Study will prepare everybody for the day when dams are done

The Bay City Times has this interesting article on the future plans for the dams along the Au Sable River. It suggests that Consumer's Engery will eventually remove the dams or decommission them:

The company [Consumers Energy] is conducting a study to see what it would cost to remove 11 of its 13 hydroelectric dams on Michigan rivers. The study is required as part of a deal relicensing the dams with the federal government for the next 30 years.

There's no hard push from the environmental community to remove the dams. But they will come down, someday.

As communities and companies across the nation are discovering, there comes a point when it is cheaper to tear out an old dam than repair and maintain it.

In 1989, Consumers Energy estimated that it would cost $360 million to remove all of the dams. This year, the company spent $350,000 injecting concrete pillars to strengthen the Five Channels Dam near M-65 on the Au Sable River. The expense to keep the dam in top shape is tiny, so far, compared to any likely cost of removal. But that may change.

The thought of taking out a dam and draining its lake seems dramatic. But, in places where dams have been removed, the change hasn't been as traumatic as some people had feared. Gradual removal of a dam lets accumulated sediment behind it wash away a little at a time. When the dam is finally gone, rivers running naturally see a decline in slow-water fish such as non-native carp and a rise in native fish, such as trout and bass.

Without dams, rivers rise and fall again, washing silt onto their flood plains and sand down to the beaches near their mouths.

It's hard to envision the Au Sable without the Foote, Loud, et al dams and dam ponds but it may happen some day in the not too distant future.

Testing finds high levels of contamination in Michigan lakes (but not in Iosco County)

The Bay City Times summarizes the contamination conditions of the Great Lakes. Although the report points to many problems, it also has some positive things to say about water testing in Iosco County:

Michigan's standards state that E. coli testing should not find an average of more than 300 colonies per 100 milliliters of water in a given day.

Fourteen percent of all monitored public beaches in Michigan have failed to meet acceptable water quality standards this summer. And the majority of public beaches on the Great Lakes are not monitored. Inland lakes are especially prone to contamination; with less water circulation than Great Lakes, E. coli bacteria linger longer in the placid waters.

Iosco County was able to start a successful beach monitoring program two years ago, said Don Rousseau, a sanitarian from District Health Department No. 2, which monitors nine areas on Lake Huron.

"This is our second year in the monitoring program, and last year and this year the results are really good," he said. "We had always sampled the beaches based on either environmental concerns or on a complaint basis. But then the DEQ established grants and we thought it would be beneficial for us to pursue."

Test results from the nine beaches, including the popular Tawas Point State Park, have consistently showed very low levels of E. coli.

Good news. It's nice to see that Iosoc County has been on this for the past two years.

Loving the lake levels (up 14 inches)

The Bay City Times has an update on the present conditions of Lake Huron:

Lake Huron water levels are reaching their seasonal peak, and are up 14 inches from a year ago. The 14-inch climb is the largest on the Great Lakes, and bodes well for the near future, forecasters say. The 14-inch rise on Lakes Michigan-Huron is still 9 inches below average for this time of year, but 2 feet above a low point in 1964, the Corps says.

Cynthia E. Sellinger, a hydrologist at the Great Lakes Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, said the 14-inch increase on Lake Huron is significant because it was driven by heavy rain in May. "What normally raises water levels is in the spring, when we have really nice spring runoff from snow melt," Sellinger said.

Sellinger said boaters should enjoy the water while they can, because Lake Huron will begin its seasonal decline in coming months. A six-month forecast shows a drop of 6-8 inches, Sellinger said. Still, the lake will likely remain about 14 inches above what it was last winter, she said.

Serge Corbin and Jeff Kolka beaten on Au Sable!

Serge Corbin has won the annual Au Sable canoe race 15 times since 1987 and the last eight years in a row but the winning streak came to an end this past weekend:

For nearly 15 hours, through temperatures in the 30s and dense fog, Andrew Triebold and Steve Lajoie matched Serge Corbin and Jeff Kolka stroke for stroke until the teams were only 200 yards from the end of the 120-mile Weyerhaeuser Au Sable River Canoe Marathon. Then after some 60,000 paddle strokes, Kolka made a tiny error on 60,001. Paddling furiously, Triebold and Lajoie squirted ahead to win the 57th annual race by 13 seconds and end Kolka and Corbin's eight-year winning streak.

