On the Ground: Volunteers Improve Fish Habitat in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Kristina Kennedy • March 7, 2023

On Saturday, March 4, 2023, 30 volunteers joined MUCC’s OTG program in partnership with the UP Resource Conservation and Development Council (UP RC&D) and Alger Conservation District for a volunteer stewardship day at Au Train Lake in Alger County.

House Representative Jenn Hill and Andrew Dalia pose in front of a dropped tree that will act as future fish habitat on Au Train Lake.

Volunteers created brush bundles/course woody debris structures that will be deployed throughout the lake, helping to boost fish populations and providing habitat for other aquatic species.

This project is part of an ongoing effort to enhance fish habitat in Au Train Lake using funds from a Fisheries Habitat Grant awarded to the UP RC&D by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Fisheries Division.

We were pleased to have volunteers join us from multiple conservation agencies, as well as local families who came out to participate and show support for the on-going habitat enhancement project.

Nancy Zander and Craig Kivi, President of Natural Shorelines Forever, work together to secure base logs for a fish habitat brush bundle.

House Representative Jenn Hill also came out to participate in these efforts, “It’s great to see volunteers coming out to support the hard work of conservation organizations and natural resource agencies by volunteering at Au Train Lake,” said Representative Hill. “We know that we’re making a difference and really making sure that we have long-lasting habitat here in Au Train. It feels good to do good!”

Sharing this sentiment was volunteer and President of local non-profit Natural Shorelines Forever , Craig Kivi, “We have seen the evidence of what happens when these structures are in the water and the explosion of life where there wasn’t any before…for us it’s very personal and we’re satisfied to be here and be a part of this project.”

MUCC’s OTG program was thrilled to be a partner on this project as meaningful partnerships are essential to on-the-ground conservation work. If you would like to learn more about how you can play an active role in conservation, click here .

Recent Posts

The Legacy of Michigan Logging

By Olivia Triltsch • April 24, 2025
Historically, Michigan experienced a lumber era in which the state was a leading producer for 50 years starting in 1860.

MUCC celebrates a successful Clinton River Cleanup

By Katelyn Helsel • April 23, 2025
Rochester Hills, MI — On the Ground, MUCC’s volunteer stewardship program, celebrated its 250th habitat improvement project in Oakland County this past weekend. In partnership with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council , 62 volunteers removed more than 460 pounds of trash from the Clinton River watershed and surrounding areas, restoring more than 80 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. Volunteers focused on picking up trash and other debris in the river near Yates Park and along various walking trails near the Yates Cider Mill. Many different items were collected, including a couple of tires, fishing line, old cans, a sign, and even a car bumper. “We definitely wanted to clean up as much trash as possible because that's going to help the watershed as a whole, and it’s going to clean up the river for both humans aesthetically, and also the animals that live in it, and create safer drinking water” said Olivia Triltsch, MUCC’s Habitat Program and Partnerships Coordinator.

Mayflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies, Oh My!

By Olivia Triltsch • April 17, 2025
In addition to their impact on water quality, these three orders of insects are an important part of the diet of game fish, making anglers, especially fly fishermen, interested in the conservation of these small animals.
More Posts