8 minute read
Bringing Back the Boardman: A River Reborn
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.
An estimated .8 miles of river and adjacent floodplain being restored at the former Sabin Pond, where Sabin Dam had been built and rebuilt several times between 1906 and 1930.
“There’s significant value in looking at a river as a product of its own merit,” says Frank Dituri, the Director of Public Services for the City of Traverse City. “We like to think, ‘Ask not what your river can do for you; ask what you can do for your river!’” With this mindset, a plan was born to address the many changes that the river needed to both survive and thrive.
The Boardman River prior to dam removal
The Boardman River under construction after dam removal
“It’s important to recognize that so many milestones have been hit: we’ve removed many of the dams, and there are 162 miles of river open and flowing,” explains Brett Fessell, a River Restoration Ecologist for the Natural Resources Department for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. “When we’re asked why the Tribal Council became involved, the same answer echoes: because it’s the right thing to do.”
Fabric encapsulated soil (FES) lifts and rootwads comprise the newly created streambanks where the Sabin powerhouse once set. FES lifts have topsoil and seed wrapped in coconut fiber that will soon revegetate. November 2018
A river of this quality is a globally rare resource and a priceless community asset. It is constantly changing and evolving, while providing continuous life for innumerable species and inter-related ecological systems. The reach of the river is immense and awing. There are a total of 287-square miles in the watershed, delivering one-third of the water volume of Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, and draining 183,680 acres of land.
Tree stumps are evidence of the forest that once was before the dams were built.
Large wood structures were built into some of the streambanks for stability and instream habitat.
Large wood structures are recessed into this streambank that will become an outside bend; log piles are driven deep into the stream bottom and other logs are attached to them.
A system of 14 gravity-fed siphons, each 300’ long, drained most of The Boardman impoundment and lowered it 21’.
The outdoor opportunities provided by the Boardman River are endless. Kayaking, paddling, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, camping, and photography are all enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. An estimated two million user days are logged on the river annually for recreation purposes. Many of these visitors come to the river to fish, since the river is one of the top ten trout streams in Michigan. For those less inclined to cast a line, fantastic pub paddle adventures on the river offer local beers and a memorable experience.
One popular touring company is The River Outfitters, which offers kayaking, rentals, trips, interpretive tours, and more. The business has catered to tourists and locals for almost a decade, and has a corporate ethic of sustainable, recreational opportunities. “The Boardman River water quality is so amazing that it’s considered a Blue River Stream, which speaks to its high level of biodiversity,” says Tawny Hammond, who is a co-owner and manager. “There are otters, mink, white egrets, trout, and the list goes on. The famous writer Ernest Hemingway even fished in its waters. We refuse to compromise the river, and we make sure that our guests treat it with respect. Our goal is to turn people into ambassadors and supporters of our beloved natural resource.” The touring opportunities let people escape their plugged-in lifestyle and experience a Traverse City far different than cherries, wine, and beer. Tawny declares, “We offer an opportunity to get in touch with nature, and we are in the business of creating joy and happiness through that!”
Touring Companies: Kayak, Bike and Brew kayakbikebrew.com, Paddle for Pints paddleforpints.com, Paddle TC paddletc.com, The River Outfitters therivertc.com
The Implementation Team has overseen the project since 2005, and includes the following partners: Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service City of Traverse City Grand Traverse County Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Michigan Department of Natural Resources Traverse City Light & Power
The Implementation Team Ex-Officio members & partners include: Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) Grand Traverse Conservation District Grand Traverse County Road Commission US Army Corps of Engineers Watershed Center – Grand Traverse Bay Traverse City Rotary Charities Garfield Township
A dedicated, patient and strong network of partners stacked hands to make the Boardman Dams removal effort a reality.
Recent Grants
A number of funding sources have supported the removal of the last two (Boardman and Sabin) dams as part of the Boardman Dams effort, including, but not limited to:
• US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) grants from Great Lakes Fishery Ecosystem Restoration and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)
• Grand Traverse Band (GTB) of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians grants from Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the Great Lakes Fishery Trust and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Tribal Wildlife Grants.
• Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) grants from USFWS Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Restoration Act and Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Program, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Dam Management Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Sustain Our Great Lakes Program, Brookby Foundation, Frey Foundation and Rotary Charities of Traverse City.
• The Watershed Center (TWC) also had grants from EPA Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) and DEQ for Brown Bridge Dam removal
• Grand Traverse Conservation District (GTCD) has received grants for related work
Fun Adventures: Enjoy the beauty of the Boardman with paddling, fishing, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, hunting, camping, and photography. Tracts of state land along with the Brown Bridge Quiet Area and Grand Traverse County Nature Education Reserve offer upland opportunities for public access along the river.
Surrounding trails continue to be reinvigorated. The Boardman Lake Trail Loop Project received $600,000 in funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grants (MNRTF) in 2018, approved by Michigan legislators. Half of that funding went towards developing trails, and the other half went towards the Medalie Park along the trail. MNRTF grants come from revenues generated from oil and natural gas funds, and since 1976, have provided over $1.1 billion in funding to all of Michigan’s 83 counties. The Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails Inc. also offers many events, volunteer opportunities, and programs through their system of area paths. Since 2002, 3.5 miles of trail have been completed, with 1.8 miles remaining, with nearly completed engineering. The project itself is a great advancement for recreation in Traverse City, where in the past, many visitors have not been able to explore the complete Boardman Lake like they will soon.
Those involved remain diligent about the continued preservation of the river and the land surrounding it. As stewards of the natural resource, a high level of care must be maintained to ensure the river’s health. “We perceive the natural world as family,” Fessell describes. “More and more there seems to be a paradigm shift to treat the natural world, like the river, as lovingly as you would treat a member of your own family. If your grandmother was sick, you’d drop everything to be there and get her better, and that’s what we’ve done for the Boardman.”
