Our dam view. Added pis of the fish ladder.

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Our dam view. Added pi's of the fish ladder.

It's actually nice to sleep to when theyy are open. Who needs to buy those tapes with ocean waves. People stop at the rest area for pic's all the time. The 3rd one, notice the cave? I'd love to send some one in there to explore (wouldn't catch me in there).

 

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[alwayslookin]

Re: Our dam view.

Great Pics....Is that acamping area or near your home...What is the spillway water like? FIshing? I know too many questions.


Dave

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Re: Our dam view.

Great Pics....Is that acamping area or near your home...What is the spillway water like? FIshing? I know too many questions.


Dave

That is right across the road from us, we see it from our front porch. When the dams are open, you don't want to be any where near there. There are actually 4 diffrent dam's they open. When there is too much water they open the one pictured with the rolling waves.

Fishing, you bet ya. There is actually a fish ladder on one end, so when the Salmon come from the ocean in the spring they can get to the river. You can actually go watch them through glass. Some pretty scarry looking fish go through there. Eels, Stugeons, and the norm. They Ice fish in the winter also.

Camping 1/4 mile up the road, you should see those ledges and caves!

I know too much information!

 

[wesfrye53]

Re: Our dam view.

Great dam pictures. Do you coordinate with the dam operators so that you know when the dam gates will open and release the dam water so that you can catch some of those dam fish?

Sorry, couldn't resist....your pictures brought back memories of a story about a landowner and a beaver dam and state regulatory agency LOL

Great pics CountryGirl.

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Re: Our dam view.

Dam straight! Small towns are great, you end up knowing pretty much everyone. The gate operator is a good friend. Dam Guy does a good job!

Lets not get into those dam beavers.

Thanks for the laugh!

 

[Cynangyl]

Re: Our dam view.

great pics! The cave definitely needs exploring but I would wanna make SURE the dam guy was a good friend first....don't want him opening it when you are in there! lol Thanks for sharing....brought me a smile already this morning!

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Re: Our dam view.

Definately wouldn't want to make him cranky first. Actually they have cameras running 24/7 just in case some one is down there. The is an announcement before they open the gates, "warning....waters will rise rapidly, beware of flooding waters, you have 5 min.". New folks in the Riverside area get a little nervous the first time they hear it and are ready to evacuate. LOL

 

[Cynangyl]

Re: Our dam view.

LOL I think it would be very beneficial to know about those warnings PRIOR to moving there. I can imagine they do get pretty nervous!

 

[capt_t]

Re: Our dam view.

just read the DAM thread yesterday,,,,,Funny stuff. here it it hope its not to big...


STATE OF MICHIGAN
Reply to: GRAND RAPIDS DISTRICT OFFICE STATE OFFICE BUILDING 6TH FLOOR
350 OTTAWA NW GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503-2341
JOHN ENGLER, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HOLLISTER BUILDING, PO BOX 30473, LANSING MI 48909-7973
INTERNET: http://www.deq.state.mi
RUSSELL J. HARDING, Director

December 17, 1997

CERTIFIED

Mr. Ryan DeVries 2088 Dagget Pierson, MI 49339

Dear Mr. DeVries:

SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023-1 T11N, R10W, Sec. 20, Montcalm County

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files show that no permits have been issued.

Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris dams and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all unauthorized activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the strewn channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 1998. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request, or any further unauthorized activity on the site, may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.

Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David L. Price
District Representative Land and Water Management Division




REPLY:


Dear Mr. Price:
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20; Montcalm County

Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. You sent out a great deal of carbon copies to a lot of people, but you neglected to include their addresses. You will, therefore, have to send them a copy of my response.

First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan - I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, nor authorize, their dam project, I think they would be highly offended you call their skillful use of natural building materials "debris." I would like to challenge you to attempt to emulate their dam project any dam time and/or any dam place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no dam way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

As to your dam request the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity, my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or do you require all dam beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated.

My first concern is - aren't the dam beavers entitled to dam legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said dam representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing dam flooding is proof we should leave the dam Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names. If you want the dam stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition - contact the dam beavers - but if you are going to arrest them (they obviously did not pay any dam attention to your dam letter-being unable to read English) - be sure you read them their dam Miranda rights first.

As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these dam builders. If you want to hurt these dam beavers - be aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this response to PETA. If your dam Department seriously finds all dams of this nature inherently hazardous and truly will not permit their existence in this dam State - I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy, or once again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice!

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their dam unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green, and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I to live and enjoy Spring Pond. So, as far as I and the beavers are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more dam elevated enforcement action now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then, and there will be no dam way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem: bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the dam beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

Sincerely,
Stephen L. Tvedten

 

[Cynangyl]

Re: Our dam view.

I love it!

 

[Monty]

Re: Our dam view.

No beating around the dam bush, you got right to the dam point! Monty.

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Re: Our dam view.

My cheeks hurt from laughing so hard, that's DAM funny!

If Jeff or Marc see this we are all in DAM trouble . Either that or my post will be moved to Comedy Central "again".

LMAO!!!!!!!

Thanks For all the laughs!

 

[Cynangyl]

Re: Our dam view.

NOOOOOOOO Don't make us move! We like it in this dam place!! ROFL

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Re: Our dam view.

NOOOOOOOO Don't make us move! We like it in this dam place!! ROFL

Pretty damn nice here!

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: Our dam view.

Country Girl WOW!!!!!

Don

 

[alwayslookin]

Re: Our dam view.

Coutrygirl;

Since I have never seen Salmon climbing a fish ladder ( I do know what it is) nor Sturgeon in the wild I have decided to move to your house for a while...a view like that out my front door and I would no longer be working for a living. Beautiful scenery.

Dave

 

[CarolinaDigs]

Re: Our dam view.

Beautiful pics.

 

[texan connection]

Re: Our dam view.

Very neat place to sit and watch, I bet the glass aquarium thing could occupy me all day.

 

[wesfrye53]

Re: Our dam view.

I bet the dam operator would love to see your dam pics and all the dam replies you've gotten to your dam posting!

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Re: Our dam view.

Coutrygirl;

Since I have never seen Salmon climbing a fish ladder ( I do know what it is) nor Sturgeon in the wild I have decided to move to your house for a while...a view like that out my front door and I would no longer be working for a living. Beautiful scenery.

Dave

Tried that, Hubby says I have to work ? Well some day!