This year has been a busy one for the board members of the LMWCC, and we have made significant progress on a number of objectives this year. We have Grand Valley State University conducting a survey of watershed landowners to try to determine the level of support for bringing the Little Manistee River into the Natural Rivers Program. Please see the separate article in this newsletter for details on the survey and its status.
We are moving forward again on our bank remediation projects. Wayne Andersen has made great progress in understanding and working with the federal Wild and Scenic River Section 7 requirements for federal review and permitting of our bank remediation projects. He has been working with Conservation Resource Alliance who is doing the permit application and project design and implementation for us. Wayne has had several meetings with the federal staff to understand the process and get these new projects off the ground. We have had several LMWCC members come to us requesting help with bank erosion problems, and we have prioritized them to get them completed as soon as possible. Please see Wayne’s article in this newsletter detailing the specific projects. Wayne has also been working with Trout Unlimited on potential large scale Fish Cover projects on the Little Manistee River. We have floated sections of the river with them to identify needs and locations and are optimistic we will be able to work on joint projects with Trout Unlimited in the near future.
We are continuing to work closely with the Conservation Districts for our macroinvertebrate studies and Invasive species work as well as building relationships with other watershed groups so we can increase our impact on regional matters by presenting a unified front with them. Please see the article by Joyce Durdel in this newsletter about the studies we have done. Next year the Mason/Lake Conservation will do an invasive species survey with us above M37. Landowners will be notified of invasive species’ presence on their property and made aware of options available to remove the invasives.
We no longer have interns at the Conservation Districts as we have the past two years. We found them tremendously beneficial. The Conservation Districts found the management of interns too time consuming and are looking at doing that work with permanent personnel financed from other sources. While the new people are hired and get up to speed, we have a gap in support that puts more burden on our volunteers. We have opted to skip this year’s Water Quality Study to work on other things. We are looking at other ways we can team up with the conservation districts to move our interests forward.
We are seeing more construction activity along the river than in the past. We get calls or email from people in the area pointing out what is going on. Often, we cannot see any obvious permits for the work. New docks are going in, land is being cleared, one individual has constructed their own island in the river. We have been reporting this activity to the MDNR and NFS and are trying to make people aware of the limited rules the DNR and NFS have in place to protect the river. If you are contemplating doing work along the Little Manistee River, please contact EGLE and NFS BEFORE you do any work. This is especially important for ANY work that is on or near the river’s edge, in the 100-year flood zone (up to 6 feet above the normal river level), in a wetland of any kind and for any type of structure.
I understand how busy everyone is with jobs, kids, grandkids and their everyday lives. But putting in time supporting LMWCC can be a rewarding experience and we can really use the help. So please consider taking part in the water quality or macroinvertebrate studies with us or volunteer in any way you can and are interested in. I have learned a lot working with the board and made a lot of valued friends along the way. I am excited that we have two new board members that joined us at the annual meeting. Amanda Lick is helping us with our web site updates and Tod Nyson is going to help with the macroinvertebrate and Water Quality Studies. Both of these areas are important but time-consuming work, and we really appreciate the additional people taking part.
Alicia Symanski worked jointly with the Manistee Conservation District and the Little Manistee River Watershed Conservation Council on projects that meet the conservation goals of each organization. These activities included assisting with monitoring of area waterways, assembling a homeowner’s guide to river care, and providing support at public events related to invasive species, shoreline protection, and the MI Natural Rivers Program.
The Annual Little Manistee River Watershed Summit will be held February 18, 2022 from 1 to 4 PM at the Elk Township Hall at 8966 N. Bass Lake Road in Irons, Michigan. This is an annual event (with exceptions for pandemics) that supports our work to implement the approved 2020 Watershed Management Plan (WMP).
The purpose of the meeting is to coordinate the efforts of the various organizations and individuals as we implement the WMP. The meeting is open to the public and all stakeholders are encouraged to attend. We plan to have representatives from the LMWCC, the public, Conservation Districts, National Forest Service, Mi EGLE, business and other interested parties. The planned agenda for this meeting includes discussions on:
Mason-Lake Conservation District and LMWCC partnered to support 2021 Water Quality Intern, Abbey Hull.
Jim Squier, LMWCC Vice-Chair, initiated this effort with Dani McGarry, Director, Mason-Lake Conservation District who oversees Abbey’s internship. She is mentored by Mason-Lake and Manistee Conservation Districts staff, as well as some LMWCC volunteers. Article by Abbey Hull, edited and posted by Joyce Durdel.
Hello, I am a student at Western Michigan University (WMU), I will be graduating in December 2021.
