Conservation nonprofit Huron Pines will replace undersized culverts at three road/stream crossings of Beavertail Creek beginning Aug. 1, restoring fish habitat and improving road safety while enhancing the water quality of Lake Huron. A temporary road closure will be in place during construction and access to the creek will be affected.

Beavertail Creek flows through forest land at the eastern border of Chippewa and Mackinac Counties and empties into Lake Huron six miles east of Cedarville at Scotty Bay. It is crossed twice by South Prentiss Bay Road and once by a state forest road. South Prentiss Bay Road will be closed between M-134 and Clara’s Gulch, approximately 1.5 miles to the north, from Aug. 1 to Oct. 1 to accommodate construction. The state forest road will also be closed during this time.

Existing pipe culverts at these crossings are too small for Beavertail Creek to pass naturally through, causing the roadway to flood during spring thaws and heavy rains. Floodwaters send harmful sediment into the river ecosystem and present a significant risk of road failure. Fast-flowing water on the downstream end of these bottlenecks keep native brook trout and other species from accessing vital spawning habitat. Installing new, larger crossing structures will restore the natural river flow, grant fish unobstructed access to 17 miles of upstream habitat and resolve ongoing road safety and maintenance issues for the Chippewa County Road Commission.

In its 50-year history, Huron Pines has removed 7 dams and led 150 road/stream crossing restoration projects across the northern Lower Peninsula. These projects have reconnected hundreds of river miles for fish while benefiting water quality, enhancing recreation opportunities and greatly improving road infrastructure and safety. Such projects bring grant funds into local communities and support jobs in construction, conservation, outdoor recreation and tourism.

Restoration benefits entire river system

Amy Nowakowski is Coastal Project Manager overseeing the organization’s first river restoration initiative in the Upper Peninsula as part of its continued focus on the Lake Huron watershed. In her role, Nowakowski brings together funding and support from federal, state and local partners, ensuring the priorities of all stakeholders are addressed.

“Restoring Beavertail Creek directly benefits the river ecosystem and the surrounding community, and it promotes our broader effort to ensure well-connected rivers across the northern Lake Huron basin,” Nowakowski said. “We’re working closely with our partners in the Eastern U.P. to understand their needs and combining their local knowledge with our experience in river restoration for what we believe will be a successful first project.”

Stephanie Boileau is County Highway Engineer for the Chippewa County Road Commission. She said South Prentiss Bay Road needs repairs each time spring thaws and heavy rains swell the creek, washing away gravel and resulting in lost time and materials for the road commission.

“Those crossings have always been on the road commission’s naughty list, where we need to check on them when we have a big rain event, coordinate with landowners and do the needed repairs,” Boileau said. “Our priority is to restore safe access for people but we understand it’s not good for the river when damage happens, so we’re very interested in correcting these issues. Replacing the structures is the right thing to do for the river and road safety. It’s all wins.”

Josh Brinks is the Sault Ste. Marie Unit Manager for the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Forest Resources Division. He said restoring the northernmost crossing will ensure safe recreational access to state forest lands well into the future. The area is popular with deer and bird hunters, and the road serves as a snowmobile trail in the winter.

Avoid area until work is complete

“The DNR greatly appreciates the work that our partners are doing to replace the crossing on the state forest road,” Brinks said. “Without those partners, this project likely would not get done.”

For safety reasons, river users are asked to avoid construction areas until the project is completed.

Total project cost is approximately $644,000. Funding comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the National Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sustain Our Great Lakes Program, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Walters Family Foundation and in-kind equipment and labor from the Chippewa County Road Commission.

Huron Pines is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1973 to conserve and enhance Northern Michigan’s natural resources to ensure healthy water, protected places and vibrant communities. With offices in Gaylord and Alpena, Huron Pines strives to improve economic, environmental, educational and recreational opportunities throughout Northern Michigan.