Mike Nielsen, PE, Project Manager for Wade Trim, complemented the Village of Chesaning on the success of their project.
Shiawassee River Restoration Committee members Neil Pullman (top) and Damion Frasier (bottom) kayaked the new rock ramp during the ceremony.
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The Village of Chesaning, MI, and the Shiawassee River Restoration Committee celebrated the completion of a river improvement project by recognizing community
support and enthusiasm on November 1, 2009. The project was a 10-year effort to remove a failing dam on the Shiawassee River that resulted in
a 300-foot-long, man-made rock ramp just north of the M-57 Bridge. Completed in September, the project
restores fish passage, creates a natural river habitat, and eliminates the long-term liabilities associated with a failing dam. Man-made rapids
in the form of a rock ramp with boulder arch weirs have reestablished the river’s historic connection with the Saginaw River and Lake Huron by
opening an estimated 37 miles of upriver habitat.
In addition to the generous contributions of local residents, Village and Committee leaders recognized the efforts of the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality and several other agencies that contributed grant money for the project. The event ended with two Committee members
kayaking the rock ramp to officially open the rapids to public enjoyment.
Wade Trim provided conceptual design, grant assistance, and construction administration services for the project. We developed a document describing
regional and community benefits of the project for the Village to distribute to interested funding agencies and legislators. Committee member, Tom Meder,
acknowledged this document during the celebration for its key role in attracting funding for the dam removal.
The Village of Chesaning secured
a $900,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Michigan Initiative, a $99,400 stimulus grant through the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a $50,000 grant from the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (SBWIN), a $10,000 grant from Partners
for Fish and Wildlife through the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), and a $5,000 grant from the Saginaw Community Foundation.
An additional $96,000 was raised for the project in the form of local pledges and $300,000 worth of rock and boulder
materials were donated by area farmers to help construct the project.
For more information about this project and other river restoration efforts, visit www.riverrestoration.info.
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