is overflowing with beautiful rivers, lakes, and streams, each with a charm of their own. Stretching over 160 miles, the incredible Boardman River is a source of life, energy, and recreation. The restoration of the river began over fifteen years ago, with an unheard of level of support from the community, Grand Traverse Band Tribal Council, government agencies, nonprofits and more. The Boardman River Dams Ecosystem Restoration Project is a product of a unique, all-stakeholder engagement and facilitation approach. Everyone’s input formed the decisions made and paved the way for a massive revitalization, making it one of the most comprehensive dam removal and restoration projects in Michigan’s history. The removal of three dams, and the modifications of a fourth, on the Boardman River represent a cohesive approach to reconnecting this high-quality stream to Lake Michigan. One hundred years of negative impacts from aging and deteriorating man-made infrastructure have been reversed, opening up the free-flowing, cold-water stream and restoring hundreds of acres of wetland and upland habitat. The hands of time have been turned back, by once again connecting the river with the waters of Grand Traverse Bay.
Written by Amanda Renkiewicz
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019 | BAYLIFE MAGAZINE
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CRA AND AECOM
A River Reborn
