Federal regulators consider Consumers' dams to be in satisfactory condition, with none of the alarming deficiencies that plagued the Midland dams. The USGS Water Resources Division (Lansing) monitored the biological, chemical, and physical conditions of the river before and after removal. That is enough electricity to serve a community of nearly 23,000. All of which lead Tonya Wertheimer to wonder: If the Alcona Dam were to disappear tomorrow, taking with it the 1,075-acre reservoir that draws tourists all summer long, would Glennies grocery store be next? We have a long history with hydropower, building the Croton Hydro on the Muskegon River in 1907. Hydro power produces clean, reliable power that weve counted on for more than 100 years. Newaygo County Museum. It began commercial operation in 1924. March 18, 2022 Muskegon River anglers should be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam this spring. It also refocused attention on the river and resulted in efforts to improve public access and provide additional community greenspace along the river. (The Grand Rapids Press/ George Gryzenia), Captions: "Cedar Creek Twp., Mich., -- Jim Forester III (L) and his father, Jim Forester, Jr., carry out the last possessions from their house near the Muskegon River in anticipation of increased flooding, Sept. 11, 1986. For information on obtaining a lease, license, permit or easement, call our Operations Planning Center at 866-679-4054 or email LandContracts@cmsenergy.com. Both parks have cabins, a beach and a boathouse. Hydro Safety for Visitors, Boaters and Anglers, Hydro Plant Emergency Planning Booklet - Newaygo and Mecosta County, For the safety of fellow Michiganders, visitors and our employees, we administer a land use policy that includes no hunting on Consumers Energy private property. These fish return to the river to spawn and reproduce. The Muskingum River Parkway State Park has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as the Muskingum River Navigation Historic District. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). During the months of October, November, and December, the Muskegon is transformed into one of the Midwests premier spey fishing rivers. The river has several major branches, such as the Hersey River, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon River. Click here to see a map of properties that will be contacted, If you have questions, please email us at hydro@cmsenergy.com. Map Directions Satellite Photo Map Wikipedia Photo: Lar, CC BY-SA 3.0. Notable Places in the Area On the Kalamazoo River, hundreds of residents who live on the reservoir created by the Calkins Bridge Dam have joined a property owners association that is lobbying for its survival. As climate change warms the worlds rivers, environmentalists see dam removal as key to protecting coldwater fish like trout. She drove into the hole early Thursday, but was not hurt. We're currently experiencing system issues which may result in website slowness. The Muskegon is close by if the White is too icy. LOCATION ADDRESS: 22090 Northland Dr. Paris, MI 49338. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. For much of the last century, it was a cheap and reliable form of energy. Sept. 12, 1986." The river is home to three groups of gamefish: migratory fish, cool water resident fish, and warm water resident fish. There wasn't much water damage. Muskegon River Fishing Report: 02/18/2020 The lower river is still turning out steelhead. But as a business owner, he can relate to Consumers' conundrum. (Saginaw News file photo), Drivers ford high water in Saginaw about 6:30 a.m. Sept. 12, 1986. With 1,087 residents in the entire township surrounding the Alcona Dam Pond, McCormick said, I dont know who around here would have that kind of resources.. The City of Big Rapids removed the Muskegon River Dam remnant, restoring natural hydrological and ecological conditions to the largest free-flowing reach of high-gradient river in the Great Lakes basin. The road to their home washed away during the two-day rainstorm. Heavy rains over the past two days have caused the worst flooding in Western Michigan in over 100 years. There are three man-made reservoirs on the Muskegon River, the Rogers Dam Pond, Hardy Dam Pond, and the Croton Dam Pond. Additionally, spring steelhead fishing is underway in the nearby Muskegon, and Pere Marquette rivers, and in the White River below Hesperia. $78 night. 2 2.0 , Sq Ft: 1200 Year: 1986 Acres: 12.000. The heavy rains have caused the worst flooding in 100 years. Consumers Power Company acquired the Dam for the purpose of developing hydro-electric power for the area. When wading you can enter private property if you stay within the clearly defined banks of the stream, and only walk the bank to avoid a hazard. We don't think that customers should be paying the full cost of a dam if the reason its going to continue to operate is other than hydropower, said Douglas Jester, an energy policy expert who has represented the ratepayer advocacy group Citizens Utility Board in ratemaking cases. The river is home to three groups of gamefish: migratory fish, cool water resident fish, and warm water resident fish. More recently, it provides electrical power, a valuable recreational resource and a world class fishery. The DNR prefers dam removal wherever feasible, a