Once I graduate I will have earned my Bachelor of Science majoring in Freshwater Science and Sustainability. I already have two associate degrees from Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), one in Freshwater Studies and one in Mathematics. I grew up in Traverse City, Michigan and it is now where I currently live with my fiance. We bought a house in March 2020. We have three cats and plan to get married in just a few weeks. I also have my own business, WaterNerd Designs, where I sell art and create logos for businesses.
I am very grateful to the Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council for giving me a scholarship. When I was at NMC, I was able to work full time in order to pay for my school. However, WMU is much more costly. This scholarship was able to fund my last semester at WMU and allow me to do this internship at the same time. Without it, I would have needed to find a full-time job while also attending school full time. I have been very lucky to work with the Mason-Lake Conservation District doing what I love. I have also had the opportunity to volunteer with the Inland Seas on their Schoolship teaching kids about the Great Lakes. When I graduate, I hope to find a job near Traverse City working either in conservation or water stewardship.
Water Quality Chemistry / River Habitat Assessments / Macroinvertebrate Sampling
In August I went out to 10 sites on the Little Manistee to collect water quality data. Using data gathered since 2013, I established a baseline to determine stream health. Overall, the stream has had normal results and is healthy.
In late September I went out to three sites on the Little Manistee to do habitat assessments. In these assessments, we look at stream sediment, vegetation, erosion, and flow. This can help show over time how the stream is changing and if anything more needs to be done to protect them. Excess sediment can indicate degradation in a stream. Erosion also is an important parameter to monitor in streams.
October 2nd, after attending a LMWCC meeting, we are going out to do stream sampling. We will be collecting macroinvertebrates in three sites; the same sites as the habitat assessments. Macroinvertebrates, which are insects and other little river creatures (“Macro”= visible to the naked eye, “Invertebrates”= creatures without a backbone), are able to help determine stream health. As they live in the rivers year-round, the presence or absence of specific species can indicate if water quality is poor.
Once we have collected all of the data, I will be writing a summary report of our findings for 2021. This will include water chemistry data, as well as information from the habitat and macroinvertebrate assessments. The data will compare trends and overall stream health.
In the uplands adjacent to the Little Manistee River, the Forest Service has been focusing on restoring oak ecosystems. We’ve been partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and Grand Valley State University to restore wildlife habitat for species associated with oak ecosystems.
The Forest Service has accomplished the following projects along several areas of the Little Manistee River over the past few months which have resulted in enhancing and improving the watershed. These include:
Dispersed sites patrolled during busy weekends and holidays for campers and to clean up trash (Recreation staff and Trout Unlimited Interns)
Six Mile Bridge patrolled weekly, talk to kayakers when present about the river and etiquette
Dump site cleanup at Overlook Site
New Map boards with river regulations installed at Six Mile Bridge and Old Stronach Bridge
New Map boards planned to be installed for the other 16 designated dispersed sites along the Little Manistee River from 9 Mile Bridge downstream to Old Stronach Bridge
North Widewater Road (Luther) monitoring station – Our second was put in service on the Little Manistee on November 9, 2020. It is located just downstream from North Widewater Road near Luther. This station uses a cell connection to upload data every 15 minutes automatically. It uploads water depth in inches and millimeters, temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and Centigrade as well as Conductivity in microsiemen per centimeter (Also known as Micro MHO’s).
Bear Track Campground monitoring station – Our first monitoring station was put in service on the Little Manistee on April 26, 2020. It is located a mile or so upstream from Bear Track Campground and 18 Mile Bridge. The data is gathered (mostly) daily at this point from microSD cards in the monitor and manually uploaded to the internet as cell upload is not feasible at this location. We are developing radio and internet connection capabilities to take the data and upload it to the internet in real time. We hope that will happen this winter, it is a larger task than we thought. This station measures temperature in degrees centigrade and conductivity as well as the depth of the sensor below the surface of the river in mm. 25.4 mm is one inch, so 520 mm is about 20.5 inches. At the monitoring location the water is near base flow at 500 mm and very clear. Bank full at the monitoring location is about 950 mm and the water is dark.
Take a few minutes to click on the icons in the blue bands across the top of the small graphs on the web sites to get larger versions of the graphs you may find interesting. The system is still in development and can be slow to respond.
Ultimately, we plan up to five more stations to fully monitor the river along its length. The purpose of the monitoring stations is to give us a base line of data from which to track the condition of the river over time. We recognize that the Little Manistee River is in very good condition. With the monitoring stations we collect temperature, depth and conductivity data on the river multiple times a day. Over time we will build a database that shows us what the river in the current state looks like as conditions and seasons change. If in the future we see trends or large deviations from the base line develop we can recognize them and investigate causes and corrective action.
