Au Sable River (Michigan)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Au Sable River ( ) is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data
The National Map
, accessed November 7, 2011
river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
in the Lower Peninsula of the
U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
. Rising in the Northern Lower Peninsula, the river flows in a generally southeasterly direction to its mouth at
Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is shared on the north and east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the south and west by the U.S. state of Michigan. The name of the lake is derived from early French ex ...
at the communities of Au Sable and Oscoda. Like the nearby Manistee River, it is regarded as a premier
brown trout The brown trout (''Salmo trutta'') is a species of salmonid ray-finned fish and the most widely distributed species of the genus ''Salmo'', endemic to most of Europe, West Asia and parts of North Africa, and has been widely introduced globally ...
fishery east of the Rockies and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has designated it a
blue ribbon Blue ribbons are typically a symbol of high quality. The association comes from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and, prior to that from Order of the Holy Spirit#Cordon Bleu, Cord ...
trout stream. A map from 1795 located in the United States Gazetteer calls it the Beauais River. In French, the river is called the , literally "Sand River".


History

Locals, including native Americans used the river for hunting, fishing and as an inland link for trapping, trading, and transiting between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. In the late 1800s, the river was used for transporting logs downstream to sawmills and shipping yards in the towns of AuGres and Oscoda. After logging, hydroelectric dams were built during the 1920s to generate power. Today, recreation is the most popular utilization of the river.


Description

The main stream of the river is formed at in Frederic Township in Crawford County by the confluence of Kolke and Bradford Creeks, which both rise in Otsego County. The river flows south then turns east through Grayling, where it is joined by the East Branch Au Sable River at . The East Branch rises in Lovells Township, Crawford County at . The Au Sable continues eastward and is joined by the South Branch Au Sable River at in South Branch Township. The South Branch rises out of Lake St. Helen in Richfield Township, Roscommon County at and flows northwest into
Roscommon Roscommon (; ; ) is the county town and the largest town in County Roscommon in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is roughly in the centre of Ireland, near the meeting of the N60 road (Ireland), N60, N61 road (Ireland), N61 and N63 road (Irelan ...
then northeast to the main branch of the Au Sable. The North Branch Au Sable River joins within approximately in eastern Crawford County at near the boundary with Oscoda County. The North Branch rises in Bagley Township, Otsego County, near Lake Otsego. The Au Sable 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. 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 eagle The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche ...
and the endangered Kirtland's warbler. Five percent of the land in the watershed is National Forest and 29% is state forest.


Grayling

The grayling species of fish was once abundant in the Au Sable River, although the species has been
extirpated Local extinction, also extirpation, is the termination of a species (or other taxon) in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinctions. Local extinctions mark a chan ...
in Michigan since 1936.
Brook trout The brook trout (''Salvelinus fontinalis'') is a species of freshwater fish in the char genus ''Salvelinus'' of the salmon family Salmonidae native to Eastern North America in the United States and Canada. Two ecological forms of brook trout h ...
were released into the river in the 1880s and proved stronger than the grayling. There have been many attempts to bring the grayling back to the area, but none have been successful. The city of
Grayling, Michigan Grayling ( ') is a city and the county seat of Crawford County, Michigan, Crawford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the only incorporated community in Crawford County. The population was 1,884 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 cens ...
was named after the once plentiful fish. Brown trout is the current main catch.


Recreation

Activities include paddle sports (kayaking and canoeing), fishing, primitive camping, backpacking and hiking. There are several "developed" campgrounds as well as primitive campgrounds. It is a designated trout stream, and many canoe liveries exist along the river, which offer paddling trips from a few hours to as long as a week. Impoundments of five of the six dams on the Au Sable create lakes that are used for power boating, water skiing and sail boating. In addition to brown, rainbow and brook trout in the river, there are perch, muskellunge and walleye, large and smallmouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the dam ponds. Salmon and steelhead trout are popular during spring and fall spawning migrations.


Holy waters

The nine-mile section of the Au Sable River main branch from Burtons Landing to Wakeley Bridge is called the ''Holy Waters'' due to the frequent insect hatches, abundance of trout, and ease of wading. The section is regulated year-round as
catch and release Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing where after capture the fish is Fish hook, unhooked and returned live to the water. Originally adopted in the United Kingdom by Coarse fishing, coarse fishermen to Overfishing, preser ...
and limited to
fly fishing Fly fishing is an angling technique that uses an ultra-lightweight lure called an artificial fly, which typically mimics small invertebrates such as flying and aquatic insects to attract and catch fish. Because the mass of the fly lure is in ...
only (no live bait). The river flows through scenic woodlands where the ecosystem supports dozens of species of birds and other wildlife including deer, rabbit, muskrat, otter, mink, fox, squirrel, chipmonk, skunk and turtle.


