Danaher Creek, Lake County –2016 Fisheries Survey Report Mark A. Tonello Fisheries Management Biologist October, 2017

Environment Danaher Creek is a small, second order tributary to the Pere Marquette River in southwestern Lake County, Michigan. The creek originates from springs in the vicinity of M-37 with some reports indicating the stream begins as underground flow from L Lake #1 (also known as Little Lake #1). The stream channel becomes more defined downstream of the railroad tracks in Section 28 (Pleasant Plains Township). From there it flows generally northwest for approximately 4 miles before joining the Pere Marquette River. Danaher Creek has one tributary, Jenks Creek. Over that distance, Danaher Creek has a gradient of approximately 18 feet per mile. Over its course, Danaher Creek flows through both private and federally owned land (Manistee National Forest). The lower ½ mile of the stream flows through the Pere Marquette Rod and Gun Club (PMRGC), which is a private hunting and fishing club.

One prominent feature in the Danaher Creek watershed is a large dam/impoundment that is located approximately 800 feet upstream of the confluence with the Pere Marquette River, on Rod and Gun Club property. The dam blocks all upstream fish passage and significantly warms the water in Danaher Creek downstream of the dam. The dam was originally constructed in 1928 or 1929. It washed out in the flood of 1986, and despite objections from MDNR Fisheries Division, the dam was reconstructed in 1987 and 1988 (Anonymous 2013). The dam has approximately 20 feet of head and creates an impoundment of 15 acres. The impoundment stores 200 acre-feet of water (Anonymous 1999).

Danaher and Jenks Creeks are both Designated Trout Streams (Fisheries Order 210), and are classified as a Top Quality Trout Feeder Stream (Anonymous 1967). Both streams are regulated as a Type-1 Trout Streams, which means they are open to fishing from the last Saturday in April through September 30. The daily bag limit is five trout, with no more than 3 that are 15 inches or larger. Minimum size limits are 7 inches for brook trout, 8 inches for brown trout, and 10 inches for all other trout and salmon species.

History Correspondence in MDNR files indicates that at one time, Danaher Creek hosted arctic grayling. There are no indications that Danaher Creek was ever stocked with fish by the State of Michigan. However, Danaher Lake is annually stocked with fish purchased by the PMRGC, typically including brook, brown, and rainbow trout. This practice has been occurring for many years, and is conducted under permits issued by MDNR Fisheries Division.

Only one previous fisheries survey had ever been conducted on Danaher Creek. That study was a backpack electrofishing survey conducted by the Michigan Department of Conservation (MDOC; the precursor to today’s MDNR) on August 30, 1966. In that survey, the researchers surveyed approximately 150 feet of stream in the center of Section 28 of Pleasant Plains Township. Fish caught included 5 brook trout from 3-11 inches, 2 brown trout from 6-9 inches, 2 white suckers and 14 sculpins. The air temperature on that day was 77°F, while the water temperature was 59°F. The stream averaged 15 feet wide and eight inches deep. Substrates listed as present included sand and silt. Streamside cover included grass, ferns, tag alder, birch, pine, and maple.

Invertebrate and habitat sampling of Danaher Creek was conducted by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) in 2015 (Rippke 2017). The sampling occurred at the 76 th Street (also

Fish Collection System Page 1 of 3 Printed: 12/13/2017 known as Star Lake Road) crossing. Danaher Creek achieved scores of “Excellent” in both the habitat and invertebrate categories. The air temperature on the day of sampling (8/12/15) was 78°F, while the water temperature was 62°F. The stream averaged 40 feet wide and six inches deep. The stream was carrying a volume of 19.0 cubic feet per second.

Current Status The most recent MDNR Fisheries Division survey of Danaher Creek was conducted on August 30, 2016. Sampling was conducted using a Wisconsin battery-powered 12-volt backpack shocker with one probe. The survey was in response to a fish kill incident on Danaher Creek that had occurred on August 26, 2016. The fish kill occurred as the PMRGC was conducting a drawdown of the impoundment for the purpose of performing repairs to the dam structure (under permit from MDEQ). As the drawdown neared completion, a large discharge of sediment occurred, and a number of dead fish were observed in Danaher Creek and the Pere Marquette River just downstream of Danaher Creek. The sediment discharge significantly increased turbidity in the Pere Marquette River for many miles downstream, impacting anglers and others recreating on the river.

