COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The City of Coldwater has announced that the roadway near Sauk River at Waterworks Park will be temporarily closed this fall in order to perform proactive maintenance on the surrounding banks of the river.
The city plans to stabilize the river banks by taking such measures as planting native grasses and plants.
The large bird population is being blamed for the soil erosion and high levels of bacteria around the waterways in this section of the Sauk River.
The birds eat the grass on the banks, weakening the structure and eventually causing erosion. Many of the items commonly used to feed waterfowl such as bread, corn and popcorn are low in protein and poor substitutes for natural foods.
These kinds of foods make birds sick and causes them to release excessive amounts of bacteria in the water. The city has been forced to relocate over 100 birds over the last year due to their large numbers.
Waterworks Park will remain open during the transition but park visitors are being asked to do not feed the birds or park in the areas being restored.
