By Tom Lounsbury
​
            Michigan is truly blessed with countless rivers, and where ever you go statewide, you are never very far from one. Folks closely associated with one of those rivers often come to realize its true value, and band together with other folks of a like mind, to enhance and promote their beloved river. This may entail performing efforts to control erosion, pollution and eliminating invasive aquatic plants which can quickly displace native plant species, and all of this combined  can be an ongoing process requiring serious dedication and devotion. These folks are literally the volunteer caretakers of the river, and are all too often unsung heroes.
            One such group located in Michigan’s Thumb area, is the Cass River Greenway (CRG), which was first formed in 2007, and has been striving ever since to enhance and promote the Cass River. This involves working with professional resources as well as all the various municipalities associated with the Cass River corridor. It is clearly a dedicated regional effort which strives to unify communities toward an overall goal.
            Ecotourism has become very popular in Michigan, and it is important to be able to provide public access points along a particular river for all to enjoy, and this has been a CRG priority. This entails creating canoe/kayak launches at various points, and it remains to be an ongoing process. In 2018, due to CRG efforts, the Cass River is now an Official Water Trail from Saginaw, upstream to M-46, near Vassar. The ultimate goal is to eventually extend the Water Trail upstream, all the way to M-53 in Sanilac County, and to do so requires establishing more canoe/kayak launch sites. Obtaining the various municipal, state and county support and cooperation is very crucial to achieve all.
            From CRG’s beginning, a priority is doing “trash cleanups” on various sections of the Cass River. This is done during low water levels which more readily expose items, and involves teams of volunteers getting into the water, doing some serious wading, and towing a canoe or small boat to haul the collected trash out, which can include some amazing items. Besides trash cans, car parts (including engine blocks), and LP tanks, the most common and numerous items to be removed are rubber tires of all sizes, entailing some huge examples from farm tractors and even commercial-type equipment and trucks. Some tires have been in the river since automobiles first came into vogue, and rubber does not biodegrade. Sadly, many of the tires are more often than not, recent arrivals.
            It seems that isolated country bridges, of which the Cass River has many, are the perfect spot for lame-brained, and obviously very ignorant idiots who don’t give a hoot, to get rid of their trash. One can only imagine the effort it took to roll some of those large, heavy tires up and over a bridge railing. I can readily picture it took at least two or more idiots to accomplish the task. Nope, folks, you sure can’t cure stupid!
            A problem with all this, is that spring run-offs, featuring some rather impressive hydraulics, steadily moves tires and other trashy debris downstream, and distributes all of it at some amazing and very spread out distances from the bridges of which it originated. Due to the silt involved and eventually covering matters up, it often requires a sharp eye to identify debris littering the river bottom.
            When it comes to rubber tires, there is a technique required to extract them from the water. To begin, they are filled with silt, mud and even rocks, and are literally impossible to lift. A shovel, trowel and even hands are required to scoop everything out. Rubber gloves are needed to protect hands, not only from sharp objects, but also harmful bacteria. Yep, folks, this all takes a certain mindset beforehand to successfully accomplish maters. Teamwork is also very essential to lift the heavy tires, even with the debris eliminated, into a canoe or small boat. It is quite literally some very wet, dirty and muddy work. And, needless to say, it is sure a bit strenuous, too!
            I had an opportunity to observe this teamwork last Saturday morning. A whole bunch of folks arrived at Caro Motorsports, that was the host-site for this 12th annual event (due to the 2020 Pandemic restrictions, matters were necessarily put on hold for a year), to get their assignments. Among them were plenty of eager young people from the Reese Outdoors Club and the Tuscola County 4-H Youth Council, both girls and boys, all ready and willing to get ‘er done. Yep, folks, youthful enthusiasm never hurts a bit! Especially with such a very dirty job!
            As for me, still recovering from a leg injury, I was pretty much a “go-fer”, by hauling and providing my 12 ft aluminum flat-bottom boat which has a shallow draft and can handle quite a load. I would also be on hand to transport folks, and my having a durable Jeep, they all being wet and muddy in the very end didn’t hurt a thing! It was my honor to give them a lift.
            On this cleanup event, there were six groups of assigned teams to cover from just downstream of Cass City, all the way upstream to near Caro. Some of this entailed a bit of “mop-up” from previous cleanups, entailing trash and tires of a quantity which couldn’t be hauled out before, and some stretches were entirely new and untouched.  My team was number “3”, and that is all I can relate to. They were definitely venturing into “untouched” territory. I would like to state here about the wonderful landowner support the CRG cleanup plans and crews receive. The riverside landowners are absolutely delighted to see matters being cleaned up. My number 3 team, entailing several eager young lads from the Reese Outdoors Club, launched off from the Russ Ostic residence, just upstream of the Deckerville Road Bridge. I would later connect with them, and all the tires and trash they had collected, a mile downstream, at the riverbank owned by Bill Walker, who was on hand and willing to offer a backhoe, chains and whatever, to remove matters, if required.
            Actually, those young lads used marvelous teamwork to bring matters up a steep and muddy riverbank all by themselves, and I’m talking about some seriously big rubber tires. It is amazing how much was discovered and collected on just a short river mile. I didn’t know my boat, as well as a canoe (provided by the city of Vassar, that always offers a trailer-full of canoes for this effort), could hold so much and still have a bit of freeboard! It is quite obvious that the Deckerville Road Bridge is a favorite dumpsite for the idiots.
            All of this was loaded onto a couple trucks provided by Star of the West Milling Company, of Frankenmuth, which has always generously provided trucks for the Cass River cleanup efforts.
            In the end, by early afternoon, there was quite a collection of trash, and of course a whole lot of tires of every description.
            It had been a fine morning spent with great, very dedicated folks during some splendid, sunny September weather. I know the Cass River is now a whole lot prettier, at least in my eyes, due to all their efforts.
            Thank you, one and all!