Triebold and Lajoie finished in 14 hours, 59 minutes, 46 seconds, more than an hour off the record of 13.58:08 set by Corbin and Solomon Carriere in 1994. Kolka and Corbin were second in 14:59:59, and Rick Joy of Silverwood and Louis Berthiaume of Berthierville, Quebec, were third in 15:07:08.

Fifty-nine teams started the race in Grayling at 9 p.m. Saturday, running three blocks through town in a Le Mans start before dumping the boats into the Au Sable at Ray's Canoe Livery.

Fourteen teams dropped out during the night, some because of injury or illness, some because they fell behind cutoff times at the 15 checkpoints, and a few who suffered from hypothermia as temperatures along the river dropped as low as 34 degrees.

In other news, Lance Armstrong won his sixth Tour de France.

Is there a comparison here between the American Armstrong winning 6 consecutive Tour de France's vs. the French Canadian Corbin winning 8 consecutive Au Sable Canoe Marathons?

Salmon angling slowly improves

I haven't been reporting on fishing success but thought this article was interesting from todays Michigan Outdoor News.

Anglers on the sunrise side of the state have been warned that this summer may be a down year for salmon, and so far those predictions are holding true, although there have been a few bright spots. “We’ve been telling people ever since January that this was probably going to be a tough year,” said Jim Baker, the DNR’s fisheries unit manager for the Southern Lake Huron Management Unit. “This is the second year in a row that there is a severe lack of alewives in the lake, and salmon are extremely dependent on alewives. “It’s been affecting fishing throughout the lake, particularly at the southern end,” he said.

“There is a major baitfish problem in Lake Huron,” said Steve Doucette, of Keerl’s Korner in Harrisville. “There has been a major crash and it’s affecting the salmon. They’re catching a lot of 8- to 10-pound fish. So far, the biggest this year has been 22.7 pounds. Any other year that’s an average fish.”

Doucette said there are several reasons for the decline of baitfish.
“There are three factors,” he said. “Number one is the fact that there are 40,000 cormorants nesting in Michigan now, compared to 800 in 1984. If they each eat three to five pounds of fish per day, that’s a lot of baitfish. The second problem is that zebra mussels are eating the plankton,” which alewives feed on. “Number three is that we’ve had a massive freeze during the past two years, and that has killed some (alewives).”

Regardless of the reason, the results are smaller fish across the lake.

National Korean, Vietnam war museum moving to Wurtsmith

The Bay City Times reports today that Wurtsmith has been selected as the location for a branch of the museum. Originally reported back on June 23, 2004, this new article adds:

The museum originally planned to specialize in the Korean War, but the additional space at Wurtsmith will allow for a Vietnam War museum as well, Kopitke said. Many Korean War veterans went on to serve in Vietnam, he said.

"We're really excited about coming," said Kyle Kopitke, the museum's founder. "We have all kinds of exhibits we haven't been able to set up here in Hawaii," Kopitke said Monday. "Since we already have them, we're looking at 60 days to have something open at Wurtsmith."

Kopitke said he currently is working to find an air carrier willing to take some of the Hawaiian museum's inventory to Oscoda at no cost or low cost. He is also hoping for enough donations to pay for airfare for him and his family to fly to Oscoda. The National Korean War Museum in Hawaii opened in February on the island of Oahu. The distance to Wurtsmith is about 4,400 miles.

Visit the web site of the museum here.

Also reported in the Lexington Kentucky Lexington Herold-Leader and the Kansas Witchita Eagle.

The Oscoda Press adds this quote -- "It has room for the planes, tanks and a series of Walls of Honor to house the names of over 30,000 killed in action from the Korean War", Kopitke said.

The museum will be located in building 5006 (the former Wing Headquarters). This facility at 28,000 square-feet is almost three times larger than the museum facility in Hawaii.

The ten year lease agreement begins Aug 1.

Compact would make it all but impossible to divert water from Great Lakes

The Detroit Free press is reporting on the progress of the new Great Lakes Charter:

It would be nearly impossible to divert large amounts of water from the Great Lakes to other areas of the country under provisions of a sweeping interstate compact and international agreement aimed at protecting and improving the water system.

The compact would require the eight Great Lakes governors, in consultation with the premiers of Ontario and Quebec, to unanimously approve any new diversion that would take outside the basin an average 1 million gallons a day over a 120-day period.

