More than $1.1 million in funding has been awarded to 13 counties to preserve and protect fish habitats across the state, according to a release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“We’re excited to support our partner organizations in projects to create healthier lakes and streams with healthier fish populations, better habitat and cleaner water,” said Randy Claramunt, chief of the DNR Fisheries Division. “Our natural resources make Michigan an outdoor recreation destination, and these projects will provide long-lasting benefits to protect and enhance this appeal.”
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Nine conservation projects will receive funding from the Fisheries Grant Program, which is matched by more than $250,000 from partners, bringing the grant value to more than $1.4 million.
Here’s a list of what projects were awarded the funding and how much is being allocated to each:
- Conservation Resource Alliance — Rapid River dam removal design and permitting phase project (Kalkaska County), $200,000.
- Upper Manistee Watershed Association — Improving fish habitat with additional wood from 2023 Michigan Trout Unlimited wood inventory (Crawford and Kalkaska counties), $40,500.
- Clinton River Watershed Council — Improving connectivity and aquatic organism passage in three Clinton River sub-watersheds (Macomb and Oakland counties), $48,900.
- Michigan State University — Macrophyte assessment in Northern Lake Michigan and Southern Lake Huron fisheries management units (Luce, Mackinac, Marquette and Ogemaw counties), $198,500.
- Conservation Resource Alliance — Restoring and reconnecting aquatic organism passage on Cedar Run and Victoria creeks (Leelanau County), $200,000.
- Kent County Drain Commissioner — Lower Tyler Creek meander restoration, $62,600.
- Huron Pines — Trout River Dam removal (Presque Isle County), $92,425.
- Muskegon River Watershed Assembly — Rowe Dam #1 removal on Penoyer Creek (Newaygo County), $310,000.
- Muskegon River Watershed Assembly — Hersey River Nartron Dam removal (Osceola County), $25,000.
“These projects are critical to strengthening and maintaining populations of fish and other aquatic species,” said Joe Nohner, a resource specialist with the DNR Fisheries Division. “They will improve fish migration in over 92 miles of Michigan streams and boost public safety by working toward the removal of five dams and two culverts.”
Usually, up to $1.8 million in Fisheries Habitat Grants is awarded every year, but a decline in revenue from hunting and fishing licenses led to a budget shortfall. This has caused reductions in hiring, travel and other expenses for the DNR, according to a release.
Here’s how the DNR dealt with the shortfall:
“In order to balance its budget this year, the DNR Fisheries Division allocated approximately $600,000 of the aquatic habitat conservation funding for other eligible purposes and reduced grant funding by that amount,” according to the DNR. “An additional $50,000 was used as matching funds to support a $5 million dam removal grant that the DNR received from the America the Beautiful Challenge.”
Local, state, federal or tribal units of government, academic institutions, and non-profit groups are eligible to apply for Fisheries Habitat Grants.
The next proposal request period is expected to be announced in September, according to the DNR.
To learn more about the grant program, visit here.