At this workshop volunteers will learn to conduct this assessment. Trained volunteers are then certified to be sent out in groups to work together on site assessments throughout the spring, summer, and fall (an expected time commitment of four hours per site). Participants will gain broadly applicable skills in ecological assessment. (Please bring a sack lunch. The workshop includes hands-on practice outdoors, so please come prepared for weather, mud, etc.) Register for the workshop.

The jellyfish are quite translucent, sometimes with a tinge of white or green. But keep a sharp eye out for them because freshwater jellyfish are much smaller, some can grow to about the size of a quarter. They have stinging cells for capturing prey, but because they are so small, they likely are unable to penetrate human skin. Some people report experiencing mild irritation after having come in to contact with the jellyfish, others are more sensitive to the toxin released by the stinging cells, just like some people are more or less sensitive to poison ivy.

Freshwater jellyfish prefer calm water to flowing water, and so are most often found in lakes and ponds. They are sometimes found in large rivers or backwater areas where the current is not strong. These freshwater jellyfish are actually quite common in our lakes – just rarely seen. Freshwater jellyfish have been reported from over 150 lakes, ponds, and other waterbodies in Michigan, including several locations in the Huron River Watershed. Sunny days in late summer tend to be the best for spotting freshwater jellyfish, when the water is warm and food is abundant. However, jellyfish will not appear every year, even in a lake where they have been seen before. You can learn more about these cool aquatic creatures at www.jellyfish.iup.edu.

An interesting side note about paw paw trees — floodplains in southeast Michigan have suffered tremendous damage due to development. In the not too distant past the beautiful Zebra Swallowtail butterfly was a regular butterfly in this area. Today it is rare in southeast Michigan and may be only a stray vagrant now. This change is due to the fact that its larval host plant, the Paw-paw has also become quite rare in our area. Paw-paw loves growing in undisturbed floodplains. A great effort is needed to restore southeast Michigan rivers and streams and their floodplain habitats to good health.

The chinook is the largest salmon, growing to 36 inches in the Great Lakes and occasionally to 40 pounds or more. They are native to the Arctic and Pacific coastal regions from Alaska to California, and have been widely introduced elsewhere, including the Great Lakes. Like the steelhead, chinook move out into Lake Erie to grow for several years, and then return to the Huron to spawn. Unlike steelhead, the chinook dies after spawning. Chinook salmon have not been stocked in the Huron River at Flat Rock but fish from Lake Erie still form a small spawning run there each fall. You do not have to head up north this fall to experience the thrill of steelhead and salmon fishing. Anglers will find easy shoreline access in Flat Rock only a short drive from home, so there is no need for a boat and all the heavy tackle normally associated with open water trout and salmon fishing. Save your gas and try the Huron River runs!

For more information, see the article, Going Against the Flow: Steelhead and chinook salmon run in the Huron; by Jo Latimore in the Fall 2006 Huron River Report.

More than 100 of the delicate, white-pouched flowers were in bloom in the area, a sensitive and high-quality wetland bordered by state-owned land. In Michigan, the white ladyslipper is found only in the south, and occurs primarily in prairie fens with groundwater inputs, commonly near lake and stream systems. The white lady-slipper can be identified by the short stature of the plant (around 20 cm), an ivory-white flower pouch (which may be faintly streaked with purple veins) and lateral flower petals that are pale yellow-green and spirally twisted. Photo credit of white lady slipper: Janet Pernadino.

"As I approached the 'cove-like area' on the western/southern side of the river, I flushed a mature bald eagle with a very small bit of brown on its white tail. Moments later a second, completely white-tailed bird followed the other bird upstream towards Foster Bridge. One bald eagle could be an Aha! moment in my book…two of them just blew me away!" Photo credit of bald eagle: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This harmless lamprey should not be confused with invasive, parasitic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) that has had a disastrous effect on lake trout in the Great Lakes. While not threatened, these fish are rarely encountered due to their small size. Unlike other lampreys, the American brook lamprey may engage in communal spawning with 20 to 40 individuals in a single large nest; such a spawning event was likely in progress when these lampreys were encountered in Fleming Creek. Photo at right is an American brook lamprey spawning in Fleming Creek. PHOTO CREDIT: John Cramer

No beaver dams or lodges were seen in the area, so the hikers pondered where the beavers responsible for the chewing might live. In fact, some beavers live in burrows in stream banks with underwater entrances. If you want to see these amazing stumps, and perhaps catch a glimpse of a beaver, the park is located on the west side of Zeeb Road on the north side of the river.

Last Updated: January 2008