Another benefit of the monitoring station is that fishermen, kayakers and others can look at the water levels on the web and use the information to decide if the levels are in the optimal range for the activity they plan. It will take a while for everyone to learn what levels they feel are appropriate for their activities. When you visit the river its a good idea to look at the river and the water level data on the internet and consider how they correspond so over time you develop an understanding of what the levels mean.
The Mayfly Data Logger we are using was developed at the Stroud Water Research Center and was brought to our attention by Trout Unlimited as part of their project to find inexpensive ways to monitor conditions on waterways throughout the nation and the world. The computer in the Mayfly is an enhanced version of the popular Arduino computer used by hobbyists. A basic Arduino computer can be purchased for under $25. The enhanced Mayfly version with additional inputs and outputs, a real time clock and microSD card reader/writer as well as other features directed at monitoring stations is about $60. When you combine the Mayfly with a scientific grade sensor, in our case a conductivity, depth and temperature sensor you can get a monitoring station in the river for about $1500. This is about a tenth the cost of a USGS monitoring station in place on may rivers. Additional savings are achieved by using volunteers to maintain and monitor the stations. The maintenance on a USGS monitoring station we inquired about a few years ago was $17,000 annually, it does have some advanced features the Mayfly does not.
The temperature data will give us a base line on a very important characteristic for a coldwater stream. Temperature is important because colder water holds more dissolved oxygen required by the coldwater species now in the Little Manistee. Building development that removes vegetation that shades the river can cause the river to be warmed by the sun. The “hard surfaces” associated with development also cause storm water to run off directly into the river instead of being absorbed into the ground and cooled first. We estimate about 90% of the river water is from ground water sources. You can already see daily cycles in water temperature caused by the sun in our data. You can also see that when it rains and the river level rises from the additional surface runoff the water temperature also rises.
These monitors also measure the conductivity of the water in microsiemen (Also Known as Micro MHO’s) per centimeter. It gives a general idea of the dissolved solids in the water, like road salt. Distilled water has a conductivity ranging from 0.5 to 3 µS/cm, while most streams range between 50 to 1500 µS/cm. Freshwater streams ideally should have a conductivity between 150 to 500 µS/cm to support diverse aquatic life.
The Little River News Spring/Summer 2020 edition hits members mail boxes in early June. It includes a Homeowner’s Guide, information on nitrate water testing, and more.
Since 2012, the LMWCC has been working to improve fish habitat in Syers Creek, a tributary of the Little Manistee River. The below report has been put together by one of our partner organizations, Conservation Resource Alliance.
Introduction The following is a report of fish species surveyed by electrofishing a section of Syers Creek below the Syers Lake Dam in Lake County, Michigan. The survey was performed to determine the fish species present in the creek prior to the removal of the dam, which occurred in August 2019.
Study Area The location in which fish were surveyed in 2018 and most recently in 2019 is a section of first-order (Strahlers, 1957) creek channel that lies downstream of an earthen berm dam which impounds naturally occurring Upper and Lower Syers Lake. This location is approximately two stream miles upstream of the confluence with the Little Manistee River, a cold water trout stream. The surveyed section is characterized as being of low gradient, intermittent flow, shallow and narrow with primarily a sand bed substrate, though pockets of silt, leaf litter, and coarse particulate organic matter are common. A difference between 2018 and 2019 survey conditions was the presence of higher discharge in the creek channel as opposed to the extremely low flow with isolated pools of slightly deeper (12”) water in 2018 due to the plugged water control structure. The study reach was 300(+/-)’ in length as measured from the top leading edge of the approximately 4’ diameter corrugated metal pipe (cmp) that served as the dam water control structure outlet. A tape measure was run roughly along the course of the creek until the desired footage was achieved.
Methods Shocking commenced at approximately 1100 hrs. on 17 June 2019 under clear skies and an ambient temperature of 62° F. Water temperature was 61° F and creek flow was moderate with good water clarity. An ETS Electrofishing Systems, LLC Model APB 12-volt battery powered backpack shocker was employed and fish were captured via dipnet-equipped anode handled by the shocker operator and multiple assistants with dipnets. Total shocking time, voltage and amperage settings were not recorded as the unit was giving some trouble to the operator and much time was expended adjusting settings to get the proper configuration for rolling fish. Fish were collected and held in a 5-gallon bucket filled with creek water until the entire 300(+/-)’ section was electrofished. Water was refreshed in the bucket to provide optimal dissolved oxygen conditions. Representatives of each fish species captured were identified, enumerated, photographed and noted, and subsequently released.
Results and Discussion Because the water control structure in the dam was cleared of debris, discharge downstream into the stream channel was higher in 2019 than in 2018. Consequently, more stream channel was available for shocking. When flow is present the size of Syers Creek below the dam is, as mentioned above, most associated with that of a first order stream, and reflects the condition and size of the creek on the day of the survey. Channel width varied between 1.5’ and 3’ with depth of water ranging from 6”-12”. The greatest depth observed occurred in the handful of pools that also happened to be the only locations in the reach where electrofishing could occur in 2018 due o the limitations posed by the gear.