​

 The Cass River Greenway Committee has been working with many communities along the river for over a dozen years, looking to improve water quality and recreational opportunities. 
In the greater Frankenmuth area, between the Village of Tuscola and past Bridgeport, much work as been done to develop kayak and canoeing launches, including in Frankenmuth with the fish passage and fish releases through many organizations. 
However, the end of the trail near Bridgeport has been the focus, with a pair of major log jams removed over the past three years. The first one was near M-13 and was removed in 2019. Recently, a second log jam was removed, found downstream of Bridgeport and its waste water treatment plant. 
The second jam, which was located less than a mile from the first one, was larger and more compact to tackle. Both were in remote areas and difficult to access. 
The most recent jam removal cost approximately $25,000, with riparian property owner Mark Schluckbier allowing Zervan Brothers Excavating of Burt, owned by Craig Wolverton, access to the jam. 
Cass River Greenway Committee Chairman Robert Zeilinger wishes to thank the following for making contributions to the work, which was done in late March. They are, the Frankenmuth Credit Union Foundation For Our Communities, the Frankenmuth Community Foundation, Frank N. Andersen Foundation, William McNally Family Foundation, Star of the West Milling Company, Jolt Credit Union, Arno & Caroline Mossner Memorial Foundation, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN), Knights of Bavaria, Frankenmuth Insurance Charitable Foundation and the Cass River Greenway. 
The removal completes a 38-mile-long water trail; the Cass River overall measures approximately 73 miles, including the north and south branches. 
More specifically, the second log jam was located between Studor and Lee roads. Once identified, the fundraising began last year, with the goal to perform the work in winter, the same time frame the first jam was removed, when the ground is frozen and it is easier for the heavy equipment to enter, remove the debris and get out. However, permitting was slowed and then the road weight restrictions stopped the project. 
Work finally began on Wednesday, April 23, and wrapped up Tuesday, April 27. The logs were taken from the water, piled on site and burned. During the first log jam, the wood was chipped. 
Zervan workers had a strategy, taking the logs from one side of the river bank and building a bridge over the water, in from of the 80,000-pound excavator, which allowed it to “walk” to the other side of the river. 
Zeilinger, Cass River Greenway Vice President Joe Toth and Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Bill Wheeler said two excavators worked in tandem, taking out the logs, and slowly removing the log bridge. 
“The dryness of the winter and spring helped us . . . we had no flooding,” Zeilinger said. “The water was no deeper than 6-8 feet for the most part.” 
Zeilinger also listed the three benefits of not only having this log jam removed, but the other one as well. 
“The big benefits are one, recreation, for paddling and fishing boats. Persons can now go between Bridgeport and M-13, and they could not do that for at least the past 4-5 years. Secondly, fish will be more likely to migrate upstream where before the jam was so solid, the fish could not get through, Finally, during a flooding event, the two jams worked like another dam,” Zeilinger stated. 
Going forward, Wheeler and Frankenmuth Parks and Recreation Director Daren Kaschinske will head up a survey of the river. The Greenway Committee is hoping some area outdoor enthusiasts will volunteer to scout the river and report potential log jams. 
In other CRGC news, Saturday and Sunday, June 12-13, is Free Fishing Weekend in Michigan as all fishing license fees will be waived for two days. Residents and out-of-state visitors may enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes’ waters for all species of fish, however, all fishing regulations still apply. 
A week later, Saturday, June 19, the 10th annual Cass River Paddle and Swim will take place. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are welcome. Persons should meet at the Tuscola Park Launch and depart at 9:30am or meet at the Downtown Vassar Launch and depart at 7am. Swimmers will assemble in the 9000 block of Ormes Road at 9am. 
Pontoons will assist and escort swimmers downstream to Heritage Park. Wet suits are recommended for swimmers. 
For more information about the Cass River, please visit www.cassriver.org. 
Ca LogJamMay26

