Today, a group of partners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Song of the Morning Dam Removal. The excitement and energy was palpable as attendees looked on in awe of the Pigeon River, flowing freely for the first time in more than a century. Construction began this week and already you can see from downstream to upstream without a dam blocking the view! Long considered the #1 priority for the health of the Pigeon River, this dam removal is a huge step forward for clean water, river wildlife and our community.
We want to take a moment to recognize the project steering committee, made up of representatives of Pigeon River Country Association, Michigan Trout Unlimited, Golden Lotus, Inc. and Huron Pines. We appreciate their guidance along the way in planning the best path to restoration of the Pigeon River.
A huge thank you also goes out to the incredible array of funders who generously gave to make this project possible:
- Michigan DNR’s Aquatic Habitat Grant Program
- Great Lakes Fishery Trust
- Golden Lotus, Inc.
- Pigeon River Country Association
- Patagonia’s World Trout Initiative
- Great Lakes Energy
- Otsego County Community Foundation’s Patrick J. McNamara Fund and the Scott & Janice Lampert Fund
- Charlevoix County Community Foundation
- J.A. Woollam Foundation
- Mullett Lake Area Preservation Society
- Individual contributors
Stay tuned for more updates as the remainder of the dam is removed and a new timber bridge is installed!