The fish species observed during the 2019 survey are not dissimilar to those surveyed in 2018 with the exception of the presence of common shiner, largemouth bass, tadpole madtom, and yellow perch and the absence of central mudminnow. The presence of young-of-the-year (YOY) coho salmon again indicates some nexus between the point of capture and the point at which adult coho salmon may ascend Syers Creek and successfully spawn. Since no suitable spawning substrate (i.e. gravel) exists in close proximity, either the young-of-the-year coho salmon swam upstream to the point of capture or a pair of coho salmon utilized substandard spawning habitat in the vicinity and their progeny remained proximal.
The remaining species, which are native to the region (coho salmon are non-indigenous), are generally found in habitats not unlike that of Syers Creek (Hubbs and Lagler, 2004). Tadpole madtom and Iowa darter are commonly found in streams with soft, muddy, and/or sandy bottoms and along with largemouth bass, blacknose and northern common shiner, and yellow perch, feed on aquatic invertebrates (and small fish when considering tadpole madtom, largemouth bass and yellow perch). Pumpkinseed are known to crush snail shells to extract sustenance while northern redbelly dace are omnivorous. Tadpole madtom are well known for the venom introduced via pectoral fin puncture wounds.
See Table 1. Fish species observed below Syers Lake Dam by CRA and WMU (2019 only)
Farther downstream on Syers Creek, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the US Forest Service (USFS) have undertaken discretionary fish population surveys upstream of the confluence with the Little Manistee River. Both the MDNR and USFS efforts resulted in higher catches of cold water species (Salmonidae, Cottidae) than were found by CRA in the upper section.
See Table 2. Fish species observed and identified by MDNR and location observed (1966, 1994, and 2001)
See Table 3. Fish species surveyed by USFS between M-37 and confluence with the Little Manistee River
The diversity of fish species illustrated in the three tables above diverges from that normally associated with a cold water fluvial system and is explained by the presence of the eutrophic lakes at the upstream end of the relatively short creek. Warm water fish species entrained through the dam at Syers Lake likely followed the water as it receded downstream during periods of little or no flow. The ability of the creek to consistently provide habitat to cold water species (Salmonidae, Cottidae) occurs somewhere between the two crossings of M-63 whereupon groundwater spring influence and/or cold water tributaries mitigate the warm water surface discharge from Syers Lake. The data below obtained by the USFS and CRA provide a snapshot of conditions in Syers Creek, limited in its usefulness as a source of statistically significant information but provides some insight into the primary driver in determing fish species assemblages.
See Figure 1. (data courtesy of Chris Riley, USFS-HMNF)
See Table 4. Select Syers Creek Temperature Data Obtained by CRA via Stream Thermometer
Conclusion Upon removal of the blockage at Syers Lake Dam, the creek flow will more consistently (dischargedependent) occupy the full width and length of Syers Creek below the dam. In the years to come, annual fish surveys will provide an opportunity to asses change if any to the fish assemblage downstream of the dam and should inform similar projects in the future.
Photographs of Fish Observed During CRA Electrofishing Surveys (2018/9)
figure 1 black nose shiner
figure 2 tadpole madtom
igure 3 coho salmon
figure 4 Iowa darter
figure 5 pumpkinseed
figure 6 northern redbelly dace
figure 7 northern common shiner
figure 8 yellow perch
figure 9 largemouth bass
References
Hubbs, Carl L. and Karl F. Lagler. 2004. Fishes of the Great Lakes region. University of Michigan Riley, Chris. 2017. Syers Creek large wood augmentation: pre- and post-treatment monitoring report (draft). United States Forest Service
Strahlers, H.N. 1957. Quantitative analysis of watershed geomorphology. American Geophysical Union Transactions, 33:913-920
Tomelleri, Joseph R. and Mark E. Eberle. 1990. Fishes of the central United States. University Press of Kansas
Tonello, Mark. 2001. Syers creek – 2001 fisheries survey report. Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Last Updated: December 5, 2023 by lmwcc
President’s Annual State of the Council 2023
This year has been a busy one for the board members of the LMWCC, and we have made significant progress on a number of objectives this year. We have Grand Valley State University conducting a survey of watershed landowners to try to determine the level of support for bringing the Little Manistee River into the Natural Rivers Program. Please see the separate article in this newsletter for details on the survey and its status.
