A history of river protection in Michigan

Michigan is a state defined by water. Known as the Great Lakes State, Michigan also has 51,438 miles of rivers and is home to some of the most outstanding rivers in the contiguous United States: the Au Sable, Manistee, and Pere Marquette rivers in the south and the Presque Isle, Ontonagon, and Paint rivers in the Upper Peninsula, to name a few. Fortunately, some of these rivers, particularly those in the northern part of the state, are permanently protected under state law as either nationally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers or as Michigan Natural Rivers. American Rivers works with its partners to enhance these protected rivers and explore opportunities to protect more rivers—including the Huron River in southeast Michigan.

This continues a tradition of American Rivers’ work that dates back to the 1980s, when we worked with local river groups and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs to advance the Michigan Scenic Rivers Act, which protected 569 miles of wild and scenic rivers. Today, Michigan has more protected river miles than any other state east of the Rocky Mountains.

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Many of the state’s most outstanding rivers are part of the National Wild and Scenic River System, providing habitat, clean water, and recreation opportunities for surrounding communities. American Rivers recently surveyed local river groups and state and federal agency staff to identify opportunities to protect more rivers and streams and improve management of currently protected rivers. Based on the feedback, we are leading efforts to improve management, increase funding for restoration of protected rivers, and seek new protections for rivers such as the Lower Huron River, which is eligible for study and designation as a Partnership Wild and Scenic River. This designation would significantly increase annual funding to support the successful restoration and management of this outstanding river.

The Huron is known for its excellent fishing and recreational opportunities, and the river is home to a number of historic and Native American settlements. The river offers a wide variety of quality sport fish species including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and steelhead. The Huron River Water Trail, a part of the National Water Trails System, offers an exceptional 104-mile watersports opportunity for paddling, fishing, and hiking through a significant number of publicly accessible sites.

American Rivers is working with our partners to actively explore the Huron River for Wild and Scenic River status. We are especially grateful for the support of Michigan’s representatives in the U.S. Congress, including U.S. Senator Peters and U.S. Representative Dingell, who are committed to protecting the river and whose staff have expressed their support for exploring opportunities to protect the Huron River.