By Tom Lounsbury 

The record spring floods of 2019 in the Thumb had caused the Cass River to do a bit of “custom” landscaping along its riverbanks by removing soil and rocks with turbulent currents, and pushing a lot of it downstream. This was especially so on the Cass River’s Upper Reaches. An example was a residence located near Caro which had a decent-sized island formed in the middle of the river behind their home, almost overnight. When another flood occurred, the island completely disappeared, with the previously compiled soil and rocks being forced further downstream toward the Caro Dam. 

Terrain 360, based in Richmond, Virginia, had been contracted to map a number of rivers in southeast Michigan. This would eventually include the Flint River, Shiawassee River, Saginaw River and Cass River, with this portion of the project being funded by the I-69 Thumb Region Prosperity Network and the Saginaw County Parks and Recreation. Ecotourism has become a highly popular outdoor pastime, including utilizing the access to the rivers in certain localities, and enjoying what they have to offer. Being able to go online and seeing detailed maps and information of each river is a definite plus for folks, and this is what Terrain 360 is all about, utilizing some very specialized equipment. 

All of this fell right in line with the many goals of the Cass River Greenway (CRG) who had volunteers, me among them, ready and waiting to assist Terrain 360 (T-360) in its efforts, a very necessary part of the equation. Prior to T-360’s arrival, the Cass River had to be reconnoitered, with the Upper Reaches being done by Larry Kolb of Cass City (in a kayak), and Myles Willard of Mayville and myself (in a canoe). 

The only obstruction we had encountered was a natural dam across the river, which had been formed by rocks being rolled downstream by flooding waters, and collecting in a sharp bend of the river. We were hoping at the time, this was a temporary situation, just like “overnight islands” formed in the river. Major flooding can do amazing things to a river, including creating impassible logjams. 

The T-360 project on the Cass River had to be delayed a bit due to continual flooding, causing the water to have the same appearance as chocolate milk, which would not be very photogenic to record per online viewing. However, matters would begin in mid-July, when the water became crystal clear. The problem with this timeframe is that the Upper Reaches can experience water level changes, according to the ongoing weather (which happens to most rivers). It just so happened that the weather had just turned splendid, being sunny, warm and dry for a week, which was causing me some concern. 

The Upper Reaches of the Cass River is typically canoe and kayak territory, for which it is a real jewel. However, I had been informed that T-360 was coming with a custom-designed river raft featuring inflatable pontoons, oars and even an outboard. I was going to be the river guide on board, going from Evergreen Park in Sanilac County to Chippewa Landing in Tuscola County, hopefully in one day. I truthfully didn’t know what to expect, and decided to go with the flow, and do my best in assisting matters. 

On the scheduled morning, I met Ryan Crenshaw, who was the Captain of the vessel, and a highly skilled riverman. The river raft was definitely a bit bigger than I was expecting, although it appeared to have a relatively shallow draft, despite some obvious weight. It had a tall pole extending up with 5 cameras on top for a 360 degree pan, with wires feeding down to a computer – quite a high-tech setup. I still had confidence we might do well, and when we launched from Evergreen Park, the weather was warm and sunny, with clear blue skies. That stretch of river used to be called the “Dead-waters” by the old timers and features relatively deep waters and a slow current. This is due to a limestone shelf located downstream which acts as a dam. Once you get past this, the current picks right up. We were humming along fine with the outboard for the first mile or so, and then matters took a dramatic change when we got out of the “Dead-waters”. 

The water level had dropped as I had surmised, but it was made much shallower by the countless rolling stones literally moving around and covering the river bottom. Crenshaw and I had no choice but to lift the outboard, get out and start shoving the raft, which I can tell you can be a real challenge when you are stepping on animated, round stones, mostly the size of baseballs. This would become the pattern, with getting on again and off again at certain spots, with Crenshaw able to use the oars whenever possible, and the outboard was no longer a viable option. Some of the stretches we had to push through were on the lengthy side, which required teamwork, and I was doing my best to carry my weight. However, there were times Crenshaw could motivate a bit faster than me, and I ended up taking the occasional header when I lost my grip on the raft. 