We are moving forward again on our bank remediation projects. Wayne Andersen has made great progress in understanding and working with the federal Wild and Scenic River Section 7 requirements for federal review and permitting of our bank remediation projects. He has been working with Conservation Resource Alliance who is doing the permit application and project design and implementation for us. Wayne has had several meetings with the federal staff to understand the process and get these new projects off the ground. We have had several LMWCC members come to us requesting help with bank erosion problems, and we have prioritized them to get them completed as soon as possible. Please see Wayne’s article in this newsletter detailing the specific projects. Wayne has also been working with Trout Unlimited on potential large scale Fish Cover projects on the Little Manistee River. We have floated sections of the river with them to identify needs and locations and are optimistic we will be able to work on joint projects with Trout Unlimited in the near future.
We are continuing to work closely with the Conservation Districts for our macroinvertebrate studies and Invasive species work as well as building relationships with other watershed groups so we can increase our impact on regional matters by presenting a unified front with them. Please see the article by Joyce Durdel in this newsletter about the studies we have done. Next year the Mason/Lake Conservation will do an invasive species survey with us above M37. Landowners will be notified of invasive species’ presence on their property and made aware of options available to remove the invasives.
We no longer have interns at the Conservation Districts as we have the past two years. We found them tremendously beneficial. The Conservation Districts found the management of interns too time consuming and are looking at doing that work with permanent personnel financed from other sources. While the new people are hired and get up to speed, we have a gap in support that puts more burden on our volunteers. We have opted to skip this year’s Water Quality Study to work on other things. We are looking at other ways we can team up with the conservation districts to move our interests forward.
We are seeing more construction activity along the river than in the past. We get calls or email from people in the area pointing out what is going on. Often, we cannot see any obvious permits for the work. New docks are going in, land is being cleared, one individual has constructed their own island in the river. We have been reporting this activity to the MDNR and NFS and are trying to make people aware of the limited rules the DNR and NFS have in place to protect the river. If you are contemplating doing work along the Little Manistee River, please contact EGLE and NFS BEFORE you do any work. This is especially important for ANY work that is on or near the river’s edge, in the 100-year flood zone (up to 6 feet above the normal river level), in a wetland of any kind and for any type of structure.
I understand how busy everyone is with jobs, kids, grandkids and their everyday lives. But putting in time supporting LMWCC can be a rewarding experience and we can really use the help. So please consider taking part in the water quality or macroinvertebrate studies with us or volunteer in any way you can and are interested in. I have learned a lot working with the board and made a lot of valued friends along the way. I am excited that we have two new board members that joined us at the annual meeting. Amanda Lick is helping us with our web site updates and Tod Nyson is going to help with the macroinvertebrate and Water Quality Studies. Both of these areas are important but time-consuming work, and we really appreciate the additional people taking part.
Armas Soorus,
LMWCC President
Last Updated: December 5, 2023 by lmwcc
Fall/Winter 2023 Little River News is here
Our Fall/Winter 2023 newsletter is here! A lot of great updates including … President’s Annual State of the Council, Macroinvertebrae study, land use issues, status of the natural river survey, future of Tippy Dam and more. Check it out!
2023 Fall Winter LMWCC Newsletter
If there’s something more you’d like to see in upcoming newsletters, drop us a line!
Last Updated: February 14, 2023 by lmwcc
Our 2022 seasonal Water Quality Intern
Alicia Symanski worked jointly with the Manistee Conservation District and the Little Manistee River Watershed Conservation Council on projects that meet the conservation goals of each organization. These activities included assisting with monitoring of area waterways, assembling a homeowner’s guide to river care, and providing support at public events related to invasive species, shoreline protection, and the MI Natural Rivers Program.
Last Updated: December 5, 2023 by lmwcc
Annual Little Manistee Watershed Summit
The Annual Little Manistee River Watershed Summit will be held February 18, 2022 from 1 to 4 PM at the Elk Township Hall at 8966 N. Bass Lake Road in Irons, Michigan. This is an annual event (with exceptions for pandemics) that supports our work to implement the approved 2020 Watershed Management Plan (WMP).
The purpose of the meeting is to coordinate the efforts of the various organizations and individuals as we implement the WMP. The meeting is open to the public and all stakeholders are encouraged to attend. We plan to have representatives from the LMWCC, the public, Conservation Districts, National Forest Service, Mi EGLE, business and other interested parties.
The planned agenda for this meeting includes discussions on:
Please consider joining us if you can.
Last Updated: December 5, 2023 by lmwcc
Meet Abbey Hull: Water Quality Intern 2021
Mason-Lake Conservation District and LMWCC partnered to support 2021 Water Quality Intern, Abbey Hull.
Jim Squier, LMWCC Vice-Chair, initiated this effort with Dani McGarry, Director, Mason-Lake Conservation District who oversees Abbey’s internship. She is mentored by Mason-Lake and Manistee Conservation Districts staff, as well as some LMWCC volunteers. Article by Abbey Hull, edited and posted by Joyce Durdel.
