Clinton Township

Abutments on Clinton River to be removed

By Nico Rubello
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques The Macomb County Public Works Office recently announced that it will remove two midstream concrete abutments that it said are creating log jams. Photo by Deb Jacques The Macomb County Public Works Office recently announced that it will remove two midstream concrete abutments that it said are creating log jams.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Macomb County Public Works Office recently announced that it plans to remove two bridge abutments that create logjams on the north branch of the Clinton River.

The bridge, which was used to move dairy cattle across the river during the early 20th century, was removed by the 1960s. But the four, 30,000-pound abutments that supported it still sit in the river, south of the intersection of Little and Dunham roads in Clinton Township.

The concrete masses — each 11 feet long and 7 feet tall — block logs, trees and other debris from floating down the river, inhibiting the passage of fish and washing away the riverbanks.

“Two years ago, a team of volunteers from our office and the community removed 20,000 pounds of logs, trees and other debris that had piled up in the river because of the abutments,” said Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco in a statement. “And now, two years later, the blockage is back.”

Using a $32,500 grant from the U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, matched by $25,000 in monetary and in-kind contributions, the Public Works office plans to remove the two middle abutments and restore the riverbanks next spring. The department will be taking bids on the project this winter, according to the statement.

Barb Matthews, a Public Works environmental educator, said the two side abutments are likely to be left in place to help support the river bank.

Vegetation coils — wooden, step-like structures layered in soil and vegetation — also will be put in place to stabilize the banks.

The coils provide a natural way to stabilize the bank, Matthews said.

“You need something that is going to be strong that sticks to the side (of the bank),” she added.

The coils also provide cover and spawning areas for fish, as well as insects for those fish to feed on, the Public Works office said.

Besides blocking off the passage of the walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike that traverse the river, the blockages also direct the current up the riverbank, and bring sediment and phosphorous from nearby lawns into the river.

The erosion of the riverbanks ultimately leads to trees being uprooted and toppling into the river, adding to the problem.

In the meantime, the Public Works office uses volunteers to regularly remove logjams from the Clinton River.

People can find out more information about volunteering by calling (586) 469-5337.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Nico Rubello at nrubello@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1118.