Well, folks, in my defense, I would like to state that Crenshaw was half my age and built like “Hulk Hogan”. It was like teaming up an old beater farm truck with a Hummer! During these times, I would have drag myself up and start wading as fast as possible to catch up, which is real interesting when you have rolling stones continually underfoot, and because you are wading downstream with a current faster than you, disrupted silt masks everything you are about to step into. A number of times I sensed I was about to step into a hole, but the brisk current, with the aid of rolling stones, kept my feet going forward, and down I would go backwards. Needless to say, folks, I ended with a whole bunch of dents in my “tailgate”! 

At one point, I was caught in a rapids, and there was no way to get stabile footing, so I realized I needed a wading staff. I basically had to belly-crawl through matters to a dead ash tree lying near the shore, to break off a handy branch. This wasn’t easy, because my life-vest kept me buoyant enough in the shallows, that the fast current wanted to carry me downstream, and I had to do some serious scrambling. The wading stick sure made a difference. 

I was wearing swim trunks, and at one point when almost reaching the raft waiting for me in waist-deep water, I felt something bumping the back of my bare legs, and assumed it was debris coming with the current, and then it latched on! I looked down and saw a lamprey eel attached to my leg. I highly doubt it was a sea lamprey that far upstream, but instead a native creek lamprey which had mistaken my bare leg in the silty water for a fish (its true target). I would like to say that I let out manly bellow and wacked it away with my improvised wading stick, but according to Crenshaw, I “screamed like a girl” while flailing away at the eel. Nope, folks, I sure do dislike things surprising me out of nowhere by latching on! 

Despite a bit of effort here and there, we eventually made it to the Cemetery Road Bridge intact. There were times I’m certain that Crenshaw thought the old geezer assisting him was about to have a cardiac arrest, but that wasn’t the case at all. It is just that he was able to shift into overdrive when required, while my “transmission” was often still in creeper gear. We got ‘er done, though! 

We ended up extracting the river raft at the Cemetery Road Bridge, as I had informed Crenshaw that the raft was too large to continue further downstream to the Dodge Road Bridge. This section, which is a true paddling favorite of mine, has one of the fastest drops in the Cass River and features multiple rapids with some pretty big boulders (which I know quite well and have even given some of the notable boulders very colorful names). It would have been no problem with something that was more narrow, lighter and nimble. 
​
Crenshaw would launch the next morning from the Dodge Road Bridge and head downstream for Chippewa Landing, this time with Larry Kolb of Cass City as his river guide. I had discovered that we “older gents” needed to work in relays with the youthful and seasoned T-360 riverman. The fact is, I was in the recovery mode, and simply getting out of bed that morning was an ordeal. However, I was on hand to greet them that afternoon when they landed at Chippewa Landing. 

When they came in, the river raft was motoring right along with the outboard, and with Larry Kolb sitting in the front. Larry had worn long pants, and I could tell right away that his pant-legs, especially, were a bit tattered (he sort of reminded me of someone rescued after being lost at sea for a while). Yep, folks, I’m real glad we had performed a relay, and I couldn’t wait to hear the story! 

One thing is for certain, it was an honor in assisting T-360 in mapping the Upper Reaches of the Cass River, and it was a real pleasure working with Ryan Crenshaw. He is a real good man to “traverse the river” with, anytime

By CRG Chairman, Robert Zeilinger

Organized in 2007, the Cass River Greenway has now been working for over a decade to
increase recreational use and improve the environmental well being of the Cass River.
Goals Developed by the Cass River Greenway Committee:

• Develop Recreation Opportunities on the Cass River and along its corridor
• Encourage Preservation of Wildlife Habitat and Critical Natural Lands
• Improve Water Quality of the Cass River

Due to the Covid pandemic, only one Cass River Greenway meeting was held and it
occurred on March 4, 2020. All subsequent CRG organized activities were canceled
through the end of the year. Below are some activities that had been in progress and
continue to be pursued on an individual basis.

Cass River Log Jam
As reported previously, the log jam is located downstream of Bridgeport’s Davis Park
launch and upstream of the M-13 Cass River Boat launch. The nearest road for access is
Studor Road. Drone photos have been taken and are available.
Bill Wheeler is leading the planning effort. To date he has secured riparian owner
permission to access the log jam. Bill has talked to contractors and currently has a quote
of $25,000 for removal. EGLE will be contacted for permits, and fundraising has begun.
The best-case scenario would be removal this winter when the ground is frozen and firm
to support the equipment.

