

Chemical Pollution in the North Branch?
by Tom Wessels Editor’s Note: This article is based on an analysis of the USGS report on contamination from organic chemicals which was published earlier this year. (The study was conducted in 2018 but was not published until February 2020). The report is available for download at: https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20205002 The long-term gradual decline in trout populations in the North Branch is certainly no secret, and has been fairly well documented. But May, 2018 saw a dramatic


Trout Habitat Improvement Projects
by Terry Lyons Recently at the Au Sable North Branch Area Foundation (ASNBAF) annual meeting I reported on the Anglers of the Au Sable work on the North Branch - where I have my cabin and have enjoyed fishing for decades. In the early years after the Anglers founding in 1987, it relied on other organizations to manage and carry out its habitat restoration projects. Prior to Rusty’s passing we implemented a new system of managing all of our activities. As part of this reorgan


Supporting the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance
by Tom Wessels During our October, 2020 meeting, the Au Sable North Branch Area Foundation Directors voted a $500.00 contribution to support a Jack Pine Tree Planting Day coming up in May, 2021 and organized by the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance. The Kirtland’s Warbler was one of the first animals placed on the list of U.S. endangered species back in the 1960’s. When the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973, there were only around 200 breeding pairs known in 6 Michigan Low