Water levels behind Edenville Dam dropping next week; public warned to stay off ice

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on Wednesday issued a news release about work to begin lowering the Edenville Dam Tobacco River spillway, bringing down water levels behind the structure. Because this area around Gladwin and Midland counties is popular for many outdoor recreation pursuits – including ice fishing – we are sharing this information with our DNR subscribers.

According to the release:

• As the water level drops and its velocity increases, the ice will become destabilized or could break apart, creating dangerous conditions. Receding water is also expected to expose unstable bottomlands, steep channel slopes and previously unseen debris, tree stumps or other hazards.
• The public is warned to stay off the ice and the newly exposed bottomlands until further notice.
• The area of unsafe ice conditions is between Dale Road and the remaining portion of the dam west of M-30. Caution also should be taken on the Tittabawassee River above the breached section of the dam – where the drawdown could lead to shifting and unstable ice – and below the dam on the Tobacco River.

The full EGLE news release gets into more detail about the reasons for the work and includes a map outlining the area for caution, an interactive story map, a batch of frequently asked questions and answers, and links to a webinar that explains the emergency work.

As a general rule of outdoor winter recreation, the Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to put safety first, get familiar with local conditions and always dress for the weather.

WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN – The deadline is fast approaching for the 2021 Art of Conservation™ Fish Art Contest, supported by Title Sponsor Bass Pro Shops. This free contest is open to youth in grades K-12 from across the globe. The deadline to enter is March 31st, start your entry today!

Students from around the world can win top honors, international recognition and prizes while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation. The Art of Conservation® inspires young people to get involved in the great outdoors and ignites a passion to become lifelong activists for the natural world.

Misty Mitchell, Director of Conservation Programs at the Johnny Morris Foundation said, “The Fish Art Contest allows youth the opportunity to connect with nature, no matter where they live. From the inner city to rural America, the Art of Conservation has the power to transform lives. Johnny Morris’s Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium is proud to support to a program committed to shaping the future of the outdoors.” Read more

CHEYENNE — Flaming Gorge boaters and recreationalists; the Wyoming Game and Fish Department needs your input. Game and Fish is finalizing a plan that will guide actions in the event that aquatic invasive species — like zebra and quagga mussels — are discovered at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. If mussels are ever discovered at the Gorge, there will be changes that impact boaters and other recreationalists in an effort to prevent their further spread throughout Wyoming and the nation.

Representative Simpson rolls out multi-billion-dollar proposal to revolutionize the Snake River Alexandria, VA –– On February 6, U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) released an ambitious proposal to overhaul the hydrology of the Lower Snake River and provide support for the numerous industries reliant on the river system. According to the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the congressman’s proposal shows his continued commitment to tackling the region’s problematic infrastructure and restoring the rapidly declining salmon populations.

Rep. Simpson notes that the four Lower Snake River Dams, long targeted for removal by conservation groups including ASA, provide significant benefits for energy, transportation, agriculture and communities in the region. However, salmon and steelhead runs have continued to decline over the past 50 years despite $17 billion invested in fish recovery efforts. Simpson notes that there are three drivers significantly impacting salmon and steelhead in the state: poor ocean conditions, rising global temperatures and the four Lower Snake River Dams. The multi-billion-dollar proposal includes breaching these dams and funding a comprehensive array of mitigation measures for energy, agriculture, tourism, tribes and other interests. Read more

Winter weather is the perfect opportunity to cuddle up with your loved ones, but you don’t have to stay inside to have an awesome Valentine’s Day weekend! Take your valentine fishing during Free Fishing Weekend, Feb. 13-14.

Michigan residents and out-of-state visitors can enjoy world-class fishing – without a fishing license – on both inland and Great Lakes waters for all species. Just keep in mind that all fishing regulations still apply.

The Recreation Passport fee for vehicle entry into state parks and boating access sites also is waived during this weekend. Read more

For two days twice a year, families and friends can enjoy one of Michigan’s premier outdoor activities – fishing – for free!

This year’s winter Free Fishing Weekend dates are Feb. 13 and 14. Read more

$30,000 in cash prizes on the line for best solutions

SPRINGFIELD, Va. – Winter is annual maintenance time for many anglers, and respooling with new line and recycling the old is a common task. Ever thought about what happens once you dispose of the old line in a fishing line recycling tube?

It’s not pretty. Turning fishing line into new products is labor-intensive, requiring a series of workers to manually comb through, sort, clean, remove hooks and weights, and separate out miles of encrusted debris in entangled fishing line. So as you pile up a few reels of line to be recycled this winter, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is asking for your ideas on how to help grow the volume of line recycled each year. Read more

Also adds new flush, side-mount Digital Electronic Control (DEC) for Helm Master® EX, Saltwater Series II™ HP propellers to product line

KENNESAW, Ga.– Yamaha Marine kicks off 2021 with brand new product offerings including updated V6 Offshore outboards that combine new benefits with a reliable performance legacy. The new F250 and F300 V6 Offshore Digital Electronic Control (DEC) models boast built-in Digital Electric Steering (DES), Thrust Enhancing Reverse Exhaust (TERE) and other XTO Offshore®-inspired features.

“The new, updated F300 and F250 4.2-liter V6 Offshore outboards now have many of the benefits previously only available on the XTO Offshore. Combining a high performance, big block V6 engine featuring outstanding power and fuel efficiency, Yamaha brings new levels of convenience and control to a proven performer,” said Ben Speciale, President, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “The introduction of these outboards in addition to a new flush, side-mount DEC for Helm Master EX and Saltwater Series II HP propellers allows Yamaha to start the year with new innovative products that meet customer demand.”

New Yamaha V6 Offshore

The same smooth, fast and precise Digital Electric Steering (DES) introduced on the XTO Offshore is now built-in to F300 and F250 V6 variants. The latest boat steering technology provides smooth, fast steering and, unlike some conventional steering systems, draws battery amperage only when actively in use. DES is significantly easier to rig than conventional steering systems and creates an uncluttered bilge with no steering pumps, hoses, hydraulic lines or connections, no bleeding procedure, less complexity and straightforward serviceability. There’s also a bolt-on version of DES for conventional DEC models of the new V6 Offshore. Read more