Sturgeon Release
This year’s event was closed to the public, but 250 small sturgeon were once again
released in the Cass River, as well as three other Saginaw River tributaries.

Caro Dam
The Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation continues the lead the efforts
to purchase the failed Caro dam. The plan includes repairing the dam, restoring Lake
Caro and developing a portage path around the dam so paddling can occur from the Caro
Chippewa Landing downstream to other established access sites.

Camp Tuscola Property Acquisition
The Tuscola County Parks & Recreation Commission is requesting transfer of ownership
from the Michigan Land Bank of riverfront property located in Indianfields Township.
The long-range plan would include development of a public park and kayak launch
access to the Cass River. This development would then provide the first downstream
access site below the Caro Chippewa Landing.
This project would also enable us to expand the Cass River WaterTrail upstream to Caro,
and hopefully beyond.

A special thank you to our partner federal, state and county agencies, our donors
and grant funders, our partner municipalities and universities, and our faithful
volunteers.

By Tom Lounsbury
The Cass River, which winds a westerly downstream course through Michigan’s Thumb, is divided into two parts, the Upper Reaches, which is upstream of the Caro Dam, and the Lower Reaches, which is located downstream from there. Having canoed down the length of both, I can attest each feature their own distinct and unique atmosphere, including wonderful fishing opportunities. Although there are a few exceptions in certain areas where boats can be used (thanks to the aid of a couple dams – of which a new Fish Way has replaced the Frankenmuth Dam), the Cass River is primarily canoe and kayak territory, which certainly works for me and a whole lot of other folks, as it creates a more serene and harmonious atmosphere.

After a lifetime association with the river, I believe it is safe to say I am a devoted Upper Reaches “Cass Riverman”. With the family farm that I grew up on (and now owned by my wife Ginny and I) located less than a mile away from the Cass River, I’ve spent countless hours thoroughly enjoying and savoring all that it has to offer (including a favorite swimming hole). I was a toddler sitting in my mother’s lap when I caught my first fish, a rock bass, in its waters while using a cane-pole. Needless to say, folks, I was smitten with fishing in “the Cass” from then on. I can state for a fact that the Cass’s Upper Reaches offer excellent fishing opportunities for small mouth bass, rock bass and northern pike.

Maybe it is because it was the first fish I ever caught, but the rock bass remains to be my favorite fish species to this day. Not only due to its dependably feisty nature to hit the bait and lures, but it is also quite delicious in its own right to dine on. I’m never disappointed with a stringer-full of rock bass, usually representing the “meat and potatoes” of a fishing adventure, and with small mouth bass being the “gravy”. Any northern pike ending up on the stringer as well, are considered as the “dessert”. I consider getting all three species on an outing, as being a “Cass River Grand Slam”.

Thanks to the devoted efforts of a dedicated conservation group known as the Cass River Greenway (CRG), a major portion of the Cass River’s Lower Reaches (from the City of Saginaw, upstream to M-46, between Vassar and Caro) has recently been designated an official water trail. This entails a number of canoe/kayak launches developed by the CRG, at regular intervals along the river to create a dependable access for avid paddlers. The only access on the Upper Reaches, however, is at the various bridges, and I can attest, for a fact, that some bridges can offer a bit of a challenge in this regard. Hopefully this will all change in the near future, because in my opinion, the official water trail should extend upstream on the Cass River, all the way to Evergreen Park at M-53. The public demand is certainly there in this situation, and the Cass River, as always, offers excellent recreational opportunities for folks.

Avid Cass Riverman, 16 year old Hugh Walker of Cass City, recently enjoyed an early bass season fishing adventure using kayaks on a stretch of the Upper Reaches, with his mother, Rebecca Walker. The crystal clear water featured a decent current which moved matters along with ease, and Hugh, using a small Rapala, would land a number of rock bass, as well as some small mouths which included a 16 inch, that was eaten with the rock bass later that night, and a very robust and plump 20 inch, which is destined to become a wall mount. Hugh came real close to getting a Cass River Grand Slam when he hooked into a very large northern pike and almost got it to his kayak before, due to the lack of a steel leader, it bit through the fishing line and got away. According to both Hugh and his mother Rebecca, it truly was a real dandy, which I know for a fact, the Cass River can readily provide.

