Maple River Fish Passage

Spicer worked with the Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) in Emmet County in northern Michigan to design the removal of an aging dam on Lake Kathleen and spillway that separated the upper reaches of the Maple River from the lower reaches that eventually empty into Burt Lake. The Maple River is a Blue-Ribbon Trout Stream and supports a healthy population of resident trout and migrating steelhead and brown trout from Burt Lake.

Spicer Group conducted the original study for this project to make recommendations for safe removal of the dam and restoration of the original stream bed and gradient. The study identified the best way to draw down the lake behind the dam without releasing sediment downstream. Spicer Group designed the new channel as well as the replacement of three existing culverts with a new 3-span, 70-foot-long, timber bridge. The grade of the newly constructed channel under the timber structure was controlled with natural stone cross vanes and pools to encourage the passage of fish. The embankments along the road adjacent to the stream were stabilized and storm water runoff was managed to reduce sedimentation. Sediment traps were designed and constructed to capture sand as the river naturally cut down to its final gradient. Turbidity monitoring of the river was done during construction to ensure the health of aquatic life.