Saturday, May 3
On Saturday May 3rd the Friends of the Maple River are having a work bee to remove potions of log jams on the section of the Maple River in Gratiot and Clinton Counties. The winter ice storm and spring flooding has created blockage in the river that impede traffic by small boats ( kayaks, canoes, and jon boats) The stretch of the Maple river to be opened is from Blair road public access site upstream to Faragher Road.
Anyone interested in helping on this work bee, should assemble at the site of the Elsie Dam on the Maple River. The site is just west of the village of Elsie on Island road. Be at the dam site at 9:00 AM. Work crews will be organized and sent to the various work sites by 9:30 AM. We anticipate that we should finish somewhere between 1:00 and 2:00 PM.
Volunteers should wear comfortable protective clothing. It will be wet and dirty work. There will also be a fair amount of lifting and pulling of tree debris. Waders and a pair of heavy duty work gloves are also recommended. Don’t forget to bring a Personal floatation device (PFD) as is required by state law when on the water in a boat. If you have a canoe or jon boat, bring it with you to work sections of the river not accessible by walking in from a road.
If you have any questions or need further information about the Maple River log jam and debris clean-up work bee,
please call Friends of The Maple River clean-up coordinator Mr. Jack Nutter at 989-862-5541.
All you kayak and canoe enthusiasts, be sure to mark May 31st on your calendar. That is the date of the Friends of The Maple river sponsored quiet waters float trip on the section of the Maple river that will be opened for safe boat traffic by the May 3rd work bee. You will enjoy the quiet scenic beauty of one of mid-Michigan’s natural resources gems. More information about the quiet waters float trip will be available in early May.