Detroit River
Phone: 989-777-5930
On December 21, 2001, President Bush signed legislation establishing the first International Wildlife Refuge in North America. The refuge, which includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and riverfront lands along 18 miles of the Lower Detroit River, will protect and restore habitat for 29 species of waterfowl, 65 kinds of fish, and 300 species of migratory birds along the river in Michigan and Canada. Business interests are playing a key role in supporting the creation of the International Wildlife Refuge.
The Service owns four islands within the refuge. Grassy and Mammajuda islands and the adjacent shallow water area offshore from Wyandotte, MI, were transferred from the former Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge. In July 2001, National Steel donated Mud Island, and in September 2002, The Nature Conservancy donated Calf Island.
The refuge is situated in what was once one of the most significant migratory staging areas for diving ducks in the United States. Extensive beds of aquatic vegetation, particularly wild celery, attracted large concentrations of divers, primarily canvasback and scaup.
In the past 100 years, discharges from the steel and chemical industry and municipal sewage effluent, along with the effects of large, deep-draft vessels, have degraded the lower Detroit River ecosystem, resulting in a substantial decline of these preferred foods. Grassy Island was used as a confined disposal facility for contaminated dredge spoil in the 1960s and 1970s. Due to this activity, Grassy is now primarily colonized by phragmites (common reed), and resident wildlife is scarce. Mammajuda Island no longer has significant land above the waterline. Only a remnant of the once vast rafts of migratory waterfowl are now seen.
The refuge is managed by staff at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, in Saginaw, MI.
Directions
Not Applicable.
More info at http://midwest.fws.gov/shiawassee
National River
Exploring Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (Book) by Todd Campbell and Kym Campbell
This guide book is an intro to the best of this lesser-known recreational gem. Most of the book consists of hiking trails, many of which also are open to mountain bikers and equestrians. A small portion of the book tells of some river trips. 340 pages.
Merchant: Online Sports
Hiking the Big South Fork
Sale Price: $10.65*
Retail: $14.95 (29% off!)
(Overstock Books)
Now in its third edition, Hiking the Big South Fork is packed with up-to-date information on the trails of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee and Kentucky. The book combines numerous details about the natural histor...
Merchant: Overstock Books
Falcon Exploring Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Sale Price: $15.26*
Retail: $16.95 (10% off!)
(Overstock Books)
Description not available. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.
Merchant: Overstock Books
National Emblems Pittsburgh Pirates Logo Patch - Pittsburgh Pirates Three River Stadium
Patch up your shirt, jacket, or bag with this embroidered Pittsburgh Pirates emblem commemorating Three Rivers Stadium. Now you can support your team anywhere at any time and always look great doing it!
Merchant: CBS Sports Store