PROJECT:

mitchell creek railroad
crossing improvement

Natural stream function restoration.

This project replaces an undersized culvert on the west main branch of Mitchell Creek where is crosses a railroad grade along the TART Trail in Traverse City. The undersized culvert acts as a severe velocity barrier to fish passage and has created a large plunge pool at the downstream end that is causing severe bank erosion. That sediment is getting washed downstream and covering up spawning areas and aquatic insect habitat.

The culvert will be replaced with an appropriately sized and aligned stream crossing structure accompanied by streambank stabilization efforts on the downstream banks. Once replaced, the new structure will help restore natural stream function and improve in-stream habitat and fish passage in this section of the creek.

By improving fish passage and aquatic habitat, this project will benefit native populations of brook trout, common white suckers, and longnose suckers seeking additional habitat upstream. Brown trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, desirable forage fish, and macroinvertebrates will also benefit. This project will also improve recreational fishing opportunities in the creek, as well as just off the mouth of Mitchell Creek in east Grand Traverse Bay.

This is a complicated and expensive stream crossing project due to its location on an active railroad owned by Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Rail and operated by Great Lakes Central Railroad. As such, The Watershed Center is partnering with Conservation Resource Alliance and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians to complete the project. We will draw on their experience on similar projects in the region that have improved fish passage aquatic habitat.

Conservation Resource Alliance and the Grand Traverse Band obtained funding for design and engineering work that started in late 2024. Design and engineering for this project is paired with another railroad grade crossing project on the east main branch of Mitchell Creek. We anticipated engineering plans and permitting to be complete by the end of 2026, with construction to follow. Project team members are still actively working to acquire the remaining construction funding.

Project Status: COmpleted

Installations:

1 railroad crossing improvement

Funding source:

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s Nonpoint Source Program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes Fishery Trust
National Fish and Wildlife Association America the Beautiful
National Fish and Wildlife Association Sustain Our Great Lakes

Total project cost:

1,500,000

Mitchell Creek conservation partnership.

The Coastal Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Plan identifies Mitchell Creek as a “critical area” and states it should be prioritized for restoration activities due to the number of critical area factors it contains. In addition to 11 severely ranked stream crossings, the creek and its tributaries have elevated nutrient and bacteria levels and poor aquatic communities. The watershed is also in an urban setting with high wetland loss.

Conservation organizations are collaborating to advance an ambitious watershed restoration plan to improve stream health, return natural stream morphology, and provide aquatic organism passage, thereby turning the tide on watershed degradation in this urbanized area. Stream crossing improvements on Mitchell Creek have been prioritized to improve fish habitat and connectivity, as well as restore natural stream function.

Other components of this larger restoration effort include work on a newly established nature preserve that includes floodplain connection, in-stream and riparian habitat improvements, wetland restoration, and permanent removal of 5 stream crossings. Partners believe these stream crossing improvements will catalyze additional restoration efforts in the watershed as the community follows the revitalization of natural stream function and prime fishing habitat.

Conservation partners: