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LANSING--With the opening of the 1999 waterfowl season in southern Michigan only days away, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports sufficient water levels for duck hunters at the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area despite the general pattern of low water conditions throughout the region.
Though shallow water levels along the shores of Lake Erie and the mouth of the Huron River will cause difficulty for some boaters and other recreational users, the result has been the reestablishment of desirable, emergent vegetation in areas that once were part of an expansive coastal marsh. This new growth supports marsh restoration efforts.
At Pointe Mouillee, the 400-acre Long Pond Unit, which comprises the majority of the managed waterfowl hunt area, will have normal water levels and the 1,183-acre Lead Unit has higher water levels than in recent years. Both areas should provide quality waterfowl hunting for hunters using small boats with outboard motors of 10 horsepower or less. However, some shallow areas do exist, especially along the west side of the Lead unit.
Current water depths in the 547-acre Vermet Unit range from six inches to three feet, and caution is advised for hunters using outboard motors in this area. In addition to the low water levels, thick mats of submergent vegetation will make boating even more difficult. Water levels in the Vermet Unit were lowered in 1998 as part of ongoing efforts to restore the marsh. Though this year^s cyclical water patterns pose an added inconvenience, the restoration project will result in higher quality wetland and waterfowl habitat in future years.
For additional information on waterfowl hunting opportunities at Pointe Mouillee, call the State Game Area Headquarters on Mondays and Wednesdays, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at 734-379-9692.
Uploaded: 10/7/1999
Uploaded: 10/7/1999