Fall beauty on the Clinton River | shoreline rocks placed as part of erosion control, and a cleaned up waterway, Sterling Heights, Michigan
Yes, I am still here. It seems my hiatus from making updates to my notes here went on much longer than intended. Some of it due to writer’s block, some due to photographer’s block, some due to everyday life and its changes and intensive caring for a sick dog. Over time, perhaps they will make for subjects on future posts.
Clinton River Restoration Project
While none of this has to do with the title of this post, it seemed warranted after a 6 month lack of updates. The title here has to do with a big EPA project that has been going on nearly in my backyard. Fortunately funding started long before the current administration began hacking away at everything the EPA stands for. The major river in my area, the Clinton River, a 60 mile long waterway, runs into Lake St. Clair. Lake St. Clair drains to the Detroit River, and ultimately into the Great Lake Erie. The Clinton River is notoriously full of logjams with woody debris piling up over the years due trees that seem to constantly fall over from shoreline erosion. The immediate area is a large floodplain within the Clinton River Watershed.
Sections of the river are navigable by canoe and kayak for some years, but restricted to certain segments due to the many obstacles within my own city. I have to drive a few miles down the road just to put in at a good spot. This project provided a $4.5 Million dollar grant to assist with removal of all this, and stabilize the shoreline erosion. For much of the spring and summer, echoes of heavy equipment operating and piling up logs and debris reigned in our woods.
It will officially finish in 2018, but a bulk of the work appears to be done. The results are quite noticeable. Kayak and canoe liveries and launches built for accessibility are planned for next season, although many paddlers took advantage already this year. Now it is possible to make a 6+ hour long paddle along this river. Overall, the project appears it will be a great success in creating more appreciation for this wonderful natural asset of the area.
I’ve read a couple of your blogs Mark and I thoroughly enjoyed your stories. We have a couple of river here in the Dallas area that needs to be cleaned up too. Maybe they should take notes from your neck of the woods. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to reading the next post.
Thanks David. I appreciate the kind words and feedback.
You can’t have our river crew until we are done with them. 🙂
The project seems to have had very positive results. Like you said, hard to believe all things considered with the EPA. Hope you will show us more of this waterway. Glad you’re back!
Thanks! Indeed Howard, but I imagine at the working level some things carryon within the agency despite the poor leadership. Yes, more photos of this waterway are definitely coming.
What a beautiful image – I like the subdued palette and that single leaf in the foreground corner. Just gorgeous! And that sounds like a worthwhile project….thanks for the follow, too – I appreciate it.
Thank you Lynn, I appreciate your visit. I enjoy discovering new sites, so I’ll be coming back to yours often.
Seems this summer was an extended hiatus for a number of us. Great to hear of a worthwhile EPA projects still on-going. The quality of water and waterways is such a critical component for our future. I doubt there will be many new environmental projects in the immediate future. Lovely photo!
Hope you are well Earl. It’s hard to keep up with all these ‘channels.’
Glad to see you post and what a great subject to write about. I enjoy hearing about projects such as these. Now need to read about your adventures to be had on this river.
Kayaking season is quickly disappearing, and unfortunately I may not get to take advantage this year. But next year!!! There is a lot of renewed interest in keeping it clear now that the major work is done. Still an occasional tree falls – and will likely be the work of the local kayak livery and volunteers to clear it away.