2011 Manistee Planting Report

The Upper Manistee River Northern White-cedar Restoration Project has completed its first year in the Deward area.  The purpose of this cedar tree planting and protection project is preserve and protects the cold-water fishery of the Manistee River by planting northern white-cedar seedlings along the river’s edge. Cedars help maintain shade, cool the water, and provide erosion control by locking in the soil.

There were three separate plantings completed in 2011 on state owned land. The Sierra Club completed a planting of 50 seedlings in the spring, just upstream of Cameron Bridge. The crew leader for Sierra Club was Lorne Beatty.  Mason Griffiths Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited, lead by Bob Andrus, completed a planting of 50 seedlings in the fall of the year in their segment of the river. Also, the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited completed a planting of 50 seedlings in September, lead by member Pete Middleton.  All seedlings are in protective cages and are growing well.  Each of these groups, in addition to the Anglers of the Au Sable, plan to accomplish similar plantings in 2012 & 2013.

This initiative is part of the “Cedars for the Au Sable” project which is administrated by the Au Sable River Property Owners Association.   Additional partners in this project include Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest management Unit and Huron Pines RC&D.

If you would like to plant a few northern white-cedars next fall on your own river property, please visit the “Cedars for the Au Sable” web site at www.cedarsfortheausable.org for an order form or contact Howard N. Johnson 989-753-6373.