A week later, Hugh Walker would have another memorable Upper Reaches fishing adventure (which he lives for), with his Grandfather Bob Walker, and Uncle Lane Walker, both of Kingston. The stretch they selected, per their canoe and a kayak would normally take four hours to drift and paddle down, but due to the intense fishing action they encountered, especially at certain coves, it took a bit longer. According to Bob Walker, the Cass’s crystal clear water and brisk current that eased them along, reminded him of fishing on the fabled Au Sable River! Bald eagles and ospreys were also constant companions for the fishermen, which says a lot about the river’s water quality.

The key to bass fishing success for the Walkers on this adventure, was using a (3 inch) black and gold, hinged Rapala, which the bass, both small mouth and rock, readily hit with a vengeance. It was estimated at the day’s end, that they had hooked and landed well over 60 small mouth bass, most of which they released (they caught a lot of “just under 14 inchers”), and fell one fish shy of their 3 –person limit of keepers, which entailed some respectable examples, and great eating, too. No northern pike were encountered on this wonderful Upper Reaches drift down the Cass River, but they certainly had no complaints at all.

As summer progresses, certain portions of the Cass’s Upper Reaches drop in depth, which affords plenty of wade-fishing opportunities. I absolutely love the “Dog Days” (named by the Romans after the Dog Star, which can only be observed at that time of year) of late summer. Typical bug hatches which fish appreciate and feed on heavily, are then pretty much over, causing the fish not to be as picky about any bait or lures cast in their direction. Typically, I still prefer to wear jeans and tennis-shoes for wading and truly appreciate the very relaxing atmosphere this all entails.
 
​I often use ultralight fishing tackle, as well as a fly-rod for wade-fishing, but my favorite, however, is an old fashioned cane-pole. Offering the utter simplicity of “stick and string” fishing, it is still as effective as it ever was, and it is the one fishing tool I can use to adeptly drop a bait or lure into a small hole in the lily pads for the greatest effect. I have attached a steel leader on occasion and a special lure to even catch northern pike with a cane-pole (which today is constructed of durable fiberglass that fit together in sections). There is no question in my mind that the old-fashioned cane-pole is the predecessor of the fly-rod, and you just might say, cane-poles have been working for me since I was a toddler!

Whether you go by canoe, kayak, wading, or simply sitting on the riverbank, fishing in the Upper Reaches of the Cass River offers plenty of opportunities (I do especially love going after “Cass Bass”, everything else is a bonus). Due to the solitude I usually experience there, I do believe it is one of the best kept secrets.

Happy fishing, folks!
    
    


​

 By CRG Chairman, Robert Zeilinger
Organized in 2007, the Cass River Greenway has now been working for over a decade to increase recreational use and improve the environmental well being of the Cass River. 
Goals Developed by the Cass River Greenway Committee: 

• • Develop Recreation Opportunities on the Cass River and along its corridor 
• • Encourage Preservation of Wildlife Habitat and Critical Natural Lands 
• • Improve Water Quality of the Cass River 

