Annual River Clean-up
The annual river clean-up happens the Saturday after Labor Day every year. Beats are assigned so that all parts of the river are covered during the clean-up. The original river clean-up was on the mainstream of the Au Sable. It has since expanded to the North and South Branches and beyond its Grayling roots to include portions of the trophy water near Mio.
The cleanup usually attracts several hundred river lovers, and ends with a cookout at Gates Lodge and, for those working downstream from Mio, the Comins Flats access off McKinley Road.
Cedars for the Au Sable
The northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) along the riverbanks provide needed shade to maintain the cold-water fishery of the river. The presence of the cedar sweepers at the water line provides protection for the fish, increases the amount of large woody debris in the water, as well as the preservation of the riverbank by locking in the soil.
Anglers of the Au Sable have been a supporter and participant from the very beginning of the “Cedars for the Au Sable” project, which encourages river property owners to replant native northern white-cedar seedlings along the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers to help maintain the delicate balance of the river’s ecological system. Since the beginning of this project in 1997 by the Au Sable River Property Owners Association (ARPOA), over 12,000 northern white-cedar seedlings have been planted and protected in enclosures.
Current Projects
The Anglers Habitat Committee oversees work on a variety of projects aimed at improving fishing on the AuSable. If you want to volunteer to become involved please e-mail info@ausableanglers.org.
The Dam 4 Restoration Project
Anglers is installing structures on the North Branch below the Dam 4 access. We have applied for and received grants at various times for this project, but the DNR is pretty limited in its support right now. Anglers has provided specialized equipment, such as chainsaw winches, and plenty of hard work to make this project a success. More work is needed.
North Branch Research Projects
Concerns about low catch rates on the North Branch has led to Anglers engaging Grand Valley State University researchers to take a look at potential issues. Water quality, insect data, juvenile trout assessments and more are happening right now.
Replacing Gear Restricted Regulation Signs
These signs let anglers know about flies only segments of the river – large parts of the Upper Au Sable and Manistee Rivers. Many of these signs are now damaged or missing, and Anglers is replacing them.
Mono Recycling Stations
We recently installed 12 Mono Recycling stations below Mio, The stations have a sign that indicates their purpose, one that asks for no trash to be deposited and an anglers decal. Some have metal signs stating that these are Anglers projects.
Gaging Stations
Anglers has worked with Lake Superior State University to install stations tracking key river information at two locations, with more under consideration. In 2020, Anglers Habitat Committee members made changes to improve their durability, installing 4 x 4 posts, using conduit to protect wiring and hardening the stations against nature and vandals, human and critter.
Sand Traps
Sand traps work, but they need to be emptied from time to time. Recently, we have been overseeing and paying for work to dredge a major trap on the West Branch of Big Creek, with seeding and straw covering the area. And we are monitoring the trap to see if it’s working properly. Another trap being worked on is on the East Branch.
Redd Surveys
We annually do surveys of redds to monitor brook trout spawning in particular. This year, we focused on the North Branch, and over two days surveyed all of our normal reaches. (Overall, redd numbers are down slightly, a troubling trend that continues. With information like this, we can work to make a difference.)
Main Stream Winter Projects
Sometimes it’s just easier and less intrusive to do river restoration projects during the winter, aiming to augment cover in key locations. We are trying to see how this can be done, and are working with fishery experts to determine how we might expand this practice.
East Branch Reconnect
Anglers has partnered with Michigan Trout Unlimited to fund an alternative designs and engineering study which is a necessary first step with the goal of reconnecting the East Branch above and below the Grayling Fish Hatchery. This study is being done in cooperation with the Crawford County Board of Commissioners.
Access Sites
Access sites help to limit introduction of sand into the river. Right now, we are working with Lovells Township on a site, with some work done by the DNR and some by Anglers volunteers.