Otter Lake Dam and Diversion White Paper The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed history, background data, and options for the future of the above captioned subjects. This should allow the interested parties to make an informed, intelligent decision regarding these currently sensitive issues. Introduction/History An investigation of the history of the area will let us look at what was before man settled the area. The Michigan Territory became a recognized part of the Northwest Territory in 1787. Michigan’s statehood became official on January 26, 1837, when it had 60,000 documented residents. After Michigan was recognized as a territory, the government, under the rules of the Land Ordinance of 1785, which was the Public Land Survey System, surveyed the land. The government did this so they could sell or give land away. The Michigan Baseline and Meridian were laid out commencing in 1815, which allowed survey crews to divide Michigan into 6 square mile townships east and west of the meridian and north and south of the baseline. Once this was completed other survey crews subdivided each township into 36 one mile square sections. The Michigan survey was completed in the1850’s, with the UP surveys being done from 1845 to 1851. The Federal Government began patenting (deeding lands) in the early 1830’s and settlement of Michigan commenced. The township lines, in which Otter Lake/River/ Sturgeon River complex lies (Township 52 North and Range 34 West), were surveyed/established in June of 1845. The township was then subdivided into 36 one square mile sections from September 17 to 29, 1849. Figure 1 is a hand drawn map (1849 vintage) from that survey, of the northeast part of the township and clearly shows the Sturgeon River, at that time, did not empty into Otter Lake, but did come within a couple of chains (one chain equals 66 feet) of the lake. The map also shows a considerable delta at the mouth of the Otter River. This map and field notes are available in the Houghton County Register of Deeds Office. Logging operations in the Otter and Sturgeon River watersheds commenced in 1872 by the Sturgeon River Lumber Company (SRLC). This company removed much of the prime timber in the area, being red and white pine, from 1872-1900. The Worchester Lumber Company succeeded the SRLC and harvested hardwoods for the growing furniture industry in Grand Rapids. They also cut the cedar, spruce, and tamarack until 1930, when they went out of business. One of these companies built a levee on the Sturgeon River to keep it out of Otter Lake to ensure floated logs continued down river to the mills. This was necessary as once the area was logged and mostly denuded, water ran off quicker and carried a heavy sediment load. This levee was breached around 1913 and allowed all of the Sturgeon River to flow into Otter Lake. This allowed the deepening of the Otter Lake Outlet and subsequent seasonal, significant lowering of Otter Lake levels some 3-5 feet. This also resulted in the formation of a significant delta, which grew to 27 acres by 1938 and 54

acres by 1954. Many believe this was one of the best fishing spots in Otter Lake. In 1952 talks began about what actions should be taken to resolve the extensive spring flooding, silt deposition, and lake levels. In February of 1973 the Houghton County Circuit Court established a legal lake level of 611.5 feet. This action was done without the consent of the riparian’s on Otter Lake, which, by law, requires a 2/3 majority to complete this action. This led to the completion of the Otter Lake Dam and Diversion project in the summer of 1975, at a cost of $372,548.00. Physical Description Otter Lake is located in east-central Houghton County and is 890 acres in area. It lies at an elevation of 611.5 feet, approximately only ten feet above Portage Lake and Lake Superior levels, making the area downstream very susceptible to flooding. The maximum depth is 29 feet and averages between 15-20 feet deep. Twenty percent or 178 acres is less than 15 feet in depth. It has one named inlet, the Otter River, which enters at the extreme south end. Otter Lake also has 15 groundwater springs/seeps along its east and west shores. The water is tannic acid stained, so light penetration is limited to eight feet. The pH, alkalinity, and oxygen levels are adequate for aquatic life, although there is limited oxygen in the bottom ten feet. The Fishery Otter Lake in the 50’s, 60’s, and early 70’s had the reputation of being the best walleye fishery in the area. Resorts catered to anglers from Illinois and Wisconsin. This is no longer true. Twenty-one fisheries surveys have been conducted on Otter Lake, with the first being in 1921 and the last in 2004. Sixteen of these have been made since the construction of the dam and diversion. The 1921 survey was a brief two day peek at fish populations. The 1925 survey was the first comprehensive survey and found eighteen species. The 1955, 1960, and 1970 surveys found healthy, thriving, and diverse fish populations, which included northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, sauger, large and smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. One interesting species found was cisco or lake herring, which is a Great Lakes species. They were trapped there when lake levels receded centuries ago. After the 1977 survey they were not found again. The sauger is likewise gone from Otter Lake. The sixteen surveys done post dam construction were made primarily because of complaints of poor fishing. These were made in 1977-80, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1994, 1996-98, and 2000-04. These surveys showed the steelhead (rainbow trout), burbot, walleye, and lake sturgeon runs were virtually eliminated. The once abundant sucker runs up the Otter River were also impacted. Otter Lake has a long history of fish stocking by the Fisheries Division-DNR, beginning in 1934 and the last occurring in 2012, involving three species. Walleye were the most frequently stocked in 23 of the 24 stocking events and 15 of those being from 1978 to 2012. Tiger musky and smallmouth bass were each stocked three times. The only fish species that has increased tremendously since the dam construction are bullheads. Two removals were conducted with nets. The 1978 effort removed 18,548

