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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Michigan's bizzare DAM ownership fiasco

Michigan has numerous DAMS in ownership limbo from judicial juggling of responsibility.
Let's cut the bullshit.
The government is US, the citizens of the Michigan. Waterways belong to everyone, downstream/upstream, all.
Attempting to burden some little itty bitty community of a 1,000 people with $$$$ millions in removal or repair costs is just a complete waste of everyones resources.

The State of Michigan should own all the dams, repair and maintain them along with demolition of  aging deteriorating dams that pose safety hazards.
Dams were used by our ancestors in an era long gone. It is time to evolve into the 21st century.


Corunna, Michigan is playing a game of who,what,where,when concerning ownership of a dam on the Shiawassee River.
Guess what - it belong to all of us in Michigan already.
Your tax dollars are paying the "experts" from the DNR and the Army Corps of Engineers to consult anyways.
Little local governments don't have super duper technical hydro engineers, physicists, structural engineers, etc.

Putting a dam in the hands of the Michigan Land Bank Authority is even more foolish.
It's not something anyone can sell, let along give away to a charity, or make any profit on.
They are bankers, CPA's and office personnel - it's not like they put on a drysuit and inspect the dams......

Water flows, it moves, it seeps, creeps, drips, and gurgles it's way along, never really staying in any one place for long.
It is a resource that belongs to all citizens of Michigan - and the government also belongs to us .
Citizens need to get actively involved with the resources they own .

Last time I checked, no one is getting their grain milled from any mill pond. It is 2011 - move forward !
http://t.co/KBVRFHP

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Detroit metropolitan water levels are low

Local water levels are low

Quiet Water Symposium Pictures 2010 MSU Lansing Michigan

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Click on pictures for larger view
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Quiet Water Symposium 2010 MSU Lansing Michigan

Kayaking Rapids on Shiawassee River ?

On November 1, the Village of Chesaning had Mayor Pro-tem Damion Frasier and River Restoration Committee member  
Neil Pullman maneuver kayaks over the newly created rock fishway to celebrate its dedication.

As the year ended, Mayor Joe Sedlar, Jr. had received word that the
U.S. Fisheries & Wildlife had requested use of the video Deana Sedlar recorded ,
showing Frasier and Pullman floating gently over the rock fishway to celebrate the project’s completion.


FREE EXPOSURE FOR CHESANING – The U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife will be promoting Chesaning
on their external affairs web site, according to Chesaning Village Mayor/President Joe Sedlar, Jr.

According to Sedlar, his wife Deana had recorded the Nov. 1 dam dedication where Doug Pullman
and Damion Frasier charged kayaks over the newly constructed rock fish ladder in the Shiawassee River.

The short film had been posted on YouTube, but the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife liked it so much,
they requested an original copy to post on their web site.

As a result, U.S. Fish and Wildlife will be identifying/promoting Chesaning on their web site,
Mayor Sedlar told the Chesaning Village Council during their Dec. 15 meeting.

Video available here :

http://recovery.doi.gov/press/bureaus/us-fish-and-wildlife-service/alpena-national-fish-and-wildlife-conservation-office/
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I MAY BE WRONG - but I didn't see a vest or PFD, any emergency crew for Ice Cold Water Immersion

throw ropes, swift water rescue, etc., etc. and this is what they want to promote ???????

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NEW Video - right from the DNR

http://recovery.doi.gov/press/bureaus/us-fish-and-wildlife-service/alpena-national-fish-and-wildlife-conservation-office/
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A 300 ft. structure with natural waterfalls, the u-shaped drops are very, very close
to one another making maneuverability for play boating almost  impossible.

I'm told it was done for the old timers nostalgic for the Chesaning Showboat.
A ""social issue"" for the impoundment waters for the riverboat in Chesaning.
Somehow I just don't see some ancient ol' riverboat ride that great a thing in 2011.

Time moves forward -- holding on to everything from the past hinders progress.

 

This is near Cole Park in Chesaning, Michigan

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=43.185035,-84.111859&spn=0.003704,0.006539&t=h&z=18&msid=111387343905039436857.00047c496acdb50628848
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Map Shiawassee River Paddle Event

Click on Map or Post Title for a full size picture of Shiawassee River
--the river follows along near Grand Trunk Westen Railroad tracks
--the river dips slightly south near Wilson Lake
--the river enters into Fenton Mill Pond (Genessee County) from the East
--the river exits the Fenton Mill Pond and flows North past Bush Park in Fenton


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.

Link to maps of Shiawassee River between Holly and Fenton

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmpgIUEaKLKgQIeVGR0zpd7-WjOg2EHWKEJI7eRsDluvS4q5_2-uyxGUX-vaUy-u_wL_t4COa2-L_1gWK1kiSjOWEVqPIqYhuhMoUb6VUQKFcREW24iCRkMwoEuqHNuw6bNlhAA/s1600-h/shiawassee+topo.png

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNn6jaxg5dg94t1wLhdWUDzIspjMPrNjQ1p4Asrgvmnb9hnUEoAlTiyG05z_mrzt52Iq1T0gKhrXTi2d4Yp4zecFnxTng_X_WqHO3JaDd-qppsVpsIf0zPRn3GaNXu6OIQ6L3Uw/s1600-h/River+Map.jpg