By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

UTICA — Two groups of water enthusiasts descended on the Clinton River recently to see what has to be done to make the area viable for recreation.

The Clinton River Recon Day, coordinated by the Clinton River Watershed Council and the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development, was held Sept. 29 on two portions of the river: from Dequindre to Ryan roads, and then from Ryan Road to Heritage Park in Utica.

Paddlers on the reconnaissance trip assessed the river for the degree of difficulty it posed for them, parking and streamside accessibility, signage, river obstacles and obstructions, and a survey of locations with severe erosion.

“We were surveying the river … in the hopes that we can return the river to a viable recreational waterway for southeastern Michigan,” said Gerry Santoro, senior planner for the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development. “We’re committed to implementing applications that will enhance the knowledge of the river for the local citizens.”

He said one of the problems is changing the perception of the river, which many still think of as dirty, despite many cleanup efforts.

He said they found that “the area between Rochester and Utica is one of the better stretches of river in southeast Michigan, but it’s also one of the more dangerous with the current conditions.”

He said they found many woody debris blockages that they have to decide how to clear, or whether to clear. The obstacles make recreation difficult, but provide habitat for several species of fish.

“You have to do a sensible, ecologically sound, woody debris management,” he said.

Anne Vaara, executive director of the Clinton River Watershed Council, said they enjoy any opportunity to show people what the river and the watershed have to offer along its 760 square miles.

“We have 1.5 million people living in our watershed,” she said. “The paddling is really important to us because it really gets people into the river (to) see a lot of parts of the river.”

She said they’re working with Macomb and Oakland counties to develop a “blue-way trail” to give people recreational opportunities all the way to Lake St. Clair.

“Eventually, we want people to not only call the county, but call here and have us be a really excellent resource for where folks can get maps and get away for weekend pleasure and recreational opportunities,” Vaara said.

Santoro said they plan to survey the river from Dodge Park in Sterling Heights to Budd Park in Clinton Township in the spring. The area from Budd Park to Mount Clemens has already been done and because of the findings, the Clinton Township Parks and Recreation Department hosted kayaking on that portion of the river this summer.

“One of the other major benefits that we found is it is almost completely publicly owned land all the way from Dequindre Road to Utica,” he said. “If we can get this cleaned up and safe for paddlers, it’s actually going to be a great destination.

“We’re making small increments into actually making this happen.”

You can reach Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1041.