A survey of this stretch of the river and road, done for Verplanck Colvin between 1870 and 1899, shows only "rapids" where the Quarry Dam is located, but it shows the cluster of buildings at the Notch House site downstream. Visitors will enjoy visiting the viewing deck, overlooking Loud Dam Pond, with interpretive signing, including a detailed map of the area. In the morning we break camp and head out for roughly another seven miles before making it to one of the sites on the pond, again, spending around seven to eight hours on the water.
The AuSable River Queen on the Foote Hydro pond offers a unique paddlewheel boat cruise that combines spectacular scenery with the history and lore of the Au Sable. The work is expected to additionally benefit multiple at-risk species, including the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, pickerel frog, and freshwater mussel species such as the fluted shell and elktoe. Shoreline Land Use: Residential and resort. It is named for Edward Loud, who had done extensive lumber business along the AuSable and bought up most of the cut over AuSable lands between 1900-06, then later partnered with company founder William Foote and others to build the Au Sable hydros. We load our kayaks down with a week's worth of supplies, camping equipment and fishing gear, then travel 56 miles downriver in six days. With an original capacity of 9, 000 kilowatts, the hydro began generating electricity in December 1911, making it the first of the six AuSable River hydros. And some folks think the Au Sable is the best flyfishing stream in the Midwest. The lower 23 miles of the Au Sable are paralleled by the River Road, a National Scenic Byway. Below Tippy Dam is the area of the Manistee River known for its quality runs of steelhead and salmon. Then the stretch between Alcona Dam and Loud Pond and the stretch below Foote Dam are narrow and offer good floats for canoes and kayaks.
Just a short walk from the Lumberman's Monument Visitor Center. Meetings are open to all and owners with property near the dams should expect a survey in the mail next week. Access Sites: 06-08 (TAWAS PT. We always like to visit these sites and see the work that went into crafting these large buildings and structures in a way that they are still structurally sound today. With a capacity of 4, 900 kilowatts, the hydro was built between 1914-16 and is the company's hydro furthest upstream (49 miles from Grayling) on the AuSable River. The 67-year-old resident said through tears at a recent public meeting hosted by Consumers. The Au Sable River is an awesome fishery. Hiring a guide will ensure the most potential out of this tremendous section of river.
One of many feeder waterways to Lake Huron. But licenses for 11 of the 13 dams will expire in 2034, putting the company on a timeline to decide whether it's logical to make the investments needed to keep them safe for the future. While working on a project to install sheet pile upstream of the left and right embankment, Consumers is installing a new canoe portage, similar to one recently built at Foote Dam. "We recognize that there's other values to these facilities than just the megawatts, " said Marianne Walter, a senior engineer at the company. Some of these sites on the pond have some spectacular sunsets and sunrises, but they do fill up quick in the summer. The 6 Dams Along the Marathon Route. You can find trout on the lower portion too, but you'll also find other species to target. On a calm day these big ponds can be a pleasure to explore. Please look to the right for purchasing options. Portage Foote Dam on the left.
"Consumers Energy dams are incredible assets in Michigan, " said Matt Carmer, natural resources manager at Consumers Energy. From 2011 to 2019, the Au Sable Undergraduate Research Program trained over 50 undergraduate students in research investigative techniques in seven different investigations, four of which are now in review for publication in other journals, and a fifth expected to begin review in June 2021. "We need to perform due diligence now as the licenses to operate our dams begin to expire in 12 years, " Norm Kapala, the company's vice president of operations, said in a company release Tuesday. The building is 16' by 60' and was built from a kit by the Forest Service and local volunteers at the same time the outdoor displays, landscaped grounds, picnic areas and paved parking lots were added. Springville Township Community Center. Replace the tailrace training wall. "Put simply, fish and other organisms in the water need to move, " Eichinger said.
Access Sites: 06-10 (DNR Boat Launch) & 06-12 (MDOT Roadside Park). Five Channels Dam – Provides significant race viewing opportunities at the canoe portage and the old M-65 bridge. We didn't want a new alien in the beautiful Boardman ecosystem! The Consumers Energy AuSable Canoe Marathon has a reputation of being the 'world's toughest spectator race'.