Post-Trip Thoughts & Advocacy

Protesting Tribar, a repeat polluter of the Huron River Watershed

Recreational and Ecological Benefits from the removal of the Penninsuar Paper Dam in Ypsilanti

The Huron River is full of surprises, and I consider myself fortunate to have experienced many of these during my own journey on its waters.  In August of 2020, my paddling partner and I undertook the challenge of canoeing all 104 miles of the Huron River Water Trail. One of the best surprises of our trip came our way when we paddled the length of the river closest to my own home, where the Huron flows from the Dixboro Dam in East Ann Arbor through the river town of Ypsilanti. We were amazed by the abundance of wildlife, the variety of river conditions along the way, and the friendly residents that we encountered on the shores of this part of the Huron. This stretch of river requires a bit more planning and paddling experience than a float through Dexter or Ann Arbor, but it is a stretch of water that is full of beauty and variety.  While this 6.4 miles of river can pose a few challenges for recreational paddlers, the future for this stretch of river has exciting developments ahead, and I am eager to see what the future holds for this part of the Huron.

After my thru trip of the Huron in 2020, I returned to this section of river with my husband and 5-year-old son.  This repeat trip confirmed all that I initially loved about this length of river, but also highlighted a few key drawbacks as well.  While paddling from East Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti is a great day trip, it is not without its faults.  For paddlers and floaters who seek a swift river flow and less paddling, upper sections of the Huron are a preferable choice. Given the much slower backwaters due to both the Superior and Penninsular Paper Dams, paddlers can expect a mix of river and flatwater paddling.  The other major challenge for recreational paddlers lies in the need to portage around these same dams.  The portage at the Superior Dam is well-marked and maintained, while the portage around the Pennisular Paper Dam is best tackled by more experienced paddlers.  A narrow walk up a stairway at this dam leads to a narrow walk back down to reach a cement dock on the other side of the dam.  This is a tricky spot for boarding one’s boat given a tall seawall and exposed metal rebar that pose a challenge and risk for paddlers trying to continue on their way downriver. While this portage is the most difficult portion of this section of river, great changes are in the works thanks to the City of Ypsilanti and the HRWC, which will soon make this particular obstacle obsolete.

Out of the many lessons and discoveries that I made during my 104-mile trip down the Huron, this stretch of river had to be one of my favorites.  The quiet beauty of the Huron through this less-traveled stretch of river makes it a hidden treasure, and better yet, one that will be far easier to appreciate and enjoy with one less portage along the way.  With each new development around the removal of the Penninsular Paper Dam, I get more and more excited about the possibility of enjoying a paddle break and a picnic break at the expanded Penninuslar Dam park that will be developed after dam removal.  Having seen similar dam removal and park development projects in Dexter, where I once worked and taught, I have seen firsthand how this one change has a cascade of positive effects.  I only see this length of river getting better and better, with improved river health and increased recreational opportunities, as this project moves forward, and I look forward to continuing to enjoy this hidden gem on the Huron!