A study of the Portage River and Little Portage Creek that runs through Vicksburg and flows on into Portage Lake before emptying into the St. Joe River in Three Rivers will be done thanks to a grant from Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). From it, a watershed management plan will be developed to protect the water quality of the river, according to Brett Riser, the program coordinator who is based in Marshall.
The project launches with a Portage River Canoe and Kayak event on Saturday, September 13 at 9 a.m. Participants will learn about the Portage River Watershed as they float a portion of the stream and discover different natural resource features while taking part in a treasure hunt along the way. First prize is a brand new Old Town Saranac 146 canoe, second prize is Bushnell 10 x 42mm Legend Ultra HD binoculars, and third prize is Overton’s manual inflatable personal floatation device.
The fun begins at the Portage Lake boat landing and continue on to Parkville Road with lunch provided along with a shuttle service for vehicles. Registration is required and is limited to 40 people. The organizers will provide a canoe or kayak but there is a limited supply as it is hoped many participants will be able to bring their own. Call Rick Piersen at 269-781-4867, ext. 137 to register or for more information.