Cedars for the Cedar: Gladwin County trout benefit from partnership

Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 05/23/2014 12:53 PM EDT

A group of partners planted cedar trees along the Cedar River in Gladwin County.
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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2014

 

Contact: Katie Keen, 231-775-9727 or Ed Golder, 517-284-5815

 

 

Cedars for the Cedar – Gladwin County trout benefit from partnership

 

Cedar trees were recently planted along Gladwin County’s Cedar River, one of the highest-quality trout streams in the Saginaw River Watershed.

 

planting cedars along riverA local partnership of 75 Gladwin High School botany students, Department of Natural Resources staff, and volunteers from the Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited and The Little Forks Conservancy planted 100 cedar saplings along the Cedar River.

 

“The kids went to town planting cedar trees,” said DNR wildlife biologist Bruce Barlow. “They worked like a well-oiled machine – digging holes, planting trees, installing cages – everyone had a job.”

 

Two sites on public land in Gladwin County were chosen because of the current stream-side condition not being ideal for a cold-water trout stream.

 

“Decades ago when beaver had flooded parts of the stream, many trees were killed, which led to more sunlight reaching the stream and raising the water temperature,” said Barlow. “The two spots we planted were in need of some shade to help keep the water cool for trout.”

 

The 100 new, native white cedar saplings and 100 cages bought and constructed by the project partners will help provide shade along the stream banks in the future.

 

“Deer love cedar, so we had 6-foot-tall cages put around each tree in order to give them a good start,” said Barlow. “Projects like this would not be possible without groups like this who can work together on a weekend, and really see the result – for generations to come.”

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
 

/Editors please note: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Suggested captions follow.

 

Gladwin-Botany-Class: A group of partners, including Gladwin High School botany students, planted 100 cedar saplings along the Cedar River to improve conditions of the blue-ribbon trout stream.

 

Gladwin-Botany-and-AmeriCorps: Gladwin botany students planting cedar saplings along the Cedar River with AmeriCorps employee Tori Guerrini./