Manistee River

The Manistee River in May 2007

The name "Manistee" is from an Ojibwe word whose derivation is uncertain.[4] However, it may be from ministigweyaa, "river with islands at its mouth".[5][6] The Ojibwe (Chippewa in the United States) and Ottawa peoples lived along the river, with the Ottawa having a reservation on the river from 1836. The federally recognized Little River Band of Ottawa Indians continues to occupy its reservation in Manistee County, as well as lands in Mason County.

Historically, the upper river was renowned for its outstanding grayling fishery, among the finest in the world. Catches in excess of 1000 fish per weekend outing were commonly reported up until the 1880s, when extensive logging in the area ruined the streams and habitat. Logging in the area commenced in earnest by European-American settlers between 1880 and 1910, with peak production occurring in the 1890s. Logging denuded habitat areas, with silt runoff and logging debris degrading the water quality of the river.

The river's relatively large size, stable flows, and dearth of cataracts or other difficult passages made it ideal for the transportation of lumber. During this period huge numbers of white pine logs, some as large as 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter, were floated down the river to the port at Manistee and eventually on to the lumber markets of Grand Rapids, Milwaukee and Chicago. The wood was used to build the cities and towns of the Midwestern United States. Some of these logs became trapped at various points on the river, and can be seen today along the river bottom.

The Manistee River State Game Area is located upstream of Lake Manistee, and consists of areas of bayous and meandering marshlands located adjacent to the main river channel.[7] This state game area is managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and contains a total area of 3,920 acres which overlay the Manistee River west of Manistee, Michigan. The adjacent hunting and fishing areas include Tatches Bayou, Claybanks Bayou, and Anderson Bayou. Duck hunting and northern pike fishing are popular activities within the managed marshland.

The Manistee River State Game Area encompasses nearly 4,000 acres of wetland, forest and grassland habitats. The Manistee Marsh, on the west end of the game area, includes the eastern shore of Manistee Lake and is bordered by the Manistee River. The marshland and adjacent forestland makes great habitat for wood ducks. Wood ducks nest in tree cavities and dine on acorns, seeds, berries and insects on the forest floor in addition to aquatic plant and insect foods.

Plenty of other wetland species call Manistee Marsh home. The marshlands provide important habitat for nesting and migrating ducks, geese, herons, terns and other wetland birds. The marshes are also home to muskrats, mink, frogs, turtles, snakes and many other wetland critters.

Work is under way to remove invasive species, including phragmites, in the marsh. Phragmites australis, also known as common reed, is a perennial wetland grass that can grow to 15 feet in height. Invasive phragmites creates tall, dense stands that degrade wetlands and coastal areas by crowding out native plants and animals, blocking shoreline views, and reducing access for swimming, fishing and hunting. The dry plant material from phragmites also can create fire hazards.

The Manistee Marsh restoration project is funded by a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant. This work will improve plant diversity in the marsh, and reducing the phragmites cover will allow managers to create what’s called a “hemi-marsh” – a 50/50 mix of vegetation and open water that is very attractive to waterfowl.[8]

These wetlands are open to hiking, canoeing, kayaking, wildlife photography, fishing and birding. Bring a lunch and make a day of exploring the wetlands of Manistee Marsh.

The Manistee River in May 2005

Today the river is used extensively for recreation, offering excellent conditions for canoeing, boating, and fishing. Having been restored since the ravages of the logging era, the river is again considered among the finest trout and salmon rivers in the country. Commercial navigation is possible in the lower stretches of the river below the Tippy Dam.