Reedsburg Dam

The Reedsburg Dam is a non-hydroelectric barrage dam crossing the Muskegon River in eastern Missaukee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located in rural Enterprise Township, the dam was constructed in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps to alleviate flooding from Houghton Lake, which is the source of the Muskegon River approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) upstream.

Reedsburg Dam
The Reedsburg Dam (May 2020)
Location within the state Michigan
CountryUnited States
LocationEnterprise Township
Missaukee County, Michigan
Coordinates44°21′22″N 84°51′33″W
PurposeFlood control
StatusOperational
Opening date1940 (1940)
Built byCivilian Conservation Corps
Dam and spillways
Type of damBarrage
ImpoundsMuskegon River
Reservoir
CreatesDead Stream Flooding
Total capacity540 acres (219 ha)

The resulting reservoir is known as the Dead Stream Flooding, and the area is incorporated into the Dead Stream Flooding State Wildlife Management Area, which extends east into neighboring Roscommon County.[1] The Reedsburg Dam is the smallest and newest of the four remaining dams along the Muskegon River, which includes the Croton Dam, Hardy Dam, and Rogers Dam much further downstream.

Activities

The Reedsburg Dam is located along County Road 300 about 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of the community of Houghton Lake—3 miles (4.8 km) west of U.S. Route 127 and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of M-55. The nearest incorporated city is Lake City about 18 miles (29.0 km) west along M-55.

Common fauna in the Muskegon River and Dead Stream Flooding include bluegill, pumpkinseed, small and largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, native crayfish,[2] northern pike, and bowfin (colloquially referred to as "dogfish"). The surrounding area is open to seasonal waterfowl, turkey, and deer hunting. The footpath across the dam is commonly used by hunters to access the more remote wilderness trails—some of which belonged to the long-defunct and removed railway lines of the Missaukee Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad.[3]

Other popular activities include bird watching, geocaching, photography, swimming (jumping off the dam into the reservoir), and canoeing/kayaking. Rustic camping is available at the adjacent Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground on the northeast side of the dam, which is operated by the nearby North Higgins Lake State Park.[4] The campground contains a public boat launch, but larger boats are discouraged due to the shallowness and underwater hazards within the Dead Stream Flooding.[5]

Recent history
The original Reedsburg Dam structure, which was rebuilt in 2019

Beginning in August 2018, the dam underwent major reconstruction that continued for over one year. The construction was necessary to repair and rebuild the nearly 80-year-old earthen dike and concrete and steel structures. During the project, the Dead Stream Flooding was slowly drained and eventually allowed for only the regular flow of the Muskegon River.[6] In addition, a new steel walkway and staircase replaced the older wooden structures, and a large amount of rocks were trucked in to strengthen the dike along the reservoir and immediate downstream embankments.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan in early 2020, the finishing steps on the construction project were put on delay. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, more than 90% of the project was complete before government shutdowns were implemented by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. While the reservoir has seen a significant increase in water levels after the dam was rebuilt, the pre-construction water level will not be reached until at least fall 2020 after the project resumes.[4] The water levels were originally slated to return to normal by summertime.[6] The dam reconstruction itself is complete, and the dam is now open to cross. Certain areas around the dam are still inaccessible while the project is on hold, and the river and reservoir are accessible for fishermen.

The campground remained open throughout the project, but access to the dam area was closed to the public. The dock at the public boat launch, which no longer reaches the lowering water level, has been moved out of place. The launch itself remains open and usable, although the water levels throughout the reservoir decreased significantly.[7][8]

References
  1. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (14 August 2015). "Dead Stream Flooding State Wildlife Management Area" (PDF). Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  2. Davison, Alisha (20 September 2015). "Michigan Crayfish – Understanding Our Native and Invasive Species". Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  3. Abandoned Rails (2018). "The Missaukee Branch". Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  4. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (2018). "Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground". Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  5. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (2020). "Michigan Recreational Boating Information System (MRBIS): Boating Access Site Detail (Reedsburg Dam SFCG)". Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  6. The Houghton Lake Resorter (13 September 2018), Getting Shallow Fast, retrieved May 1, 2020
  7. Fisher, Keith (30 May 2018). "Reedsburg dam in Missaukee County set to undergo significant maintenance upgrades; preparation starts this summer". Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  8. Hopper Usher, Karen (8 June 2018). "Reedsburg Dam to get some TLC". Retrieved June 28, 2018.
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