PRCA Statement On Dam Agreement

The Pigeon River Country Association is pleased to announce a provisional agreement between the State of Michigan, Trout Unlimited, the Pigeon River Country Association and Golden Lotus that will result in safely removing the old Lansing Club dam that originated in lumbering days more than a century ago. During this time, releases from the dam have resulted in three significant discharges of silt down the Pigeon River. The agreement calls for an environmentally sound removal of the dam and a restoration of the current very shallow pond area into a meadow or wetlands constructed from non-invasive plant species. The dam’s removal will restore the Pigeon to its natural free-flowing condition.  A pdf file of the agreement can be found here.

Golden Lotus, the non-profit corporation that currently owns the Song of the Morning Ranch on Sturgeon Valley Road, is to be applauded for this action. It will result in a more natural setting for the Pigeon River that will preserve its beauties for future generations as well as enhancing the natural qualities of the Song of the Morning Ranch. We would particularly like to recognize the efforts of Bryan Burroughs, Pete Gustafson, and Don Handyside and the Golden Lotus Board who were instrumental in finding a collaborative approach to resolving this problem.