Au Sable River (Michigan)

The Au Sable River in Michigan runs approximately convert|129|mi|km [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/AuSable__River__Plan_22952_7.pdf Au Sable River Natural River Plan] , Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources] through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at Oscoda. It is considered one of the best brown trout fisheries east of the Rockies and has been designated a blue ribbon trout stream by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources [ [http://www.trailstotrout.com/blueribbon.html Michigan's Blue Ribbon Trout Streams] ] . In French, "au sable" literally means "with sand." A 1795 map calls it the Beauais River.

Description

It has a drainage basin of convert|1932|sqmi|km2 [http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31431_31442-95630--,00.html Au Sable River] , Michigan Department of Natural Resources] and an average flow of 1,100 ft³/s (31 m³/s) at its mouth. The river drops convert|650|ft|m from its source at the junction of Kolka and Bradford Creeks.

The main branch of the river is formed near the border between Crawford County and Oscoda County where several branches come together. The North Branch headwaters arise in southeast Otsego County and flow south through Crawford County to merge with the main branch of the river. The Middle Branch headwaters arise in southwest Otsego County and flow south through Crawford County and Grayling. The South Branch headwaters arise in northeast Roscommon County and flow west through the town of Roscommon and then north and east to merge with the Middle Branch in Crawford County. The main branch then flows mostly east through Oscoda County, then south and east through Alcona County and Iosco County. The river's watershed also drains portions of Montmorency County and Ogemaw County.

Most of the main branch of the Au Sable flows through or adjacent to the Huron-Manistee National Forest. Twenty three miles (37 km) of the river, from the Mio Pond downstream to the Alcona Pond, was designated as a National Wild and Scenic River on October 4, 1984. The watershed provides habitat for bald eagles and the endangered Kirtland's warbler. Five percent of the land in the watershed is National Forest and 29% is state forest.

It is a designated trout stream and many canoe liveries exist along the river, which offer canoe trips from a few hours to as long as a week. The river was originally a grayling fishery with brook trout being released in the 1880s. By 1908 the grayling were gone although they were reintroduced in 1987 (See Grayling, Michigan for more information on the Grayling and the fish hatchery). Brown trout is the current main catch. The Lumberman's Monument, in honor of the lumberjacks that first populated the area is located on the river about fifteen miles (24 km) west of Oscoda. Lumbering along the river began in the 1860s and was finished by the 1910s.

The Au Sable River is also the site of a yearly 120 mile (190 km) pro-am canoe race, the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, which begins at 9:00 p.m. and runs through the night into the next day. Winning times have ranged from 14 to 21 hours. The race was first run in 1947.

River Road, running parallel with the Au Sable River, is a designated National Scenic Byway.

There are six hydro-electric power plants in the Au Sable River basin, with a total installed capacity of 41 MW and an average annual energy output of 500 GJ. The six reservoirs were constructed between 1911 and 1924.

The Au Sable has about 350 miles (560 km) of tributary streams including the Pine River.

Towns along river:
*Arbutus Beach, Michigan
*Au Sable, Michigan
*Grayling, Michigan
*Lewiston, Michigan
*Lovells, Michigan
*Mio, Michigan
*Oscoda, Michigan
*Roscommon, Michigan

Historical markers

The river has four historical markers on it:
* Cooke Hydroelectric Plant
* Five Channels Dam Workers Camp
* The Louis Chevalier Claim
* Mio Hydroelectric Plant [ [http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm Mio electric Plant historical marker] ]

River Valley attractions and events

*The Michigan Au Sable Valley Railroad is located in Fairview. It is 1/4 scale 16 gauge railroad, that offers rides on a passenger train through the scenic Northern Michigan landscape. It operates in Jack Pine country during the summer months. Riders travel through parts of the Huron National Forest and overlook the beautiful Comins Creek Valley. [ [http://www.michiganausablevalleyrailroad.com/index.html Michigan Au Sable Valley Railroad.] ]
* Weyerhauser Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, starts in Grayling and ends in Oscoda convert|120|mi|km down the river. It is one of three marathon races that constitute canoe racing's Triple Crown. The race is always held the last full weekend in July [ [http://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/ Weyerhauser Au Sable River Canoe Marathon] ] .
*First Dam Canoe Race (MCRA - Canoe Race) is a yearly event. [ [http://www.miracing.com/mio2007info.html First Dam Canoe Race] ]
*Six miles west of Oscoda, on River Road Scenic Byway, the Au Sable River Queen offers paddle boat excursions. [ [http://www.ausableriverqueen.net/main.html Au Sable River Queen.] ]
*Within this area is Kirtlands Warbler habitat, so it is an important center for bird watchers.
*The Lumberman's Monument is adjacent to the river.
*River Road, running parallel with the river, is a designated National Scenic Byway for the 23 miles that go into Oscoda. [ [http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/10781/ River Road Scenic Byway at America's Byways.] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/natural_rivers/au_sable.pdf Map of Au Sable River watershed]
* [http://www.ausableanglers.org Anglers of the Au Sable]
* [http://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/ Au Sable Canoe Marathon]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/index.shtml Huron-Manistee National Forest]
* [http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/10781/places/3074/ Lumberman's Monument]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/pages/lumbermans.htm Lumberman's Monument] at the U.S. Forest Service
* [http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/10781/ River Road Scenic Byway] at America's Byways.