pounds of bullhead and 1,752 pounds of suckers. The 1988 a removal covered 15 days and resulted in 3,800 pounds of bullheads removed. Subsequent surveys showed little or no impact to the bullhead population. The bullhead population remains dominant. The US Fish & Wildlife Service out of Marquette, charged with sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes, expressed a concern they may have to treat the Otter River if the dam were removed, at an estimated cost of $50,000, with the funding coming from the US and Canadian governments, not local taxpayers. They indicated they did a treatment in the 1970’s. A joint US and Canadian report covering the period 1958-1970 revealed only one juvenile sea lamprey was found during this time frame and was never chemically treated. The dam currently does not block sea lamprey. A 1998 DNR video monitoring of the fish ladder revealed seven lampreys were passed. A 1991 Fisheries Division memo, which was based on the numerous fish surveys, stated “…..to restore the fishery, the dam should be removed, as it has ruined fabulous spring and fall walleye runs and created an abundance of bullhead habitat, resulting in their becoming the dominant species.” Problems The dam construction did not meet one of the intended consequences of reducing flooding downstream of Otter Lake. Farms and roads annually flood similar to the pre-dam condition. The floods on Otter Lake are now higher than pre-dam and last longer. A once vibrant fishery is now impaired, as stated above. The dam and associated structures are in need of immediate repair. The cost of repairs was estimated at $171,000 in 2013 and does not include the cost of replacing the railing on the dam walkway. 70% of this expense will be divided up among the 74 Otter Lake front property owners in the Special Assessment District (SAD), which is in addition to their annual property taxes. Houghton County and Portage Township taxpayers will also contribute, 20% and 10% respectively. The dam will need periodic repairs, with the expense again being mainly paid by Otter Lake residents in the SAD. Dam removal will be expensive and in all likelihood exceed half a million dollars. Which raises the question of, who pays for this work? Solutions To improve and restore the fishery in Otter Lake and the Otter River, the dam should be removed. Fisheries biologists, who opposed the initial construction, all agree. The dam needs to be replaced with a series of rock check dams, the first of which would restore the original level of Otter Lake. A river ecology expert from Minnesota, Luther Aadland, has looked at the Otter Lake Outlet Dam and feels a series of rock steps will work. These structures have been used in Michigan and other states with excellent results. This will also remove the added tax burden for the above cited tax payers. Fisheries Division-MDNR has a grant program which places major emphasis on dam removals. Local fisheries staff has indicated they will write a grant application targeted at removal of the Otter Lake Dam should the residents choose this option. This requires a onetime 10% local match, a better option to future and present tax payments.

References Deephouse, W. L. DNR fisheries biologist, retired. 2014. Personal communication Eschmeyer, Paul H. 1941 A physical survey of Otter Lake, with notes on the biology of the lake. Unpublished report-MDNR files Bureau of Land Management Government Land Office survey records Houghton County Register of Deeds Office Madison, George, DNR fisheries biologist 2014. Personal communications Norcross, John J. 1983. A History of the Otter Lake Sport Fishery-Its Former Status, Decline, and Probable Causes, Recommendations for Restoration Smith, B.R., Tibbles, J.J., and Johnson, B.G.H. 1974. Control of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Lake Superior, 1958-70. Great Lakes Fishery Commission Technical Report No. 26. Ann Arbor, MI.