COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on Tuesday that is against the Michigan D.N.R.’s reclassification of the Prairie River from west of Bronson to the county line.
The D.N.R. is scheduled to make a decision on the reclassification of the river from a warm stream to a cold transitional stream on Thursday.
A group opposed to the change feels it could impact irrigation and land levels in much of Branch County.
Jay Westley from the Fisheries Division of the D.N.R. said during the Commissioners meeting on December 20 they wanted to change the stream from warm to cold due to the brown trout population.
Commissioner Jon Houtz felt during this past Thursday’s meeting that the brown trout in the river have not been affected by irrigation usage. This issue has been studied by the Michigan D.N.R. since 2015 and they say their decision will be based on science, data and policy. It is believed that this portion of the river was classified incorrectly back in 2008, as the other portion of the river is already classified as cold. There were options presented this past Thursday including the formation of aWater User Committee and gathering additional data.
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