Lodges

For serious fly-fishing anglers, several locations offer accommodations on the Au Sable River. ''WaWa Sum Lodge at Whirlpool Road is owned and operated by
Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...
as a research facility and conference center. The main lodge was constructed in 1922 and the property includes 251 Acres on the Au Sable. There are seven dorm style bedrooms, each with three or four single beds. You must bring your own bedding or sleeping bags and towels. Sleeping capacity is 28. A great room and fireplace is there for socializing as is a screened-in porch. A separate building has a dining room that seats 16 and kitchen facilities. ''AuSable Riverview Resort'' at McMasters Bridge has several options. The "Big Cabin" has 8 bedrooms that sleep up to 20 guests, a chef’s kitchen and game room, dry sauna and fire pit. The "Cottage" sleeps 10 and has two separate sleeping quarters that are connected by a kitchen/dining room with a large sliding door patio. Four smaller "Cabins" accommodate 2-4 persons. ''Gates Au Sable Lodge'', located at Stephan Bridge, has been a local landmark for more than 50 years catering to
fly fishing Fly fishing is an angling technique that uses an ultra-lightweight lure called an artificial fly, which typically mimics small invertebrates such as flying and aquatic insects to attract and catch fish. Because the mass of the fly lure is in ...
. Their restaurant and Fly Shop is open to the public. Professional fly fishermen offer instruction and guided fishing trips on all branches of the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers using the unique Au Sable riverboats and wading trips. A daily fishing report is produced for their guests that includes the current insect hatch status.


Organizations

The
Trout Unlimited Trout Unlimited (TU) is a US non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people. It is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. ...
organization was begun in 1959 by 16 Michigan fishermen on the AuSable River. * ''Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited'' is the Au Sable chapter of the national organization. * ''Anglers of the Au Sable'', with 1200 members, was founded in 1986 "to preserve, protect and enhance the AuSable River system for future generations of fly fishers." * ''Au Sable River Property Owners Alliance'' was organized in the mid-1960s "To preserve, protect and enhance the Au Sable River watershed’s great natural endowments of wilderness scenery, unpolluted cold-water, and stable forest habitat for the enjoyment of future generations."


Average water temperature


River valley attractions and events

* The Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad is located in Fairview. It is a 1/4 scale, gauge ridable miniature railway, which offers rides on a passenger train through the scenic Northern Michigan landscape. It operates in
jack pine Jack pine (''Pinus banksiana''), also known as grey pine or scrub pine, is a North American pine. Distribution and habitat Its native range in Canada is east of the Rocky Mountains from the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories t ...
country during the summer months. Riders travel through parts of the
Huron National Forest The Huron National Forest is a United States National Forest, National Forest in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It was established in 1909 after the logging era began to decline. In 1945, it was administratively combined with the Manistee Nati ...
and overlook the Comins Creek Valley. * The
Au Sable River Canoe Marathon The Au Sable River Canoe Marathon (ARCM), presented by Consumers Energy, (also stylized as the Au Sable River (Michigan), AuSable River Canoe Marathon) is an annual canoe race in Michigan from Grayling, Michigan, Grayling to Oscoda, Michigan ...
starts in Grayling and ends in Oscoda down the river. It is one of three annual marathon races that constitute
canoe racing A canoe is a lightweight, narrow watercraft, water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using paddles. In British English, the term ' ...
's Triple Crown. The race begins at 9:00p.m. on the last Saturday in July 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. * First Dam Canoe Race (MCRA - Canoe Race) is a yearly event. * The Au Sable River Queen is a paddle boat that offers river excursions six miles west of Oscoda on the River Road Scenic Byway. * Within this area is Kirtland's warbler habitat, established to bring the songbird back from near extinction. *The Lumberman's Monument is adjacent to the river, about 15 miles (24 km) west of Oscoda. The 14-foot bronze monument stands on a high bank with the Au Sable River providing a scenic backdrop since 1932. Lumbering along the river began in the 1860s and was finished by the 1910s. *River Road, on the north bank and running parallel to the river, is a designated
National Scenic Byway A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Co ...
for the 23 miles that go into Oscoda. * There are six dams and hydro-electric plants in the basin of the Au Sable, with a total capacity of 41MW and an average annual output of 500 GJ. The six facilities were constructed between 1911 and 1924. * The Grayling Fish Hatchery on the Au Sable was founded in 1914 by timber baron Rasmus Hanson with assistance from Henry & Edsel Ford. Although unsuccessful in restoring the grayling, the hatchery raised and released millions of rainbow and brown trout. The State of Michigan purchased it in 1926, then the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, finally to the non-profit Grayling Hatchery Incorporated in 2017. * Canoer's Memorial: The inscription on the memorial says "The crossed paddles are a canoeist’s salute. These paddles are erected as a tribute to those professional members of the Michigan Canoe Racing Association who were once active in the promotion and participation of canoe racing in Michigan.  As you view the waters of the AuSable or watch canoes racing on our Michigan streams, remember these departed members and their dedication to the sport of canoe racing.” The first casualty happened in 1953 claiming the life of 17-year-old Jerry Curley. The Curley family spearheaded the efforts to erect the monument, and it is now maintained by Oscoda Township on U.S. Forest Service property. *The Wolf Creek Trail system is a beautiful trail and boardwalk along the Au Sable River and around Wolf Creek. This trail does not have any mandatory fees for use making it free for everyone. The non-motorized trail is open to all hikers, mountain bikers, cross country skiers, snowshoers, with loops designed as long as 4.2 miles and as short as 1.8 miles. The Wolf Creek Trail, part of the Huron National Forest, has four separate loops with a total of 4.8 miles of walking paths with 3 of these miles running adjacent to the Au Sable River. This trail system is a popular hiking, walking, and cross-country skiing spot for locals and tourists alike. Many hikers will use the main trailhead at the bustling Department of Natural Resources canoe launch and park, right off of M-72/33 on the east side of the bridge that crosses the Au Sable River. The park also has toilets, picnic tables, grills, a source for drinking water, and plenty of parking. Most cross-country skiers will use the trailhead off of South River Road approximately 2 miles east of Mio. Skiers will encounter a few downhill slopes, but nothing too difficult, making for an overall easy ski trail. * Iargo Springs are natural springs near Oscoda that flow for nearly 1000 feet to the Au Sable River. Boardwalks provide scenic views of waterfalls and ponds. * The River Road National Scenic Byway runs parallel to the Au Sable River.


