Keep in mind that scientists predict that, without changes in energy policy to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, we can expect many more days more akin to gulf coast weather than north country weather.  Summer air temperatures could rise by 7 – 13 degrees F, and extreme heat will be more common.

Additionally, we’ve seen one of the wettest years with some intense storms. This year we don’t seem to get showers but deluges….big storms.

Besides just making this a less comfortable place to live and the incidence of flooding on the rise, it will also impact the watershed.  For instance, the warmer air will increase evaporation and water temperatures will rise. For our lake systems, this dynamic increases the risk of anaerobic “dead zones” that kill fish and other aquatic organisms.  Fish populations are expected to change as cold-water species give way to warmwater species, and non-native species expand their territory while native species, which are adapted to a narrower range of conditions, decline. As a result, Michigan will be far less diverse ecologically.

To find out more about climate change and our watershed, take a look at our special climate change newsletter issue.

What can you do?

This week’s announcement by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that the Senate will not consider a comprehensive climate bill in the immediate future is disheartening.  Please call your senators’ Michigan offices today to urge them that this crisis will not wait.

Call:

• Debbie Stabenow – (517) 203-1760
• Carl Levin – (313) 226-6020

… And deliver these simple messages: 

• My name is _________, and I’m from  ______ and I’m calling today to urge [YOUR SENATOR] to work to pass climate and energy legislation.
• The devastation continuing to unfold in the Gulf  and now in the Kalamazoo River is a daily reminder that we must end our dependency on oil and move to a new, cleaner energy future.
• Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to human communities, wildlife habitat, and the natural resources we all rely on for clean air and water, and recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, boating and wildlife watching.
• Please pass comprehensive climate legislation that caps carbon emissions, protects wildlife from the impacts of climate change and prohibits any new drilling off our coasts.

Queen Snakes tell us that the Huron River Watershed has excellent habitat

Queen snakes are very uncommon in Michigan, so you can imagine the excitement when several Michigan herpetologists found three of them near Fleming Creek last month.  Faye Stoner, Washtenaw County Park Interpreter had seen only one here, a year ago. (“We got it in the net and I told everyone “don’t touch it – I don’t recognize what it is!”  I guessed maybe it was a queen snake but now I am sure it was. “).

The Queen Snake was a great find for sure. This species was recently elevated to Special Concern status in Michigan. We currently only know of a hand full of sites that currently support Queen Snakes State-wide. Scientists think that the local population is quite healthy.  They also found a brown snake, which is further indication of an excellent environment.

To view snakes, visit lovely Fleming Creek in the Botanical Gardens (http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/) on Dixboro Road or further downstream in Parker Mill County Park (http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/parks_recreation/parkermill/pr_pkpm.html) on Geddes Road where you can sit in a blind to observe wildlife where the Creek joins the Huron River.

Volunteers are heading out to forests and swamps throughout the watershed to assess their ecological quality.

HRWC will partner with five Southeast Michigan land conservancies (Legacy Land Conservancy, Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, Livingston Land Conservancy, North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, and Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy) to identify and establish strategic conservation priorities, perform field assessments on targeted natural area properties, and work with property owners to permanently protect and restore those that can best help the Huron River.

“The health of the Huron depends on the number and quality of natural areas within the watershed. The Carls Foundation’s support allows us to take the Bioreserve Project to the next level to protect the river now and for generations to come,” says Laura Rubin, HRWC Executive Director.

Find out more about the Bioreserve Project here.

Raise yo

Suds is on Thursday September 16, 2010. Tickets are now on sale at $100 for non-members and $75 for members.  Purchase Tickets here.

HRWC  and KeyBank present our popular fundraiser – Suds on the River - featuring the microbreweries of the Huron River watershed; ARBOR BREWING, BLUE TRACTOR, GRIZZLY PEAK, JOLLY PUMPKIN ARTISAN ALES, and WOLVERINE BEER.

We believe these award-winning brews are so good because they are made with water from the Huron River,  the cleanest river in Southeast Michigan.

Bill and Mary Kinley, will host again this year at their  home on the river in Dexter.  There will be canoe rides, roasted marshmallows for s’mores around the camp fire, and a game of horseshoes.

duck! a fiddle quartet from the Saline Fiddlers will entertain us and we will have the added fun of a water tasting table, hosted by Janis Bobrin, Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner.

Joining the microbreweries are the watershed’s most popular restaurants including Afternoon Delight, Anthony’s Gourmet Pizza, Cafe Habana, Common Grill, Jerusalem Garden, Morgan & York, No Thai!, Pacific Rim, People’s Food Co-op, Terry B’s, Tios, Tuptim Thai Cuisine,  and Whole Foods Market.  New this year will be Katherine’s Catering, Silvio’s Organic Pizza, Mac’s Acadian Seafood Shack, Decadent Delight, and Back Alley Gourmet.