The 2016 survey station began at the footbridge over Danaher Creek (located approximately 30 feet upstream of the confluence) and proceeded 782 feet upstream to the dam. A total of 78 fish representing 10 species were caught. The catch was numerically dominated by central mudminnow (27 caught from 1 to 3 inches) and mottled sculpin (14 caught from 1-2 inches). Three species of salmonids were present, including brown trout (8 from 1 to 9 inches), rainbow trout (4 from 2 to 4 inches), and coho salmon (7 from 2 to 4 inches). Other species present included bluegill, brook stickleback, white sucker, largemouth bass, and pumpkinseed sunfish.

This reach of Danaher Creek has moderate gradient and flows through a wetland valley dominated by tag alder. Substrates consisted of approximately 60% sand, 20% silt, 15% gravel, and 5% large cobble (up near the dam). Stream channel morphology consisted of 90% run, 5% pool, and 5% riffle. At 9:45 am, the water temperature was 57.5º F. The stream averaged approximately 21.75 feet wide and one foot deep. Riparian cover consisted of tag alder and overhanging brush and grasses. Instream cover was moderate, with some instream wood, a few undercuts, and some overhanging grasses present. New Zealand mud snail (an aquatic invasive species) was also present within the station.

Conclusions 1. Because no pre-data exists, it is impossible to tell whether or not a fish kill occurred in Danaher Creek downstream of the dam. The dead fish observed were typically larger in nature and more characteristic of those that would have inhabited the impoundment. Due to the incident occurring during the drawdown of the impoundment this is a reasonable conclusion. Dead species observed included rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, and white sucker.

2. If a fish kill did occur in the stream below the dam, the condition was temporary. The presence of 10 different species, three of which were salmonids, in the August 30 survey indicates that the stream conditions had quickly returned to normal.

Management Recommendations

1. The dam and impoundment should be removed from Danaher Creek and the stream restored to a free- flowing condition. As long as the dam remains in place, it will continue to impact Danaher Creek and the Pere Marquette River. In particular, the dam will continue to block fish passage and warm the water in Danaher Creek. If the dam no longer existed, Danaher Creek would provide excellent

Fish Collection System Page 2 of 3 Printed: 12/13/2017

spawning and rearing habitat for Pere Marquette River salmonids, including brown trout, rainbow trout (steelhead), Chinook salmon, and coho salmon. In addition, the stream would likely provide a modest cooling effect on the Pere Marquette River, in contrast to the warming that presently occurs. As long as the dam remains in place, it will continue to threaten fish populations and recreation in the Pere Marquette River. All dams carry the risk of catastrophic or partial failure, which can result in dramatic impacts on fish populations. The threat of future sediment discharges similar to that which occurred in August 2016 will also remain.

2. If the Pere Marquette Rod and Gun Club did agree to remove the dam, MDNR and other partners (Pere Marquette Watershed Council, Conservation Resource Alliance, Trout Unlimited, etc.) should provide assistance. There are numerous grant funding opportunities that would be available to fund such a project.

References: Anonymous. 1967. Michigan stream classification: 1967 system. Chapter 20 in Schneider, J. C. (ed. 2000. Manual of fisheries survey methods II: with periodic updates. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Special Report 25, Ann Arbor.

Anonymous. 1999. Pere Marquette River Watershed Assessment. Northern Ecological Services, Reed City, Michigan.

Anonymous, 2013. Inspection Report: Danaher Lake Dam, Pere Marquette Rod and Gun Club, Lake County, Michigan. Stantec Consulting Michigan Inc., Ann Arbor.

Rippke, M. 2017. Biological surveys of selected sites in the Pere Marquette River watershed in Lake, Mason, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties, Michigan, August 2015. Report 17-007, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Lansing.

Fish Collection System Page 3 of 3 Printed: 12/13/2017