OTG Volunteers Needed: Annual Manistee River Cleanup

Americorps • June 19, 2024

With the hot weather we’ve been having lately, summer is the perfect time to get in the water and participate in our Annual Manistee River Cleanup! On Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 9 AM – 12 PM , MUCC’s On the Ground program will be partnering with Steelhead Manifesto for their annual cleanup of the Manistee River.

Event Details

Volunteers will meet at the High Bridge Boat Launch in Brethren, MI ( 4311 N High Bridge Rd, Brethren, MI 49619 ). We will gather at the boat launch where volunteers will sign in, then we will head out on the river. Volunteers will clean up trash and other items either by boat or by walking along the riverbanks. MUCC will provide work gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and any other necessary equipment. Lunch and a free appreciation gift will also be provided to all registered volunteers. Registration closes on July 12 at 12 PM, so don’t wait! To register and for more information, click HERE.

About the Manistee River

The Manistee River is located in the northwestern portion of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and partially within the Manistee National Forest. It is a part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and is well known for its excellent fishing and recreational opportunities. This river supports a high-quality steelhead, chinook, and coho salmon fishery, as well as great populations of brown trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye. There are also a variety of habitats found along the Manistee River including backwater bayous, riparian areas, and mature forest communities. These habitats are home to a diverse number of wildlife species including the red-shouldered hawk, a species of special concern in Michigan.

The river supports many recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, and hunting. There are eight developed river access sites along the Manistee River, making it easily accessible for many people. Commercial guided fishing is one of the most popular activities on the river. Walleye and pike fishing is also very popular throughout the summer months.

Learn More

Want to learn more about the work On the Ground is doing? Check out our website for upcoming events and more at mucc.org/on-the-ground. We hope to see you at the Manistee River Cleanup or any of our future projects this year!

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