Volume 1, Issue 48 APRIL 26, 2024
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Major Marshville Dam improvements to begin soon By Steve Gunn The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
PERMIT NO 62
PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
A longtime lack of funding has not kept the volunteer Oceana Parks and Recreation Commission from making big improvements to the eight rural county parks that grace the community. The commission operates on a very modest budget of about $20,000 per year, which does not pay for much beyond basic maintenance. But the dedicated members have spent a lot of time seeking and securing grants and private donations to pursue projects to make the parks more accessible and enjoyable for the public. The crown jewel of the current projects – about $2.2 million worth of major improvements to Marshville Dam Park in Benona Township near Shelby – is about to begin. Garry McKeen, chairman of the Oceana Parks and Recreation Commission, gave a power-point presentation on the various improvement projects to the Oceana County Board of Commissioners on Thursday. Before that presentation, McKeen described the various projects to the Echo, particularly the ambitious Marshville Dam Park project, where the main idea will be to remove impediments to the free flow of water in Stony Creek, a very clean and popular trout stream that empties into Stony Lake and Lake Michigan. The project will include the removal of a very old, non-functioning dam from the portion of Stony Creek that runs through the park, the removal of two very old, unused concrete bridges over the creek, and the removal of the existing traffic bridge on Marshville Road and the three culverts in the creek that support it. The Marshville Road bridge will be replaced by a new timber bridge that was constructed in Wisconsin and will be installed in pieces over the next few months.
The section of Marshville Road in the park will be closed to all traffic starting Monday. The road is expected to be closed until early August. The idea to rehabilitate Marshville Dam Park – which has been popular with fishermen for years – goes back to around 2020, when commission members invited a biologist from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to come take a look at the dam and the creek in the park. The original thought was to try to rehabilitate the dam, but that would have been costly, and the DNR biologist did not recommend it. “He was walking through the stream and making an assessment,” McKeen said. “I asked, if we had an unlimited budget, what would you recommend? He said the dam should come out, the three culverts should be removed, and the concrete bridges should come out, to allow the water to flow unrestricted. He also suggested additional funding to restore the creek to the north and south.” McKeen explained that the old dam in the section of Stony Creek flowing through the park was constructed in the 1920s to create a trout pond for local fishermen. It has deteriorated and become non-functional over time, and its continued presence makes it difficult for fish to navigate the creek and could be a danger to people, particularly children, who try to make the jump from
the creek bank to the dam. “It creates a hazard,” he said. “You might have kids wanting to try to jump the 10 feet from the shoreline to the dam. So safety is one issue, and it’s also an impediment to the stream. It also doesn’t allow fish to pass very easily. “This is a great opportunity for a new beginning there.” The bases of the three bridges that run above the creek – including two that are unused and the Marshville Road structure – are also impediments to the free flow of water through the creek, McKeen said. The two oldest bridges, both concrete, are very narrow and impassable, McKeen said. They were used for vehicle traffic years ago, but that ended by the 1960s, he said. “They are one-lane bridges,” he said. “They used to be for horse and buggies and early vehicles.” The Marshville Road bridge is supported by the three culverts (or large tubes) in the creek, covered by soil, with the asphalt roadway on top. It’s also an impediment to the flow of the creek due to the three culverts, which were designed for water to pass through. During lower water times, however, the water does not reach the culverts in certain spots, meaning fish cannot pass and sediment carried by the water piles up in the creek near the bridge. The new timber bridge – about 50
feet long - will be supported by a wooden structure, allowing the water to flow freely past the bridge with no obstructions, according to McKeen. The project will also include the installation of wood in spots in the creek bed to benefit the fish population, McKeen said. “Over time, the water flow over wood creates suction,” McKeen said. “That creates holes or scours, fish go into them and are more protected. They congregate in those areas. That’s where they reproduce, and in the winter where they hide. They are deeper areas where they find safety. “The feds want this type of work done, because it provides a place for fish to get out of Lake Michigan and go upstream and spawn.” When all of the work is completed, an ADA accessible fishing and viewing deck will be constructed in the park for visitors to enjoy, McKeen said. To fund the creek improvement part of the project, commission members reached out and gained the assistance of the Conservation Resource Alliance, based in Grand Traverse County. A staff member with that organization helped secure several grants that totaled around $1.1 million. To fund the dam bridge removal and bridge replacement, the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission helped secure $1.2 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It won’t be long before Marshville Dam Park, already popular because Stony Creek is a great trout stream, becomes an even more beautiful and popular destination, according to McKeen. “It will create some recreational places that are currently not there,” he said. “A person using a wheelchair will be able to go right at creek level (on the deck), six inches off the creek. It’s also an economic development. People will come to visit this location. In two or three years, it’s going to be a very scenic park.”
2nd annual Steve Millis Memorial Sucker Derby a success By Scott Kroepel The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Nearly 100 anglers showed up and braved the brisk weather Saturday, April 20, to compete in a sucker fishing tournament in Hesperia to honor and continue promoting the awareness of Steve Millis. Steve was a 1988 Hesperia graduate who went missing back in 2019. The 65 pre-registered teams competed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with official weigh-ins at Weaver Park upon the event deadline. The 2024 winners were: Kids Division (16 and under, up to 4 kids per team, with the 5 heaviest fish) 1st place – The Benson Boys with 35.4 lbs; 2nd place – Hugh
Jade and Andy Everding
The Benson Boys
Tim and Tom Wetter
Tanner and Spenser Cole with 18.77 lbs; and 3rd place – Jazymne Stanley with 18.1 lbs; Adult Division (2 person teams, with the heaviest pair of fish) 1st place Tim and Tom Wetter with 18.8 lbs; 2nd place – John Simila and Kevin Holm with 16.5 lbs; and 3rd place – Jaeger and Braedyn Beattie with 16.1 lbs. Steve’s son, Brad Millis, was the
organizer of the event. “The goal is to get kids off the couch and on the water, making sure every kid goes home with a smile and some tackle, while spreading awareness in regards to the disappearance of my father.” Adding “I’m thrilled with the turnout, and he (Steve) sure would be tickled to see this.” According to the “Bringing Steve Millis Home” Facebook
page, Millis was last seen Jan. 4, 2019, leaving the Dollar General store in Hesperia. His truck and belongings were all left behind in the store’s parking lot. Steve was 49 years old at the time, and he hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Anyone with information about his disappearance is asked to contact the Newaygo County Sheriff’s office.