Sunday, May 22, 2011

June 5, 2011 Shiawassee River

Shiawassee River Paddle Event on June 5, 2011

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

Register


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

http://www.goracego.com/Search/event.aspx?event=6343d4bf-da49-4313-b270-b939310a1ce2.aspx

Shiawassee River Paddle Event on June 5, 2011

Water Trail Map


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

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Flood stage water on Shiawassee River

2011.05.19 Shiawassee River Flooding from John Vanderlaan on Vimeo.

After almost a week of rain, starting with the 2011 Durand Railroad Days, the Shiawassee River exceeded flood stage.



A few things mentioned about safe kayaking during high water - listen carefully
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Shiawassee River at flood stage in Owosso Michigan

The Shiawassee River is at flood stage , over it's banks,  and pouring into streets

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Map of Shiawassee River for canoe or kayak

New Link
Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail
http://www.umflint.edu/resources/pdf/outreach/shiawasse-river-trail-map.pdf
Map of the river starting in Oakland County
































Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Helpers needed EARLY on June 5th for event

June 5 Race Day tasks
PLEASE consider helping us
It is an ALL volunteer effort

We are now in our 7th Year as an Annual Event on the Shiawassee River

If you would like to help a few hours,  a half day,  a full day - all help is welcome

Contact one of us :
Sue Julian 248-388-1313
Maggie Yerman 810-922-8627
Doug Lanyk 248-303-9495
Willi Gutmann 586-215-6387


Saturday--move supplies to WaterWorks building

SUNDAY
8am -- set up
traffic signs, set up tables and tents, hang banner, set up kayak corral,
place buoy, set up start line, connect sound system, begin registration

9am -- volunteer check-in for remaining volunteers
work/job orientation; final river check team departs

9:30am -- greeting public starts (they insist on coming early!)
info table up and running; box lunch orders taken, parking attendant working,
Heavner Canoe rental on site

10:00am -- registration starts
set up awards display, time results board, site for photographing winners

11:00am -- downstream set up
Strom Park timers and greeters; safety spotters get situated

11:30am -- Introduction to the Race;

11:45am -- Experienced teams start with lap around Millpond
12:15pm -- Novice/youth teams start with lap around Millpond
12:45pm -- Single/kayak paddlers start on Shiawassee River
1:00 pm -- Timing Results start;
Heavner is on site in Strom Park for first returns;
awards and photos as people return

1:15 to 2:00pm -- Pleasure paddlers depart; photographer downstream

2:00pm -- Sweep boat leaves
Timing results and awards continue; box lunches distributed
Additional help needed with return transportation

5:00pm -- Pizza for volunteers at WaterWorks Park

5:30pm -- Final clean-up

With a little luck we should be done with it all by 6pm

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Shiawassee River and Wildwood Cemetery in Chesaning

The Shiawassee River is eroding the banks, causing landslides near a Chesaning cemetary.
People are concerned the cemetary is at risk of sliding into the river.

Action becomes critical as Shiawassee River threatens Wildwood Cemetery | tricountycitizen.mihomepaper.com | The Tri County Citizen

http://bit.ly/Cemetary
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Thursday, May 05, 2011

Linden sign dedication on May 16 for Shiawassee Heritage Trail

Linden Sign Dedication on May 16 Marks First Full Moon Paddle of the Season


What: Linden Shiawassee River Sign Dedication & Full Moon Paddle
Where: Linden Mill Pond Beach, Linden Michigan
When: Monday, May 16, 2011,

5:00pm Sign Dedication,
6:30pm Full Moon Paddle


View Linden Mill Pond in a larger map

Join the City of Linden and Keepers of the Shiawassee May 16 at the Linden Mill Pond for the Shiawassee River sign dedication and full moon paddle. Friends and fellow paddlers will meet at the Mill Pond in Linden at 5pm to dedicate the new interpretive sign. Light refreshments will be served. Linden is the latest location to have signage installed along the Shiawassee River following a sign installation at Bush Park back in April. The mill pond is currently used as a kayak/canoe launch for paddlers who seek to paddle upstream to Tupper and Ponemah lakes.

The sign dedication ceremony will be followed by the first full moon paddle of the season, organized by Keepers of the Shiawassee. Interested paddlers are asked to meet at 6:30 p.m. at the mill pond for an hour long paddle up to Lake Ponemah and back to the mill pond. The group will end the evening at the Linden Hotel for dinner. Kayaks and canoes are available for rent from Fairbanks Canoes and Kayaks, LLC 810-287-9618 who will be at the event.

The sign was illustrated by Gayle Vandercook of Lapeer and was made possible through a generous grant from the Florence Michelson Fund and the Adams Fund to Benefit the Fenton Natural Environment, both associated Funds of the Fenton Community Fund. Since 2009, the Fenton Community Fund has lent their support to the River by advising a grant to University Outreach at the University of Michigan - Flint to create interpretive signage, a brochure, and develop a canoe launch. “Linden has supported the development of the Shiawassee River for years through their annual cleanups and festivals along the river and fishing tournaments. Developing the River into a recreation destination for paddlers seemed like a logical next step to boost local tourism and strengthen community identity” said Sara McDonnell, program coordinator at UM-Flint.

The Shiawassee River, the liquid ribbon that flows through Holly, Fenton, Linden and Argentine all the way to the Saginaw River and eventually to Saginaw Bay, is the focus of the Keepers of the Shiawassee. Keepers of the Shiawassee is a volunteer group that is developing the Shiawassee river as a paddling trail by organizing cleanups, installation of signage, and canoe/kayak launches. “The Shiawassee River is one of our greatest resources and has the opportunity to provide recreation and economic development to our region” stated Maggie Yerman an advocate for the Shiawassee River and key organizer of Keepers of the Shiawassee.
Keepers of the Shiawassee has grown out of efforts started by Headwaters Trails, Inc in Holly that created a paddling trail along the river from Holly to Fenton, and who organize an annual canoe race. Though local river cleanups occur in Fenton, Linden and Argentine, there has not been an organized effort to link volunteers in Genesee County to develop and promote the river. The Keepers of the Shiawassee hope to establish the water trail with safe and legal launch and landing sites and facilities every 4 to 6 river miles for novice and recreational paddlers.

Find Keepers of the Shiawassee on Facebook or Visit www.keepersoftheshiawassee.com for upcoming river events and to download the Shiawassee River Trail Guide.

CONTACTS
Sara McDonnell
University Outreach, UM-Flint
(810) 424-5489
smcdonne@umflint.edu

Maggie Yerman
Keepers of the Shiawassee
810-735-9570

Dave Lossing
Mayor, City of Linden
(810) 515-4359

CLICK on signs to see in more detail

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Monday, May 02, 2011

Michigan laws regarding dam safety

The DNR - Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the safety of dams.

The department has the power to regulate the construction, reconstruction, repair,
alteration, removal, abandonment, and operation of dams.

The department may in an emergency take any necessary actions, including repair,
drawdown, breaching or cessation of operation to protect public safety,
natural resources and the public trust.

Michigan laws regarding dam safety



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USGS topography map of the Shiatown Dam and surrounding land
( click on the picture with mouse for a larger view)

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The Shiatown Dam is 19 feet high - the water drops 19ft from reservoir to spillway
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