В штате Мичиган демонтируют заброшенную дамбу на реке Шиуасси для восстановления водного пути

CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP — Caledonia Township has approved a $127,900 project to remove an abandoned causeway from the Shiawassee River, with an $87,573 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources helping fund the work. The 185-foot-long structure, better known as a causeway, spans the river a few miles upstream from Corunna and borders the Michigan Brick property at 3820 Serr Road. Built in the 1950s as a crossing to shale mines on the west side of the river, the causeway has long been abandoned. Along with accumulated woody debris, the deteriorating structure acts much like a dam, disrupting the river and creating an obstacle for recreational users, according to a press release from Friends of the Shiawassee River. The project is expected to improve fish passage and aquatic habitat while reopening about four miles of the Shiawassee River Water Trail between Lytle Road Park and McCurdy Park in Corunna. “This project is a great example of what can happen when local government, community organizations and state partners work together toward a shared goal,” Amy Holek, Caledonia Township supervisor, said in the release. “Removing this obsolete structure will address a longstanding concern in the river while improving habitat, recreation and public safety. Caledonia Township is pleased to help move this important project forward.” The township will provide about $40,300 in local matching funds. Major contributors include the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network and Friends of the Shiawassee River. The Shiawassee River Water Trail Coalition, Shiawassee County Parks and Recreation Commission and the city of Corunna also are providing support. Caledonia Township appointed volunteer Phil Hathaway, vice chair of the Shiawassee River Water Trail Coalition, to pursue funding and manage the project. Rowe Engineering has completed the project design, while GEI Consultants has surveyed environmental conditions downstream. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued a permit allowing work in the river under conditions addressing siltation, shoreline woody debris, site restoration and protection of downstream mussels. Restoring continuity to the river is expected to benefit fish species including smallmouth bass, walleye, suckers and northern pike, according to the release. “This is truly a win-win for our state and river enthusiasts,” said Ron Spicer, Caledonia Township trustee and the township’s point person for the project. “This not only opens the water trail up for a longer and safer stretch, it also satisfies a longstanding goal of the DNR Fisheries Habitat Program for the future health of this valuable natural resource.” Removing the causeway and woody debris also is expected to improve safety for paddlers by reducing hazards involving damaged or capsized watercraft and difficult portage conditions. “For the Shiawassee River Water Trail, reconnecting this stretch is significant,” said David Lossing, chair of the Shiawassee River Water Trail Coalition. “A water trail should provide people with a safe and enjoyable way to experience the river and the communities along it. Removing this obstruction will reconnect an important section of the trail, while also benefiting the health of the river itself. It is a project that serves both people and the natural resource.” The Shiawassee River is designated as both a National Water Trail and a State Water Trail and attracts paddlers, anglers and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts from Shiawassee County and beyond. “The predominant user population for this river segment are the area residents enabled to return to close-to-home, affordable outdoor recreation,” Hathaway said. The causeway could be removed as early as this fall, depending on water levels and the timing of competitive bidding. The release said the grant provides one year to complete the project, allowing the township to remove the structure in summer 2027 if conditions or project timing require it.