Beavertail Creek Restoration
Grant: # 1991
Grant Amount: $100,012.19
Board Decision Year: 2022
Huron Pines (Grayling)
Nowakowski, Amy ([email protected]) 989-312-3076
2022 Habitat Protection and Restoration - Habitat protection and restoration
Project Details
Following a comprehensive road/stream crossing inventory of the Eastern Upper Peninsula in 2021, Beavertail Creek emerged as a high-priority site for restoration. The inventory revealed three critical issues: aging culverts at road crossings were restricting water flow and blocking fish movement, frequent flooding was threatening road stability and access for rural residents, and erosion was degrading water quality with excessive sediment. The three Beavertail Creek crossings were identified as significant risks to both infrastructure and environmental health. The project directly supports Great Lakes ecology by protecting water quality in Beavertail Creek, which flows into Lake Huron. When culverts are too small or poorly placed, they create fast-moving water that fish can't swim through, effectively fragmenting their habitat. The resulting erosion sends soil and debris downstream, eventually reaching Lake Huron and degrading its water quality. This work complements other regional conservation efforts, including the Lake Huron Forever initiative, which focuses on protecting and restoring Lake Huron's water quality through targeted watershed improvements. Beyond environmental benefits, the project serves multiple audiences: local residents gain safer, more reliable road access; recreational users benefit from improved fishing opportunities and road conditions; and municipal services maintain better access to remote areas. To ensure long-term success, Huron Pines will monitor these sites throughout 2025, measuring stream characteristics to track improvements in water quality and habitat. This project builds on our organization's 50-year track record of successful restoration work, including 7 dam removals and 150 road/stream crossing improvements across northern Michigan. These efforts have reconnected hundreds of river miles for fish passage while strengthening local economies through construction, conservation, and tourism opportunities.