Hello, I am a student at Western Michigan University (WMU), I will be graduating in December 2021.
Once I graduate I will have earned my Bachelor of Science majoring in Freshwater Science and Sustainability. I already have two associate degrees from Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), one in Freshwater Studies and one in Mathematics. I grew up in Traverse City, Michigan and it is now where I currently live with my fiance. We bought a house in March 2020. We have three cats and plan to get married in just a few weeks. I also have my own business, WaterNerd Designs, where I sell art and create logos for businesses.
I am very grateful to the Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council for giving me a scholarship. When I was at NMC, I was able to work full time in order to pay for my school. However, WMU is much more costly. This scholarship was able to fund my last semester at WMU and allow me to do this internship at the same time. Without it, I would have needed to find a full-time job while also attending school full time. I have been very lucky to work with the Mason-Lake Conservation District doing what I love. I have also had the opportunity to volunteer with the Inland Seas on their Schoolship teaching kids about the Great Lakes. When I graduate, I hope to find a job near Traverse City working either in conservation or water stewardship.
Water Quality Chemistry / River Habitat Assessments / Macroinvertebrate Sampling
In August I went out to 10 sites on the Little Manistee to collect water quality data. Using data gathered since 2013, I established a baseline to determine stream health. Overall, the stream has had normal results and is healthy.
In late September I went out to three sites on the Little Manistee to do habitat assessments. In these assessments, we look at stream sediment, vegetation, erosion, and flow. This can help show over time how the stream is changing and if anything more needs to be done to protect them. Excess sediment can indicate degradation in a stream. Erosion also is an important parameter to monitor in streams.
October 2nd, after attending a LMWCC meeting, we are going out to do stream sampling. We will be collecting macroinvertebrates in three sites; the same sites as the habitat assessments. Macroinvertebrates, which are insects and other little river creatures (“Macro”= visible to the naked eye, “Invertebrates”= creatures without a backbone), are able to help determine stream health. As they live in the rivers year-round, the presence or absence of specific species can indicate if water quality is poor.
Once we have collected all of the data, I will be writing a summary report of our findings for 2021. This will include water chemistry data, as well as information from the habitat and macroinvertebrate assessments. The data will compare trends and overall stream health.
Find Abbey at waternerddesigns.com, on Instagram and Facebook.
Last Updated: December 5, 2023 by lmwcc
Restoring oak ecosystems near the Little Manistee River
In the uplands adjacent to the Little Manistee River, the Forest Service has been focusing on restoring oak ecosystems. We’ve been partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and Grand Valley State University to restore wildlife habitat for species associated with oak ecosystems.
This work was recently featured on the Forest Service’s “Inside the Forest Service” blog: Active forest management restores Michigan’s historical habitat.
Last Updated: June 7, 2022 by lmwcc
This summer’s Forest Service projects on the Little Manistee River
The Forest Service has accomplished the following projects along several areas of the Little Manistee River over the past few months which have resulted in enhancing and improving the watershed. These include:
Last Updated: June 7, 2022 by lmwcc
Collecting data: our stream-monitoring stations
Our Little Manistee River monitoring stations are located at:
North Widewater Road (Luther) monitoring station – Our second was put in service on the Little Manistee on November 9, 2020. It is located just downstream from North Widewater Road near Luther. This station uses a cell connection to upload data every 15 minutes automatically. It uploads water depth in inches and millimeters, temperature in degrees Fahrenheit and Centigrade as well as Conductivity in microsiemen per centimeter (Also known as Micro MHO’s).
Bear Track Campground monitoring station – Our first monitoring station was put in service on the Little Manistee on April 26, 2020. It is located a mile or so upstream from Bear Track Campground and 18 Mile Bridge. The data is gathered (mostly) daily at this point from microSD cards in the monitor and manually uploaded to the internet as cell upload is not feasible at this location. We are developing radio and internet connection capabilities to take the data and upload it to the internet in real time. We hope that will happen this winter, it is a larger task than we thought. This station measures temperature in degrees centigrade and conductivity as well as the depth of the sensor below the surface of the river in mm. 25.4 mm is one inch, so 520 mm is about 20.5 inches. At the monitoring location the water is near base flow at 500 mm and very clear. Bank full at the monitoring location is about 950 mm and the water is dark.
Take a few minutes to click on the icons in the blue bands across the top of the small graphs on the web sites to get larger versions of the graphs you may find interesting. The system is still in development and can be slow to respond.