Please support these local establishments as they support our river protection work.

If you have any questions about Suds, or wish to become a sponsor of the event, please contact  Margaret Smith at (734) 769-5123 x 605 or msmith@hrwc.org.

credit: Dave Spratt, Editor, www.greatnorthernoutdoors.net

Fishing at Gallup Park, Huron River Day 2008.

Join us in Ann Arbor, for the 30th Anniversary of Huron River Day!

Morning Fun:

1-Mile Run, 5K Run and Walk, Canoe Trip Argo to Gallup

Afternoon Fun:

Gallup Park, Noon-4pm
Canoes, Kayaks, River Exhibits, Fishing, Children’s Activities, Music, Entertainment and Food

Parker Mill County Park, 1-4pm
Visit a Pioneer Grist Mill

Go to www.a2gov.org/HRD for more details or call (734)794-6240.

Don’t forget to come out early to Baseline Lake in Dexter for
HRWC’s July 11 Community River Swim!

All swimmers must register in advance – msmith@hrwc.org.

Sign in is at 8:30 a.m Swim of Baseline Lake starts at 9 a.m.

Continental Breakfast served after the swim with plenty of hot coffee/tea/hot chocolate/fruit/bagels/muffins.

The club is located at 8010 Strawberry Lake Road in Dexter, Michigan, on Baseline Lake; 25 minutes northwest of Ann Arbor. Here is a link to a map to help you find the UM Sailing Club.

The parking at the Sailing club is somewhat limited, so we are strongly encouraging car pooling for our Ann Arbor folks. We can meet here in the NEW Parking Lot at 8 a.m., jump into cars, and safely leave cars here in NEW parking lot. (NEW is 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor).

Our thanks to Liz Elling, Baseline Lake residents Melinda Colquitt and Suzanne Van Appledorn and UM Sailing Club member Donna Snyder for their help making this event happen every year. Thanks to our paddlers Bob Robertson,  Deborah Wolter, Anita Lamour, Lee Green, Johnathan Lutz, John Stewart, Ric Lawson and Pater Margules.

Our fearless staff takes to the open waters of Lake Erie

Recently, our staff learned about the latest issues for western Lake Erie from a crew of experts during a half-day boat excursion. Our cruise was tailored to our interests thanks to a partnership with Michigan Sea Grant, HCMA and USGS. The dialogue we had about the historic and current fishery, human impacts, invasive species and more added to our understanding of Lake Erie and reminded us of how the work we do with our partners upstream impacts this unique waterbody.

It was Mike Schultz, a.k.a. Schultzy, and Eirik Vitso (pictured right) who came up with the idea. “Let’s have a single fly tournament, and raise money for HRWC.” We said yes , and the results were terrific. 36 anglers registered and fished for small mouth bass all over the Huron River in high, fast moving water that made it all the more fun.  HRWC members Mike Brooks,  Ben Upton, John Langs  and Tom Shope participated, and and HRWC gained 14 new members at the tournament. Thanks to Schultzy and Eirik we also launched an on-line Single Fly auction full of great fly fishing gear. John Davis let us use his shop Colton Bay as our tournament home base, and even hosted a barbecue at day’s end. Jolly Pumpkin Cafe and Brewery hosted the pre-party on Friday and a good time was had by all.

All total, a little over $5000 was raised to support HRWC’s mission to protect the Huron River.  Our deepest thanks to Mike Schultz and Eirik Vitso for all the hard work and good energy!

Tournament winners are as follows: First place Mark Mancik; Second place Robert Schultz; Third Place Jen Mironas;  Best Team Mark Mancik and Jen Mironas; and Biggest Fish, at 16 inches, was caught by Gene Michaelson.

Volunteers enjoy summer fun while mapping the Huron River

We need your help to “read” the characteristics of our streams by mapping a site anytime in August.  We train you to measure and map the site on Saturday afternoon, July 31st and then you choose a date in August to spend 4 hours in a shady stream with three other people mapping a site near you. (No prior knowledge is necessary.)

We “read a river” by characterizing the stream bed, the banks and other indicators of stream health. People are placed in teams with similar schedules to map a site on a later date selected by you and your teammates. You will not get wet at the training but when you map your site you will walk IN the stream and possibly over uneven terrain.

HOW: Register online by July 15 to be put on a team.
WHERE: Train in Ann Arbor, then measure one of the stream sites in the list below.
WHEN: Saturday, July 31st from 2 to 5 PM. Plus 1/2 day in August.
More information from Joan or (734) 769-5123 X600