On the Ground: Volunteers Improve Fish Habitat in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Kristina Kennedy • March 7, 2023

On Saturday, March 4, 2023, 30 volunteers joined MUCC’s OTG program in partnership with the UP Resource Conservation and Development Council (UP RC&D) and Alger Conservation District for a volunteer stewardship day at Au Train Lake in Alger County.

House Representative Jenn Hill and Andrew Dalia pose in front of a dropped tree that will act as future fish habitat on Au Train Lake.

Volunteers created brush bundles/course woody debris structures that will be deployed throughout the lake, helping to boost fish populations and providing habitat for other aquatic species.

This project is part of an ongoing effort to enhance fish habitat in Au Train Lake using funds from a Fisheries Habitat Grant awarded to the UP RC&D by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Fisheries Division.

We were pleased to have volunteers join us from multiple conservation agencies, as well as local families who came out to participate and show support for the on-going habitat enhancement project.

Nancy Zander and Craig Kivi, President of Natural Shorelines Forever, work together to secure base logs for a fish habitat brush bundle.

House Representative Jenn Hill also came out to participate in these efforts, “It’s great to see volunteers coming out to support the hard work of conservation organizations and natural resource agencies by volunteering at Au Train Lake,” said Representative Hill. “We know that we’re making a difference and really making sure that we have long-lasting habitat here in Au Train. It feels good to do good!”

Sharing this sentiment was volunteer and President of local non-profit Natural Shorelines Forever , Craig Kivi, “We have seen the evidence of what happens when these structures are in the water and the explosion of life where there wasn’t any before…for us it’s very personal and we’re satisfied to be here and be a part of this project.”

MUCC’s OTG program was thrilled to be a partner on this project as meaningful partnerships are essential to on-the-ground conservation work. If you would like to learn more about how you can play an active role in conservation, click here .

Recent Posts

OTG Volunteers Needed in St. Clair and Wayne/Monroe Counties

By Olivia Triltsch • May 1, 2025
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, May 10th, from 9 AM to 12 PM to plant trees and on Saturday, May 17th, from 9 AM to 2 PM to clean up a watershed in a local State Game Area.

Species Spotlight: The Kirtland's Warbler

By Katelyn Helsel • April 30, 2025
As spring gets fully underway and the warmer weather hits, many birds are in the process of migrating back to Michigan. The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology reports that during peak migration periods, as many as one billion birds could be in the skies in a single night. Michigan is home to many migratory birds, from small red-wing blackbirds to larger sandhill cranes. One migratory species you might see, more so if you live in northern Michigan, is the rare Kirtland’s warbler. This bird has a long and detailed conservation story and has come back from the brink of extinction with the help of strong conservation efforts.

The Legacy of Michigan Logging

By Olivia Triltsch • April 24, 2025
Historically, Michigan experienced a lumber era in which the state was a leading producer for 50 years starting in 1860.
More Posts