Ultimately, we plan up to five more stations to fully monitor the river along its length. The purpose of the monitoring stations is to give us a base line of data from which to track the condition of the river over time. We recognize that the Little Manistee River is in very good condition. With the monitoring stations we collect temperature, depth and conductivity data on the river multiple times a day. Over time we will build a database that shows us what the river in the current state looks like as conditions and seasons change. If in the future we see trends or large deviations from the base line develop we can recognize them and investigate causes and corrective action.
Another benefit of the monitoring station is that fishermen, kayakers and others can look at the water levels on the web and use the information to decide if the levels are in the optimal range for the activity they plan. It will take a while for everyone to learn what levels they feel are appropriate for their activities. When you visit the river its a good idea to look at the river and the water level data on the internet and consider how they correspond so over time you develop an understanding of what the levels mean.
The Mayfly Data Logger we are using was developed at the Stroud Water Research Center and was brought to our attention by Trout Unlimited as part of their project to find inexpensive ways to monitor conditions on waterways throughout the nation and the world. The computer in the Mayfly is an enhanced version of the popular Arduino computer used by hobbyists. A basic Arduino computer can be purchased for under $25. The enhanced Mayfly version with additional inputs and outputs, a real time clock and microSD card reader/writer as well as other features directed at monitoring stations is about $60. When you combine the Mayfly with a scientific grade sensor, in our case a conductivity, depth and temperature sensor you can get a monitoring station in the river for about $1500. This is about a tenth the cost of a USGS monitoring station in place on may rivers. Additional savings are achieved by using volunteers to maintain and monitor the stations. The maintenance on a USGS monitoring station we inquired about a few years ago was $17,000 annually, it does have some advanced features the Mayfly does not.
The temperature data will give us a base line on a very important characteristic for a coldwater stream. Temperature is important because colder water holds more dissolved oxygen required by the coldwater species now in the Little Manistee. Building development that removes vegetation that shades the river can cause the river to be warmed by the sun. The “hard surfaces” associated with development also cause storm water to run off directly into the river instead of being absorbed into the ground and cooled first. We estimate about 90% of the river water is from ground water sources. You can already see daily cycles in water temperature caused by the sun in our data. You can also see that when it rains and the river level rises from the additional surface runoff the water temperature also rises.
These monitors also measure the conductivity of the water in microsiemen (Also Known as Micro MHO’s) per centimeter. It gives a general idea of the dissolved solids in the water, like road salt. Distilled water has a conductivity ranging from 0.5 to 3 µS/cm, while most streams range between 50 to 1500 µS/cm. Freshwater streams ideally should have a conductivity between 150 to 500 µS/cm to support diverse aquatic life.
Last Updated: June 9, 2020 by lmwcc
Check out our 2020 Spring Summer Newsletter
The Little River News Spring/Summer 2020 edition hits members mail boxes in early June. It includes a Homeowner’s Guide, information on nitrate water testing, and more.
LMWCC Newsletter SS 2020
Last Updated: June 7, 2022 by lmwcc
Syers Creek Habitat Analysis at 5 Years
Syers Creek Fisheries Survey
2019 Update
Read the full PDF report: LMWCC CRA Syers Lake Dam Fisheries-2019
Introduction
The following is a report of fish species surveyed by electrofishing a section of Syers Creek below the Syers Lake Dam in Lake County, Michigan. The survey was performed to determine the fish species present in the creek prior to the removal of the dam, which occurred in August 2019.
Study Area
The location in which fish were surveyed in 2018 and most recently in 2019 is a section of first-order (Strahlers, 1957) creek channel that lies downstream of an earthen berm dam which impounds naturally occurring Upper and Lower Syers Lake. This location is approximately two stream miles upstream of the confluence with the Little Manistee River, a cold water trout stream. The surveyed section is characterized as being of low gradient, intermittent flow, shallow and narrow with primarily a sand bed substrate, though pockets of silt, leaf litter, and coarse particulate organic matter are common. A difference between 2018 and 2019 survey conditions was the presence of higher discharge in the creek channel as opposed to the extremely low flow with isolated pools of slightly deeper (12”) water in 2018 due to the plugged water control structure. The study reach was 300(+/-)’ in length as measured from the top leading edge of the approximately 4’ diameter corrugated metal pipe (cmp) that served as the dam water control structure outlet. A tape measure was run roughly along the course of the creek until the desired footage was achieved.
Methods
Shocking commenced at approximately 1100 hrs. on 17 June 2019 under clear skies and an ambient temperature of 62° F. Water temperature was 61° F and creek flow was moderate with good water clarity. An ETS Electrofishing Systems, LLC Model APB 12-volt battery powered backpack shocker was employed and fish were captured via dipnet-equipped anode handled by the shocker operator and multiple assistants with dipnets. Total shocking time, voltage and amperage settings were not recorded as the unit was giving some trouble to the operator and much time was expended adjusting settings to get the proper configuration for rolling fish. Fish were collected and held in a 5-gallon bucket filled with creek water until the entire 300(+/-)’ section was electrofished. Water was refreshed in the bucket to provide optimal dissolved oxygen conditions. Representatives of each fish species captured were identified, enumerated, photographed and noted, and subsequently released.
