Michigan waterways and rapid development

An interesting article on developing "rapids" for Michigan paddlesports 

Rapid Development - Hour Detroit - March 2011 - Detroit, MI

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2011 Shiawassee River race and pleasure paddle

 Shiawassee River Paddle Event on June 5, 2011

Enter the Race for competition
OR --  join us for the Pleasure Paddle

Canoes available for rental thru Heavners Livery
Shuttle transport all day long until 6pm

June 5th, 2011 - Join over 100 local paddlers for a day of fun

Water Trail Map
www.umflint.edu/outreach/assets/shiawasse-river-trail-map.pdf

PUT-IN
WaterWorks Park
602 South Broad St, Holly, MI 48442-1674

TAKE-OUT
Strom Park
299 South East Street, Fenton,MI
near the East Street Bridge.

Start : WaterWorks Park in Holly, Michigan
End : Strom Park in Fenton, Michigan
Distance : 7 scenic miles of twists and turns

Schedule :
10:30 am : On-site registration WaterWorks Park
11:30 am : Introductory Ceremony
11:45 am : Experienced Canoeists Start
12:15 pm : Novice/Youth Canoeists Start
12:45 pm : Kayak/ Single person canoeists Start
***1:15 pm : Leisure/fun paddle Start *****
6:00 pm : Final river sweep completed

Canoes available for rental thru Heavners Livery
Shuttle transport all day long until 6pm

Questions ?
Call Sue Julian, 248-634-3513
or email sjulian @ provide dot net

Call Doug Lanyk 248-634-4551
or email dslanyk @ comcast dot net

Call Willi Gutmann 586-215-6387
or e-mail Willi_H2O @ Yahoo dot Com

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Trail maintenance on the Shiawassee River headwaters

Doug Lanyk and Steve Hoffman made it out today March 16th, 2011  for a paddle upon the Shiawassee River
They launched from Waterworks Park in Holly with high water levels barely making it thru the tubes.
Chainsaws were used to clear up deadfall from the winter wind storms and progress was made
up towards the Fish Lake Road takeout.
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Why cotton absorbs lots of water

For many paddling trips in Michigan you'll want to avoid cotton
- it stays wet , chilling the body, causing hypothermia quickly

Appalachian Mountain Club's Equipped: Why Does Cotton Absorb So Much Water?
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Great Lakes levels expected to drop

Looks like another rough year for local water levels in the various watersheds for 2011
- we just did not not get enough winter precipitation

Great Lakes levels expected to drop | The Times Herald | thetimesherald.com
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2011 Shiawassee river events, cleanup , race, biathalon

Shiawassee River Trail cleanup

Time    
Sunday, May 15, 2011 · 12:30pm - 5:30pm
Location    
Waterworks Park, Holly MI
602 South Broad St, Holly, MI 48442-1674
    
Bring canoes, cold water work gear, gloves, boots, chainsaw, and a big smile.
We have a lot of downfall from the winter to clear out.
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Shiawassee River Paddle Event

Time    
Sunday, June 5, 2011 · 10:30am - 5:30pm

Location    
-WaterWorks Park -
602 South Broad St, Holly, MI 48442-1674

We will be having 3 racing classes and a Pleasure Paddle

Additional Info:
Call Sue Julian, 248-634-3513
or email sjulian @ provide dot net
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Biathalon - short run and paddle

Time    
Sunday, June 26, 2011 · 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Location    
Downtown Holly, MI

TBD - looking like a 3 to 5 K run followed by a 3 K kayak paddle.
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Stay in touch via Facebook - Headwaters Trails Inc. 

Headwaters Trails Inc. 501 (c) (3)

Promotes the creation of land and water trails in North West Oakland County Michigan.

Headwaters Trails, Inc.
P.O. Box 33
Holly, MI 48442-0033 
 

Sue Julian, President: 248-634-3513
Doug Lanyk, Vice-President: 248-634-4551

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Navigable creeks, streams, rivers, waterways and the law

In regards to legal navigability of a waterway, for the public :

- they merely have to be used; to be considered navigable.

By court definition: ""a capacity for meeting the needs and necessities of the people""

Historical commercial uses like floating logs downstream during the lumbering era helps of course

The public has rights in navigable water.

Any water which in its natural state, is capable of, and has been used, for the purposes:

a.) commerce

b.) travel

c.) trade

is considered a navigable waterway by the court systems in a large number of cases.

The floating of logs during the lumbering days was held to be an act of commerce.

It also applies to the movement of animal hides for the fur trade via canoe or kayak.

Travel of people, food, supplies, etc. both upstream or downstream counts as well.

While the log floatation test was the old yardstick

by which many "navigability" claims were measured;

-it is "how" modern waterways best serve the public (as historical intent of law)

that allows recreational usage to be considered in the determination of navigability.

The capacity for beneficial public service is paramount towards being deemed navigable.

Courts adopted a rule of "capacity for use to meet public necessity" as the true test.

Entitlement to paddle upon any given waterway involves the "capability of sustaining travel".

Waterways are public paths, expected to be open to travel and other uses.

This public expectation is still valid today in a modern society.

Sidenote:

My advice is to avoid confrontation with homeowners by merely saying

"sorry, we'll be gone momentarily - we meant no harm or disrespect -have a nice day"

Yelling at each other over rights, entitlement, etc. is simply non-productive and stressful.

Do not engage, simply keep moving and minimize the time spent at that location.

Quiet Water Symposium March 5 2011

Saturday March 5, 2011 at the Quiet Water Symposium on the campus of Michigan State Universty was a success.
A very, very busy day with pretty much non-stop traffic at the HeadWatersTrails booth educating, explaining
and passing out brochures concerning the Shiawassee Water Water trail.

Willi G. Gutmann

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