2013 Manistee Planting Report

The Upper Manistee River Northern White-cedar Restoration Project has completed its third 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 two separate new plantings completed in 2013 and one replanting on state owned land. Mason Griffiths Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited, lead by Bob Andrus and Dave Smith, completed a planting of 50 seedlings and 10 replants in Zone 4 on May 11, 2013 in their segment of the river.  The Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited completed a planting of 50 seedlings on September 14, 2013 in Zone 2, lead by member Eric Anderson.  Anglers of the Au Sable completed a replanting of 25 seedlings within Zone 2 on September 21, 2013. Anglers of the Au Sable completed a replanting of 50 cedar seedlings in Zone I following an almost complete loss of seedlings from year 2012.  The Anglers of the Au Sable plantings were led by Jim Shiflett.  All seedlings are in protective cages and are growing well.

Sierra Club’s Zone 5 was flagged for planting however was not planted due to lack of volunteers.  Project coordinator Lorne Beatty plans to plant the site in the spring of 2014.

Total new plants to date is 400 and 95 replants.

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.