Docuseries

A three-part documentary entitled, ''Au Sable'' was released in 2024 on
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
and aired on local public-access TV stations. It was subtitled, "The River. The Race. The Legends." Narrated by George Blaha, voice of the
Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
and
Michigan State Spartans The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic teams that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 23 Varsity team, varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan Army, Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the sc ...
, it was created by Justin Garant and Darren Cleavenger-Grimsley, two employees of
Consumers Energy Consumers Energy is an investor owned utility that provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. It serves customers in all 68 of the state's Lower Peninsula counties. It is the primary subsidiary of C ...
, primary sponsor of the ARCM since 2012. The Production Team from Consumers Energy provided assistance, as did the volunteers from the AuSable River Canoe Marathon staff. On June 15, 2024, the project won an
Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...
Award for ''Outstanding Sports Documentary'' from the Michigan chapter of the organization.


Drainage basin

The Au Sable has a
drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of land in which all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
of Au Sable River
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
and an average flow of 1,100 ft3/s (31 m3/s) at its mouth.Au Sable River Natural River Plan
Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The river drops from its source at the junction of the Bradford and Kolka Creeks and drains land in the following counties:


Towns along river


River dams

Ordered from upriver to downriver, all belonging to the power company
Consumers Energy Consumers Energy is an investor owned utility that provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. It serves customers in all 68 of the state's Lower Peninsula counties. It is the primary subsidiary of C ...
: # Mio Dam # Alcona Dam # Loud Dam # Five Channels Dam # Cooke Dam # Foote Dam


Historical markers

The river has five historical markers on it: * Cooke Hydroelectric Plant * Five Channels Dam Workers Camp * The Louis Chevalier Claim * Mio Hydroelectric Plant * Chief Shoppenagon


River access

A Michigan ''Recreation Passport'' is required for motor vehicles to access state parks, recreation areas, boating access, campgrounds and trails. Parks and recreation areas are mostly self-supporting, and the Recreation Passport is separate from camping, lodging, harbor and shelter fees. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) maintains over 20 ''Public Access Sites'' on the Au Sable River for fishing and boating egress and ingress. Many have vault toilets and
Hand pump Hand pumps are manually operated pumps; they use human power and mechanical advantage to move fluids or air from one place to another. They are widely used in every country in the world for a variety of industrial, marine, irrigation and lei ...
s for potable water. Some allow camping but all require a current Recreation Passport. The
United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...
(USFS) maintains numerous camping and public access sites in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. All dams on the AuSable River are owned and operated by
Consumers Energy Consumers Energy is an investor owned utility that provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. It serves customers in all 68 of the state's Lower Peninsula counties. It is the primary subsidiary of C ...
(CE). * Au Sable River Primitive Camping has 102 single family campsites from the 4001 Bridge to Oscoda


Bridges


See also

*
Ausable River (Lake Huron) The Ausable River is a river in southwestern Ontario Canada which empties into Lake Huron at Port Franks, Ontario. The Ausable's initial source is in a moraine near the community of Staffa, Ontario located in the municipality of West Perth, Ont ...
, an Ontario tributary of Lake Huron


References


External links


Map of Au Sable River watershedAnglers of the Au SableAuSable River Property Owners AllianceSchrems West Michigan Trout UnlimitedAu Sable Canoe MarathonHuron-Manistee National ForestLumberman's MonumentLumberman's Monument
at the U.S. Forest Service
River Road Scenic Byway
at America's Byways. {{Authority control Rivers of Michigan Rivers of Roscommon County, Michigan Rivers of Otsego County, Michigan Rivers of Oscoda County, Michigan Rivers of Alcona County, Michigan Rivers of Iosco County, Michigan Rivers of Crawford County, Michigan Huron-Manistee National Forests Tributaries of Lake Huron Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States