Results and Discussion
Because the water control structure in the dam was cleared of debris, discharge downstream into the stream channel was higher in 2019 than in 2018. Consequently, more stream channel was available for shocking. When flow is present the size of Syers Creek below the dam is, as mentioned above, most associated with that of a first order stream, and reflects the condition and size of the creek on the day of the survey. Channel width varied between 1.5’ and 3’ with depth of water ranging from 6”-12”. The greatest depth observed occurred in the handful of pools that also happened to be the only locations in the reach where electrofishing could occur in 2018 due o the limitations posed by the gear.
The fish species observed during the 2019 survey are not dissimilar to those surveyed in 2018 with the exception of the presence of common shiner, largemouth bass, tadpole madtom, and yellow perch and the absence of central mudminnow. The presence of young-of-the-year (YOY) coho salmon again indicates some nexus between the point of capture and the point at which adult coho salmon may ascend Syers Creek and successfully spawn. Since no suitable spawning substrate (i.e. gravel) exists in close proximity, either the young-of-the-year coho salmon swam upstream to the point of capture or a pair of coho salmon utilized substandard spawning habitat in the vicinity and their progeny remained proximal.
The remaining species, which are native to the region (coho salmon are non-indigenous), are generally found in habitats not unlike that of Syers Creek (Hubbs and Lagler, 2004). Tadpole madtom and Iowa darter are commonly found in streams with soft, muddy, and/or sandy bottoms and along with largemouth bass, blacknose and northern common shiner, and yellow perch, feed on aquatic invertebrates (and small fish when considering tadpole madtom, largemouth bass and yellow perch). Pumpkinseed are known to crush snail shells to extract sustenance while northern redbelly dace are omnivorous. Tadpole madtom are well known for the venom introduced via pectoral fin puncture wounds.
See Table 1. Fish species observed below Syers Lake Dam by CRA and WMU (2019 only)
Farther downstream on Syers Creek, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the US Forest Service (USFS) have undertaken discretionary fish population surveys upstream of the confluence with the Little Manistee River. Both the MDNR and USFS efforts resulted in higher catches of cold water species (Salmonidae, Cottidae) than were found by CRA in the upper section.
See Table 2. Fish species observed and identified by MDNR and location observed (1966, 1994, and 2001)
See Table 3. Fish species surveyed by USFS between M-37 and confluence with the Little Manistee River
The diversity of fish species illustrated in the three tables above diverges from that normally associated with a cold water fluvial system and is explained by the presence of the eutrophic lakes at the upstream end of the relatively short creek. Warm water fish species entrained through the dam at Syers Lake likely followed the water as it receded downstream during periods of little or no flow. The ability of the creek to consistently provide habitat to cold water species (Salmonidae, Cottidae) occurs somewhere between the two crossings of M-63 whereupon groundwater spring influence and/or cold water tributaries mitigate the warm water surface discharge from Syers Lake. The data below obtained by the USFS and CRA provide a snapshot of conditions in Syers Creek, limited in its usefulness as a source of statistically significant information but provides some insight into the primary driver in determing fish species assemblages.
See Figure 1. (data courtesy of Chris Riley, USFS-HMNF)
See Table 4. Select Syers Creek Temperature Data Obtained by CRA via Stream Thermometer
Conclusion
Upon removal of the blockage at Syers Lake Dam, the creek flow will more consistently (dischargedependent) occupy the full width and length of Syers Creek below the dam. In the years to come, annual fish surveys will provide an opportunity to asses change if any to the fish assemblage downstream of the dam and should inform similar projects in the future.
Read the full PDF report: LMWCC CRA Syers Lake Dam Fisheries-2019
Photographs of Fish Observed During CRA Electrofishing Surveys (2018/9)
References
Hubbs, Carl L. and Karl F. Lagler. 2004. Fishes of the Great Lakes region. University of Michigan Riley, Chris. 2017. Syers Creek large wood augmentation: pre- and post-treatment monitoring report (draft). United States Forest Service
Strahlers, H.N. 1957. Quantitative analysis of watershed geomorphology. American Geophysical Union Transactions, 33:913-920
Tomelleri, Joseph R. and Mark E. Eberle. 1990. Fishes of the central United States. University Press of Kansas
Tonello, Mark. 2001. Syers creek – 2001 fisheries survey report. Michigan Department of Natural Resources