Goal – Develop Recreation Opportunities on the Cass River and along its corridor: 
The design and construction of a water trail on the Cass River has been our top priority for this goal. In 2018 the Cass River Water Trail was expanded to include 13 public access sites, and now extends 37.5 miles from the M-46 Bridge (between Caro and Vassar) downstream and into the Saginaw River, ending at Wickes Park in the City of Saginaw. A number of improvements occurred in 2019, including access site improvements at Caine Road Launch, Hoffmann Park and the M-13 Boat Launch. Also, a floating dock, universal accessible kayak launch was installed at Wickes Park. 
Log jams at bridge foundations and across the river continue to be a problem on the Cass River. State and County road agencies have done a good job removing log jams from bridges. The Cass River Greenway and Bridgeport Charter Township, with funding support from the McNally Foundation, Star of the West Milling Co., Mike Young Buick-GMC and Frankenmuth Credit Union Foundation for Our Communities, partnered to remove one large log jam downstream of Davis Park. There is a second log jam in the same area that is currently blocking passage and needs to be removed. 
Paddling activity continues to increase on the Cass River. River related activities this year included the 8th Annual Paddle and Swim, The Tri-Bavaria Triathlon, The Great Lakes Rendezvous, The Walk-Through History and the 11th Annual Cass River Cleanup. 
An interactive video mapping project, Terrain 360, was completed this summer. The project was funded by I-69 Thumb Region Prosperity Network and Saginaw County Parks. It involved floating a “raft” down the river and taking photographs using 5 cameras covering 360 degrees every 40 feet of travel. The photos are then edited into an interactive video, allowing one to “float” the river using a computer or smart device. The Cass River was mapped from Evergreen Park on the south branch all the way to Wickes Park in the City of Saginaw. Map section videos will be added to our water trail website, www.cassriverwatertrail.org, prior to the 2020 paddling season. 
Finally, a new organization has been formed – The Cass River Water Trail Coalition. The membership of the organization consists of the “owners” of the 13 access sites plus 
several support groups including the Frankenmuth CVB, Saginaw County Parks and Cass River Greenway. The primary purpose of the Coalition is to cooperatively maintain and improve the water trail and lead the effort to achieve State and National Water Trail Recognition Status. 
Goal – Encourage Preservation of Wildlife Habitat and Critical Natural Lands: 
Phragmites control continues to be an active initiative for the Cass River Greenway. The Tuscola County Road Commission has been a major supporter of us in this regard. In 2019 they budgeted funds to treat roadside phragmites in three townships, Arbela, Millington and Vassar. We are requesting their assistance again in 2020. 
The US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final report of the multi-year fish passage study of the Cass River Rock Ramp. The bottom line - targeted species for spawning fish passage have been confirmed to migrate through the rock ramp, allowing them to access spawning areas upstream not available for 150 years. Over time, this should increase fishing opportunities on the Cass River. 
In addition, fish stocking is occurring. In 2019, 68,000 walleye fingerlings were release into the Cass River. Also, a 20-year stocking program of lake sturgeon has begun which will include a yearly release of 250 sturgeon into the Cass River, one of four area rivers selected for this stocking program. The program is intended to re-introduce lake sturgeon in the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. 
Goal – Improve Water Quality of the Cass River: 
The 11th Annual Cass River Cleanup was held on September 21. Approximately 55 volunteers attended the event which was headquartered at Kappan Tree Service on Hurds Corner Road. The group cleaned 4 miles of river in Ellington Township, between Caro and Cass City. We also received funding assistance from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to dispose of large commercial tires that our cleanup crews have removed from the river the past few years. Our Cass River Cleanup events have now cleaned nearly 50 miles of river, collecting hundreds of tires, car-truck-farm equipment parts, furniture, barrels, cans and bottles. 
Next year’s event will address the last section of river to be cleaned between Caro and Cass City. 
A special thank you to our partner federal, state and county agencies, our donors and grant funders, our partner municipalities and universities, and our faithful volunteers.

The rock ramp project was completed in 2014, and there were several years of pre- dam removal and post-dam removal analysis done to evaluate its effectiveness.

​As the study indicates, all target species have the ability to pass the structure, providing them with access to important spawning area for the first time in more than 150 years.  There are obviously social and economic benefits as well that are not part of the study including new opportunities for recreational use of the river now that the dam has been removed, as well as additional opportunities for fishing.
 
The complete final report is attached by PDF.  

