The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will offer free tours to the public and school groups this fall at the Boardman River Weir in downtown Traverse City, the Little Manistee River Weir in Manistee County and the Platte River Weir in Benzie County. Tours are available through the end of September and throughout October.DNR interpreter offering tour at Little Manistee River WeirWeirs are dam-like structures that block upstream fish passage on a river. A weir is used on the Boardman River each fall by the DNR to harvest Chinook and coho salmon that otherwise would create significant river congestion between Union and Sabin dams. One is used on the Little Manistee River at the same time to harvest Chinook salmon to support the DNR’s fish production efforts.
Fall tours at the Boardman River, Little Manistee River and Platte River weirs will be run by staff from the DNR’s Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center and Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center. Students and visitors will learn all about salmon, how weirs and fish ladders work, invasive species, state fish hatcheries, and the DNR’s annual egg-collection efforts and their impact on Michigan’s fisheries. The programs tie in components of history, ecology, biology and stewardship.
Tours at the Boardman River Weir began the week of Sept. 12 and will run through mid-October. Tours will be offered at various times Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Group tours are available by appointment.
Platte River Weir tours will run during the egg-take season, slated for Oct. 19-20 and 26-27. Public tours also will be offered Saturdays and Sundays while the weir is in place.
Tours will be offered at the Little Manistee River Weir Oct. 4-6. To check the status of activity, call the weir hotline at 231-775-9727, ext. 6072. This year’s egg-take efforts will be affected by the readiness of the fish; it’s best to call the weir hotline to determine activity level.
To schedule a tour at any of the locations, visit michigan.gov/huntfishcenter and click on any of three locations under the School Group Programs section.
Please note, all tour dates are subject to change based on fish movement.