position it made known in an Oct. 21 letter to Consumers executive director. Canoe, Kayak, Inner Tube, & Flat Bottom Boat Rentals on the Mighty Muskegon River. And across the state, large crowds showed up at public meetings with Consumers to voice their fears about the future. The natural features and history of the Muskegon River have informed its current impacts on Muskegon Lake and given us both curses and blessings to manage and benefit from. In a perfect environmental world, all of them are gone, and we restore the river to its original form, Faulkner said. James McKormick, supervisor in Curtis Township, which includes Glennie, is familiar with the statistics on the dams environmental tradeoffs. (Grand Rapids Press file photo), Caption: "Muskegon, Mich.,-- Lauren Martin (foreground) and Carl Pieczynski, both of Norton Shores, take a canoe ride through the mona Lake Mobile Homes Park in Muskegon Heights. Explore nature trails or hunt our 20-acre property. There are other financial models: In mid-Michigan, property owners around the infamous Midland damstook control of them, covering maintenance costs with annual taxes imposed on properties near the reservoirs. (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Caption: "The Brookside Tastee Freeze fell into Mitchell Creek in Big Rapids. Nicely wooded lot tucked off the road. The 48 hours of rain dumped more than a dozen inches of rain in parts of Western Michigan, caused millions of dollars of damage and has displaced more than 1000 area residents. Consumers plans to announce its preferred solution for each of the 13 dams next year. This trail is great for hiking, paddle sports, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many . As a result, the dams now operate at less than 40 percent of their capacity. Without them, McCormick said, communities surrounding the dams would wither. We fish the Muskegon River starting just below Croton Dam, Which is just east of the city of Newaygo, MI all the way down to the mouth that . Caps Lock is on. Just west of this tiny town near Oscoda sits one of six hydroelectric dams that tamed the Au Sable River a century ago to supply power to a growing population. Removal of this dam. The watershed flows through the cities of Muskegon, Newaygo, Big Rapids, Evart, and Houghton Lake. They immediately started construction on a wooden dam that would provide the power to operate Big Red the largest water powered sawmill in the state at that time. Its not like this is an existential threat to them., Faulkner, with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, sees both sides of the argument. 160 Muskegon River Watershed Assessment . (The Grand Rapids Press/ Anna Moore Butzner), Caption: "Midland, Mich: Sept. 11- Brian Armstrong carries clothing from the family camper that was overturned by reported tornado at 3am this morning. 49337. Mill Iron Road at Muskegon River. hb``e``zQ The Muskegon River below Croton Dam is a fantastic year-round fishery popular with jet boats, drift boats, and wading anglers. Water in the downtown area was up to the awnings of businesses. Five Channels Hydro has a capacity of 6,000 kilowatts. The powerhouse is still standing today and is located just down river from the railroad bridge. The river flows over gravel bars, through fast runs and deep pools for nearly 20 miles of quality habitat, providing outstanding fish for both cold and warm water species of fish throughout the year. The river is cautiously wadable in levels below 6 feet and 2500 cubic feet per second along the north side of the river throughout the length of the park. For the best performance on this website and others, please upgrade Fish eggs and our Perfect . In order to meet Federal guidelines for managing the property within the Croton Hydroelectric project, a Consumers Energy Employee or authorized contractor will be contacting home and property owners bordering the project. The companys dilemma is familiar: More than 80% of Michigans 2,521 dams have aged beyond their intended life span, resulting in growing costs to keep them going. (Muskegon Chronicle/ Greg Dorsett), Caption: "A Bay City resident surveys the flooding from the relative safety of his front porch. At issue is whether to keep the impoundments in place, or remove them. MECOSTA COUNTY Deteriorating dams have become an increasingly urgent issue across the United States. . Croton Dam and the Muskegon river just a short walk from the premises . Muskegon River - Newaygo MI Real Estate 17 Agent listings 0 Other listings Sort: Homes for You 8859 S Big Buck Ln, Newaygo, MI 49337 MIDWEST PROPERTIES ERA POWERED (MAIN) $349,500 4 bds 2 ba 1,990 sqft - House for sale 3 days on Zillow 8515 E 72nd St, Newaygo, MI 49337 FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE (GRANDV) $80,000 10 acres lot - Lot / Land for sale On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dams. Copyright 2022 Great Lakes Protection Fund The concrete Childsdale Dam south of Rockford collapsed at 2:15 a.m. Sept. 12, 1986, sending floodwaters down the Rogue River toward the village of Belmont. Appliance Service Plan does not affect your regulated utility service. United States. As a result the dam pond was never raised again. Steelhead fishing is hit or miss in this cold water period of the year. 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