Wednesday, September 18th
In lieu of it’s bi-monthly meeting, the Friends of The Maple River (FOMR) are hosting a field tour of a constructed wetlands area on Wednesday September 18th. This wetlands area is located in Gratiot county on the west side of Highway US-127 north of the US-127 and Highway M-57 interchange. The tour will start at 6:00 PM.
Attendees should meet at the Park and Ride commuter parking lot located at the Northwest corner of the US-127/ M-57 highway interchange at 5:45 PM. Attendees will be carpooled to the new wetlands that is located one mile north of the interchange and west of US-127 on Garfield road and is in the Maple River Watershed.
Michael Pennington, Wetlands Mitigation Specialist with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will lead the tour and will explain the state’s wetlands mitigation program. This constructed wetland area is an example of the conversion of farmland back into a wetland. Mr. Pennington’s discussions will include the process involved in creating a mitigated wetlands area, as well as the benefits to our water resources. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the program.
The Clinton County Conservation District will also make a presentation about their stream bank erosion study on the Maple River and Maple River Watershed.
Please note that if rain or severe storms are forecast for the date and time of the wetlands tour, the presentations and discussions will be held indoors at the Clinton County Conservation District/ Natural Resources Conservation Service office located at 2343 North Business US-127, on the north side of St Johns.
Check the FOMR website: friendsofthemapleriver.org, or the organizations facebook site, to verify if the program will be moved indoors because of inclement weather.
A note to canoe and kayak enthusiasts. The annual quiet waters canoe and kayak float trip on the Maple River, sponsored by the FOMR, will be scheduled sometime in October. The actual date will be set in late September. Check the organizations website friendsofthemapleriver.org or the organizations facebook page for detailed information as to the date and portion of the river where the annual float trip will take place.
For further information about the field tour of about the Friend of The Maple River, check our the organizations website or facebook site on the internet. You may also direct a communication to the FOMR at Friends of The Maple River, PO Box 577, St Johns, Michigan 48879 or call the organizations President Jon Morrison at 989-224-1106.