By Tom Lounsbury
            Formed by a glacier eons ago, the Cass River meandering westerly through Michigan’s Thumb possesses its share of history. It was a major travel corridor through an immense wilderness for various Native American tribes for countless centuries, of which is testified by the Petroglyphs located on the banks of the Cass’s North Branch in Sanilac County, that remains a sacred place for Native Americans to this day.
            This River was named in honor of General Lewis Cass for the signing of the Treaty of Saginaw with Native Americans along its banks on September 24, 1819 (exactly 200 years ago), which ceded more than six million acres in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The Cass River would play a major role in the transformation of the Thumb with the early municipalities of Bridgeport, Frankenmuth, Tuscola, Vassar, Caro and Cass City owing their creation and development to being located near its banks. A whole lot of logs were also floated down the Cass River during the lumbering era to help supply the needs of a new and fast growing country, as well as it was used to power early lumber and grain mills.
            During the mid-19th Century, the Thumb wilderness was a well known Mecca for hunters seeking bear, deer and most notably, elk. The Cass River was the main access in reaching the hunting grounds which were located well upstream with the “Forks” being the hotspot (where the North Branch and South Branch join together to become one just south of Cass City, hence the name Elkland Township that the Village is located in). A good book which documents this is “The Hunting Expeditions of Oliver Hazard Perry”, who wrote about his hunts and adventures near the Cass River in the great Thumb wilderness (during which he shot an enormous 8x8 bull elk).
            Other avid paddlers and I had the opportunity last year to venture down the Cass River from the “Forks” at Cass City, all the way downstream to where it ends by bumping into the Shiawassee River, which when soon also joined a short ways downstream by the Tittabawassee River, all becomes the Saginaw River, and we ended our journey, which required 5 day trips, at Wickes Park in Saginaw. This was the typical river trip taken by the elk hunters of long ago to return to Saginaw, and like them, we experienced a very serene and beautiful river. We also encountered an amazing amount of ospreys and bald eagles throughout our entire journey which says a lot about the fine water quality of the Cass River.
            A group which has done a tremendous amount to promote and enhance this very unique environment is the Cass River Greenway (CRG) which was formed in 2007.  The CRG has worked diligently with Federal, State and County agencies, as well as with Thumb area municipalities to promote the recreational opportunities and enhance the water quality of the Cass River. It has also developed a number of canoe/kayak launches, some of which are handicap accessible, as well as are responsible for the Cass River becoming an official water trail from Saginaw to M-46 (which I still call Enos Park). My hope is to eventually see the water trail extended further upstream, all the way to Evergreen Park on M-53. The Cass River for a fact is a superb river for canoers and kayakers, something I’ve been experiencing for most of my life and it remains to be my favorite river in Michigan.
            An annual and major effort the CRG has been doing each summer is known as being a “Cass River Cleanup”, where organized crews of volunteers pick up and remove garbage from various stretches of the river. This often involves a lot of wading, and cooperative muscle to get everything out, and it is wet and muddy work. You name it, and it has been found in the Cass River, but a real major item is rubber tires of all sizes, which never biodegrade, and are readily spread out and pushed downstream from the isolated country bridges they are tossed off (by ignorant idiots) by strong springtime currents. The rubber tires also aren’t a simple pick up out of the water either, because they are filled with silt, mud and sand which has to be removed with a shovel or trowel beforehand, otherwise lifting them out is nearly impossible. All is then placed in a canoe or small boat to transfer out to a drop off location.
            The Cass River is divided into two categories by the Caro Dam which was built in 1906 to meet the energy needs of a new and growing sugar beet industry. Upstream of the Caro Dam is known as being the Upper Reaches, and downstream is known as being the Lower Reaches. The CRG began its cleanup efforts on the Lower Reaches, and recent years have seen it diligently concentrating on the Upper Reaches as far upstream as the “Forks” at Cass City, which occurred two summers ago, downstream to the Dodge Road Bridge (not far from my farm – yep folks, I’m an Upper Reaches riverman), with an ongoing effort to continue downstream to Caro.  Last summer had a cleanup from Dodge Road Bridge to the Hurds Corner Road Bridge, which among other trash items such as LP tanks, trash barrels and lawn chairs, was 110 tires, including large tractor tires. Obviously, the Dodge Road Bridge is a favorite late night drop-site the idiots use for getting rid of trash, especially tires.
            Last Saturday morning, nearly 60 volunteers got together, thanks to the warm courtesy and hospitality of the Kappen Tree Service, to perform a CRG Cleanup from Hurds Corner Road, downstream to Forks Road. Four teams were formed with each covering a specific stretch of river. One team was even assigned to go upstream to retrieve a pile of tires which due to the high volume, had to be cached (and GPS marked) last year, for later removal.
            Since the vast majority of the Cass River’s shoreline is privately owned, having landowners’ cooperation to allow access at certain points is critical, and I can state for a fact landowners on the Cass River truly appreciate seeing the river cleaned up, and often lend a helping hand in extracting the trash that has been gathered up and brought in by canoes to their location (for instance, Adam Rodriguez and Nicholas Pink were ready and waiting with their tractors and loaders which really smoothed matters out loading onto waiting trucks). All the trash is then hauled by truck to a specific location for later removal.
            Last Saturday provided phenomenal sunny and warm weather for the Cass River Cleanup crews and all had a great time performing teamwork to extract mostly tires. A real challenge to all of this was maintaining their footing on the small, round rocks presently found on the Upper Reaches river bottom. The big floods which occurred recently in May and June washed out a bunch of rocks which have been stored for centuries in the riverbanks, and had been perfectly rounded eons ago by the glacier. 
I had a bit of a wade down the Cass River in July and can attest it is similar to walking on lubricated ball bearings (most of which are the size of billiard balls and are very animated when stepped on), and requires using a wading staff to stay upright. Throw in a strong current while wading on these moving rocks and I can assure you it is real easy to get some dents in your “tailgate”, because I ended up with a few! It is an example of how springtime floods can suddenly change the character of a river from year to year.
I fully support the efforts of the Cass River Greenway in placing a major focus on and continually improving and enhancing a very historical and beautiful river. For more information, go to www.cassriver.org .