Prairie Creek Initiative
Prairie Creek flows through Ionia and Montcalm Counties and is one of the closest cold-water fisheries to Lansing. The river supports a fall and spring migration of steelhead and a healthy trout population. Because the river primarily runs through private farmland, access to the river has been limited. Perrin Lansing Chapter members Jim Bedford, Bob Ceru, and Dan Oberst met with riparian landowners to discuss conservation and restoration efforts along the river. They established a partnership with the landowners and applied for a grant to TU’s Embrace a Stream program. The grant was written in collaboration with Aaron Snell of Streamside Ecological Services and will focus on the portion of the Prairie Creek running through the Welch property (see map). In late August 2025, we were notified that we were awarded the grant!
The project will focus on log jam removal, installation of 20 instream habitat structures, tree and shrub plantings, and improvement of one mile of trail for angler access. The Perrin Lansing Chapter will be responsible for project management and coordinating all activities. Dan Oberst will be the project manager and will be working with Aaron Snell, who works with TU chapters throughout Michigan on stream assessment and improvement; Kristin Thomas, biologist for Michigan TU; Jake Lemon, Eastern Angler Science Coordinator; and Melissa Eldridge, executive director of the Ionia Conservation District.
There will be many volunteer opportunities in this initiative so plan on being a part of this work. Watch for future announcements regarding this initiative.