Monday's release of the Great Lakes Compact starts the clock on a 90-day public comment period. The Council of Great Lakes Governors will hold public hearings on the proposal on Sept. 8 in Chicago and on Sept. 20 in Toronto.

To become law, the compact must be approved by Congress and the legislatures in each of the Great Lakes states, which means it could be another a few years before the compact becomes law.

Michigan is the only state in the region that has not enacted laws to regulate large withdrawals although it was among the states that signed the Great Lakes Charter in 1985.

State expands quarantine on ash trees to stop infestation

Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic insect native to Asia that attacks ash trees and was previously unknown on the North American continent until its discovery in Michigan during the summer of 2002. The borer has already devastated approximately eight million ash trees in the primary impacted six-county core zone in Southeast Michigan. EAB continues to damage or destroy trees in this region as well as infest other areas in various counties and communities due mainly to the pre-quarantine movement of ash materials or firewood.

In an effort to stop the spread of emerald ash borer in Michigan, the state Department of Agriculture announced Thursday it's expanding a quarantine on ash trees to parts of Roscommon and Branch counties.

According to MDA Director Dan Wyant, today’s action identifies and regulates two additional “outlier” sites that were found infested with EAB and located outside the 13-county quarantined area of Southeast Michigan. Both sites currently have eradication (tree removal) and/or containment (combination of ash tree removal and trap/sentinel trees) activities underway.

Under the quarantine, it is illegal to move ash trees, branches, lumber, firewood and other materials from these areas unless chipped to one inch.

States want regulations on ballast

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Michigan and five other Great Lakes states will ask a federal court today to force the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate biological invaders dumped in the lakes by oceangoing ships.

Ballast water releases have introduced dozens of exotic species over the past several decades into the lakes and the oceans' coastal waters. In the Great Lakes, the result has been biological chaos, with new creatures virtually wiping out many native species and hurtling the ecosystem into a tailspin.

A coalition of West Coast environmental groups sued the EPA in 2002, seeking a judgment declaring the ballast water a biological pollutant subject to federal Clean Water Act laws. If the groups prevail, the EPA would need to issue permits and establish rules for ballast water as it does for chemicals discharged by factories and wastewater-treatment plants.

In a joint legal brief to be filed today, the states of New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan will side with the environmental groups.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has opted not to join a separate legal action by several Great Lakes states challenging the U.S. Coast Guard's ability to enforce existing ballast water rules.

State dilatory on water rules

Another article on Michigans lack of leadership regarding water diversion. This one is from the Saginaw News - State dilatory on water rules:

Michigan is the last Great-Lakes-state vessel foundering toward rules to regulate water withdrawals. That the rules are needed isn't in dispute. The lakes hold 90 percent of the nation's freshwater; parched and growing Southern and Western states know it.

Sikkema [Michigan Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema] and Granholm have put aside partisanship on the budget and other issues to accomplish what is in the best interest of the state. Both are capable of compromise. The senate majority leader's expertise on Great Lakes issues has led to everything from rules to protect against invasive species and a ban on directional drilling to easing beach grooming activities. His list of accomplishments on Great Lakes issues is impressive -- but lacks one important one. Michigan has been dilatory in its efforts to protect the Great Lakes from large scale withdrawals. It isn't an issue that just surfaced.

Michigan must join the other states and Canada in adopting rules that protect Great Lakes water from withdrawals. Sikkema knows it, Granholm knows it, and the residents of the state know it. If Granholm's Water Legacy Act has problems, Sikkema should work to address them -- and get Michigan on board with other Great Lakes states this year.

Iosco County Airport gets some new direction

The Bay City Times reports that the Iosco County Airport has a new 80-foot runway compass rose:

With the runway and apron at the Iosco County Airport in East Tawas newly resurfaced, Saturday was a perfect time to paint an 80-foot compass rose. About 15 supporters from the Michigan Chapter Ninety-Nines, with local helpers, painted the compass marking on the new airport apron surface.

The Ninety-Nines is an international organization of women pilots started in 1929 by Amelia Earhart and other certified women pilots at Curtis Field on Long Island, N.Y. Pilots align their planes on the compass rose to check the accuracy of their magnetic compasses.

"Way back in the early barn-storming years, they didn't have aeronautical charts that identified airports," said MacLeod, who lives in Tawas City. "Airports didn't always look like airports. They looked like farmers' fields."

