On May 11, the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (KVCTU) will begin a stream improvement project on Portage Creek, a designated cold water brown trout stream. In partnership with Portage Parks & Recreation and fish biologists from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, volunteers will begin restoration improvements to improve Portage Creek access for recreational opportunities, as well as enhance fish passage and spawning.
The project will help diminish siltation, lower water temperature and improve the flow of the creek. The first stage of the project will take place near the I-94 overpass, with removal of rock impediments and tree limbs. Other sections of the creek will receive similar maintenance in the future.
The KVCTU has been involved in dozens of stream improvement projects in southwest Michigan. Their mission is to improve and enhance cold water fisheries and their watersheds. For more information on the KVCTU, contact Chapter President Paul Tulgetske at (269) 501-2560 or visit www.kvctu.org.