Saginaw Bay WIN grants additional funding for fish habitat in the Cass River Watershed

The Saginaw Bay Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Area and the Cass River Greenway Committee recently received a Christmas present of sorts with the announcement the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) has allotted an additional $20,000 to streambank stabilization in the lower Cass River. “These funds double the amount of work which can be done” said Jim Hergott Executive Director of the RC&D. “We will focus our efforts in the Lower Cass River Watershed, which starts at Vassar and extends downstream to the Saginaw River” Hergott said.  “It includes Cole, Perry, Dead and Millington Creeks, as well as the main channel of the Cass River. There have been 23 stream bank erosion sites identified in Cole creek alone!” Initial efforts will be focused on conducting field visits, developing plans and securing permits with plans for construction in coordination with the Frankenmuth Dam upgrades next summer which WIN is also associated with. WIN is a volunteer organization which includes citizens and organizations focusing on the social, environmental and economic aspects of projects which improve and sustain the quality of life in the Saginaw Bay and its’ Watershed. Local Community Foundations and Corporations provide funding to WIN, which in turn distributes the funds and includes: Bay Area Community Foundation, Consumers Energy Foundation, Harry A. and Margret D. Towsley Foundation, Midland Area Foundation, Rollin M Gerstacker Foundation, Saginaw Community Foundation, The Dow Chemical Compnpay Foundation, The Herbert H. and Grace A Dow Foundation, The SC Johnson Fund, the Cook Family Foundation, C.S. Mott Foundation, and the Saginaw Bay Foundation. The RC&D and Cass River Greenway Committee recently received funding from various groups including: Bay Area Community Foundation (under the Saginaw Bay Restoration Fund) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, with commitments from Star of the West Milling Company and Frankenmuth Conservation Club.  Stream bank stabilization efforts reduce sedimentation, improve fish habitat and enhance recreational activities in the Cass River Watershed. To learn more please contact Cass River Greenway Committee at www.cassriver.org, Saginaw Bay RC&D at www.saginawbayrcd.org or email the RC&D at saginawbay@aol.com. To contact by telephone, please see above contact information.