Local farmers and some elected officials met last Wednesday with Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Shannon Lott for a tour of the Prairie River basin in western Branch County.
Along with Lott was DNR Resource Deputy Scott Whitcomb and DNR Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator Jay Wesley.
“The group met to discuss a DNR proposal to reclassify the Prairie River from a warm water stream to a cool water or cold-water stream," said DNR spokesman Ed Golder.
Area farmers are concerned that reclassification will reduce the water used from the river and the underground aquifer needed to irrigate farms in Kinderhook, Gilead, Bethel, Noble, and Bronson townships.
There are 55,000 acres of farmland in the 66-square-mile watershed.
Golder said, “The group visited sites where contractors are collecting stream temperature data and reviewed data collection standards. Data collected in this three-year project will be used to inform the department on a potential reclassification of the Prairie River.”
Some of those in the watershed were concerned about collection point locations and how they might skew data.
Source: thedailyreporter.com
Photo Credit: gettyimages-wwing
Categories: Michigan, Government & Policy