Ninety-Nines promote fellowship through flight, provide networking and scholarship opportunities for women and preserve the unique history of women in aviation.

2004 AuSable River Canoe Marathon

The Crawford County Avalanche has a nice article about the upcoming AuSable canoe race: It's only two weeks away - 61 teams have signed up for 2004 AuSable River Canoe Marathon

The start of the 57th Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon is only about two weeks away, and 61 paddling teams are signed up for this year's race. The event, which starts on Saturday, July 24, at Ray's Canoe Livery at 9 p.m., completes over a week of AuSable River Festival activities in Grayling, including several other canoe races. The number of competitors for this year's AuSable Canoe Marathon - 61 teams (as of July 1) - is comparable to the turnout last year and 2002. Sixty-five teams started the 2003 AuSable Marathon.

"There are some interesting teams. Race fans should be excited about the teams in this year's race," Zigila said. "(Current AuSable Marathon champions) Jeff (Kolka) and Serge (Corbin) are back. Rick Joy and Louis Berthiaume, Jim Harwood and Denis Berthiaume, those will be a couple of teams to watch, I think. Of course, Mo Harwood and Matt Rimer. And Andy Triebold and Steve Lajoie, who finished second in New York (2004 General Clinton Canoe Regatta) and gave Jeff and Serge a run last year (in the AuSable Marathon)."

Tawas Holiday Inn files for Chapter 11

The Bay City Times reports that the Tawas Holiday Inn files for Chapter 11

Owners of the Tawas Bay Holiday Inn filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday in a move to stave off creditors. The 103-room resort in East Tawas is the city's largest employer and taxpayer.

The Chapter 11 filing allows the resort to stay open and postpones a bank's foreclosure on the hotel's $2.65 million mortgage, according to Roger McIntosh, one of the Holiday Inn's owners.

A court hearing will be held in 20 days to review plans for how the hotel can pay its creditors and emerge from bankruptcy, he said.

Tawas Holiday Inn Update

Not only did the Huron Community Bank and the Iosco County Economic Development Commission lend money to the now troubled Tawas Bay Holiday Inn but so did the city of East Tawas:

The city of East Tawas has reached a legal settlement to recover nearly $80,000 in public money loaned to the owners of the troubled Tawas Bay Holiday Inn Resort.

The settlement reached with the city leaves the development commission on its own to pursue legal action against the bank and the hotel's owners. The development commission is owed $250,000 the hotel borrowed just weeks before the bank foreclosed.

Huron Bank President Robert Beneson testified at the hearing that he and the bank did nothing wrong. The settlement agreement with East Tawas stipulates that there is no admission of guilt or wrongdoing by the bank.

The hotel remains open for business and a judge has postponed the foreclosure sale.

Events slated to celebrate Independence Day

The Oscoda Press reports on events slated to celebrate Independence Day

Due to Independence Day falling on a Sunday, this year's parade will be held Saturday, July 3, at 2:30 p.m.
Parade Grand Marshalls will be Della and Chuck Schweickert representing AuSable Township and Pat Davis, representing Oscoda Township. As in the past, the parade will begin at the school and proceed down U.S. 23 to Finish Line Park in AuSable.

The annual fireworks display will be Sunday, July 4, at the AuSable Shoreline Park, located behind the Oscoda Area Visitor's Center.

Also on Sunday, July 4, a chicken barbecue to benefit the Au Sable River International Canoe Marathon will be held at Oscoda Beach Park along with several concerts beginning at 4 p.m.

Band Shell performances include a rock concert by Collective Junk from 4 to 6 p.m.; a gospel concert by Oscoda Assembly of God from 6 to 8 p.m.; and a Patriotic Concert, sponsored by the Oscoda Rotary Club at 9 p.m.

Caretaker agreement for Wurtsmith expires today

The Oscoda Press reports that the caretaker agreement for Wurtsmith expires today:

After nine years and over $17 million in financial assistance, the cooperative caretaker agreement for Wurtsmith Air Force Base ends today, Wednesday, June 30. According to the Air Force's most recent letter to the Township, dated June 18, a 90-day closeout period is set to begin July 1. During this time, a financial audit will be completed. Also beginning July 1, the Air Force says it will contract out for maintenance for the properties it controls at Wurtsmith.

When caretaker funding runs out, its likely there will be staffing reductions at the Township Department of Public Works.