The Lower Dead River Watershed Project

Winter scene at Badger Creek

The Lower Dead River Watershed Project allows District staff to study and improve water quality concerns specific to the Lower Dead River watershed system.  Concerns include contaminated storm water runoff, flashy storm water flows, and obstructions to fish migration and water quality impacts to Lake Superior.

Lower Dead River watershed map

The Lower Dead River watershed covers a 22 square mile area, or 14,080 acres, within the Lake Superior Basin.  The watershed includes the main stem of the Dead River, three dam impoundments, eight tributaries, a storm drainage district, and the mouth of the river.  While the entire watershed from headwaters to mouth covers 164 square miles, the most heavily impacted region is found within the lower reaches of the Dead River.  The watershed lies within the political boundaries of Marquette Township, Negaunee Township, and the City of Marquette.  The majority of the watershed is forested (78.5%) with a rapidle developing urban area (15.5%).  The remaining area (6%) is open field, agriculture, barren, water, and wetland.

In 1998, a group of concerned citizens and local public officials established the Lower Dead River Watershed Council (LDRWC) to address the increase in nonpoint source pollution and stormwater impacts associated with expanding development. Members of the LDRWC include:

Jim Andes, Trout Unlimited
Ken Chrisman, Watershed Property Owner
Jim Compton, City of Marquette
Maura Davenport, Watershed Property Owner
Bill Davis, Central Lake Superior Land Conservancy
Randy Girard, Marquette Township
Max Muelle, Superior Watershed Partnership
Pat Moyle, Negaunee Township
Becky Otto, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Kathy Peters, Watershed Property Owner
Lew Peters, Watershed Property Owner
Kurt Simandl, Professional Engineer
Claire Twohey, WeEnergies

The LDRWC meets on a regular basis and actively assists in project management and outreach activities.

For more information, please contact Renee Leow at renee.leow@mi.nacdnet.net.