ATUR F N AL O R T E N S E O U M R T C R E A STATE OF MICHIGAN S P E DNR D M ICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SR51 September 2009 Black River Assessment Robert C. Haas www.michigan.gov/dnr/ FISHERIES DIVISION SPECIAL REPORT 51 Picture on front cover is courtesy of the Port Huron Museum. A logging crew cutting trees along Black River (Ca. 1880) for Howard & Son Lumber of Port Huron. Suggested Citation Format Haas, R.C. 2009. Black River Assessment. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Special Report ##, Ann Arbor. ii Black River Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................vi LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................... x LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................xii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................ xiii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................xiv Introduction ........................................................................................................................xiv Geography .........................................................................................................................xiv History................................................................................................................................ xv Geology and Hydrology ..................................................................................................... xv Soils and Land Use Patterns ............................................................................................. xv Channel Morphology.......................................................................................................... xv Dams and Barriers.............................................................................................................xvi Water Quality .....................................................................................................................xvi Special Jurisdictions ..........................................................................................................xvi Biological Communities .....................................................................................................xvi Fishery Management ........................................................................................................xvii Recreational Use ............................................................................................................. xviii Citizen Involvement ......................................................................................................... xviii INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 RIVER ASSESSMENT .............................................................................................. 4 Geography ........................................................................................................................... 4 Segment 1 (Headwaters).................................................................................................. 4 Segment 2 ........................................................................................................................ 4 Segment 3 ........................................................................................................................ 5 Segment 4 (Mouth)........................................................................................................... 5 History.................................................................................................................................. 5 Geology ............................................................................................................................... 8 Hydrology............................................................................................................................. 9 Daily Stream Flow .......................................................................................................... 11 Seasonal Stream Flow ................................................................................................... 11 Soils and Land Use............................................................................................................ 12 Channel Morphology.......................................................................................................... 13 Dams and Barriers............................................................................................................. 17 Water Quality ..................................................................................................................... 17 Special Jurisdictions ..........................................................................................................20 Biological Communities ..................................................................................................... 21 Original Fish Communities ............................................................................................. 21 Factors Affecting Fish Communities............................................................................... 22 Fish Community During Past 35 Years .......................................................................... 22 Segment 1 ......................................................................................................................24 iii Black River Assessment Segment 2 ...................................................................................................................... 25 Segment 3 ...................................................................................................................... 26 Segment 4 (Mouth)......................................................................................................... 27 Mill Creek (Lower Segment)........................................................................................... 27 Mill Creek (Upper Segment) and Other Tributaries........................................................ 28 Invertebrates .................................................................................................................. 29 Segment 1 ...................................................................................................................... 29 Segment 2 ...................................................................................................................... 30 Segment 3 ...................................................................................................................... 32 Segment 4 ...................................................................................................................... 33 Mill Creek ....................................................................................................................... 34 Mussels .......................................................................................................................... 35 Amphibians and Reptiles................................................................................................ 36 Birds ............................................................................................................................... 37 Mammals........................................................................................................................ 37 Other Natural Features of Concern ................................................................................ 37 Pest Species .................................................................................................................. 38 Fisheries Management ...................................................................................................... 39 Segment 1 ...................................................................................................................... 39 Segment 2 ...................................................................................................................... 39 Segment 3 ...................................................................................................................... 40 Segment 4 ...................................................................................................................... 40 Recreational Uses ............................................................................................................. 41 Segment 1 ...................................................................................................................... 41 Segment 2 ...................................................................................................................... 41 Segment 3 ...................................................................................................................... 41 Segment 4 ...................................................................................................................... 42 Citizen Involvement ........................................................................................................... 42 MANAGEMENT OPTIONS ......................................................................................44 Geology and Hydrology.................................................................................................. 44 Soils and Land Use Patterns.........................................................................................