This week on Points North, we dive into the restoration of the Boardman River since three dams were removed.
The story ties into the thousands of aging dams in Michigan. Many are more than 50 years old, and some aren’t safe. Removing them is good for floodplains and native fish, but it costs money — sometimes more than is available.
It’s also hard to remove dams without opening the way for invasive species to swim upstream.
With three dams out, things are flowing well for the Boardman River
Three dams were removed from the Boardman River in Grand Traverse county in the last seven years. It was the largest ever dam removal project in the State of Michigan, and one of its main goals was to return the river to a more natural and healthy state. Scientists say fish, floodplains and aquatic insects are doing well since the dams came out.
Traverse City Record-Eagle reporter Jordan Travis talks FishPass
Jordan Travis of the Traverse City Record-Eagle stopped by IPR News to discuss his coverage on the FishPass controversy and what's next. Listen to his Q&A with IPR's Max Johnston below.