Kayakers look to paddle Krispin Drain on Harsens Island

HARSENS ISLAND Workers restoring the 4-mile-long Krispin Drain on Harsens Island are putting on a show for people driving along Columbine and La Croix roads.

They’re using large amphibious marsh buggies – dump trucks and excavators on tractor treads – to excavate yards of muck from the drain. The work is visible from M-154.

“They’re plugging away at it,” said Artie Bryson, Clay Township supervisor. “It’s a great project. …

“They are presently working between Krispin Road and Columbine," he said. “You see it right from the road."

Work on the $3.5 million project started Aug. 31. The work is funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency using Great Lakes Restoration Initiative money.

Rose Ellison, project manager for the EPA, said workers will be doing cleanup and seeding native plants after the construction work is done in mid-November.

"By the time the construction work is done it will be a little past the optimum window," she said. "They will seed the construction areas and then come back and look at it in the spring."

J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. of LaCrosse, Wisconsin is the main contractor for the work. Crews from Environmental Restoration LLC, of St. Louis. Missouri, also are working on the project.

The project is the last of nine habitat improvement projects in the St. Clair River.

Bryson said he hasn’t heard complaints about the project.

“I’ve fielded questions but not any complaints,” he said. “I think everyone’s kind of excited about this project.

He said the drain, which slashes across much of the island, was too choked by silt and invasive species such as phragmites to be navigable. Once the work is completed, kayaks and canoes will be able to use it to access the interior of the island.

“I’m not real sure on how friendly it will be for small motorboats,” he said. “It definitely will be kayak- and canoe-friendly.”

Missy Campau, who owns and operates Missy’s Kayak Connection in Port Huron, said she can’t wait to paddle the Krispin Drain.

“I’m always looking for different and unique places to paddle,” she said. “(The drain) offers a lot of cool opportunities for paddlers."

Campau said the drain, because it is quiet water, is great for beginners.

“We have so many novice recreational paddlers in the area that we look for small outlets where they can explore … and find things you can’t by foot.”

She said flat water is best for beginners and “that’s how we get you hooked.”

Lori Eschenburg, a planner for the St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission, developed the popular Blueways of St. Clair website and was one of the prime movers behind the Island Loop National Water Trail. She said she’s looking forward to the Krispin Drain becoming the 11th blueway in St. Clair County.

Eschenburg said she needs to meet with Bryson.

“Last year I told him ‘Whenever you’re ready I’m ready,’” she said. “There has to be community support (for a blueway) and it has to be navigable. The (Blueways Committee) will go out and kayak it to see if it’s navigable.”

She said she is considering featuring the drain for a kayak and canoe trip during River Day on June 11.

“You feel like you’re in a different country because it’s really unique,” she said.

Ellison said while it's nice to hear that kayakers are excited at the prospect of paddling the drain, the project is first and foremost about habitat restoration.

"The recreation activities are always a plus," she said.

She said the EPA wants to cut back the phragmites to give native plants such as cattails a chance.

"The idea is .. to get a handle on the phragmites so the native seed bank can come back as well," she said. "Give the plants a chance to return.

"The habitat folks say phragmites have zero habitat value."

Bryson said making the township’s natural resources available for residents and visitors helps Clay Township and helps businesses that rely on tourism.

“When it’s all done and we know where we are at, we’re going to put proper signage out there for kayakers,” he said. “There are one or two sites where we might be able to put in kayak dock, but we don’t want to get too involved with that until the project is done.”

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477.

Habitat Restoration

Projects include:

•Port Huron North, south of Pine Grove Park near the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock mooring.

•Port Huron South, near the Municipal Office Center.

•Upper St. Clair River shoreline, along the Blue Water River Walk in Port Huron.

•Marysville Living Shoreline, off River Road.

•Cuttle Creek, from the Marysville Golf Course to the river.

•Cottrellville Township Park, along the river between Marine City and Algonac.

•Marine City Drain, north of Algonac.

•In-River Habitat Restoration, construction of artificial spawning reefs in the North Channel near Algonac.

•Harsens Island Habitat Restoration, includes widening the Krispin Drain for watercraft and fishing.

The Blueways of St. Clair County website is at http://www.bluewaysofstclair.org/

Beneficial Use Impairments

Beneficial use impairments in the St. Clair River are restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption; bird of animal deformities or reproduction problems; beach closings; restrictions on drinking water consumption or states and odor problems; and loss of fish and wildlife habitat; Beneficial uses that have been restored are degradation of benthos; degradation of aesthetics; and added costs to agriculture and industry.

More online

Check out a video of the marsh buggies at work at www.thetimesherald.com