Environmentalists are concerned that a proposed fish passage in Michigan could invite species that would hurt a pristine trout stream. Traverse City commissioners met Tuesday to discuss how a proposal for a bidirectional fish passage is shaping up. The passageway would potentially replace a dam on the Boardman River, which the Department of Natural Resources considers a "Blue Ribbon" trout stream.
Trout anglers and environmentalists have expressed concern about the proposal. Traverse City resident Marc McKellar says the river already has a self-sustaining trout fishery, and dams have blocked most of Lake Michigan's invasive species from getting upstream. He says installing a fish passage that is "completely conceptual" is risky for the river.
An open house is scheduled in October to get the public's input on the project's design.
