I like to dig into the back rooms at libraries because they often have surprising little secrets.
One of the more interesting Monroe finds was the fact that the Detroit Edison plant at the mouth of the River Raisin takes in so much water that the River Raisin actually flows backwards except during times of very heavy rain.
This was reported in a 1998 DNR document about the state of the River Raisin. It is interesting reading and I'd recommend it to anyone who cares about the river. I've posted a link to it at the bottom of the excerpt.
Kenneth E. Dodge is the author.
Potamodromous Fisheries Management-Barriers
"The Detroit Edison Power Plant at the mouth of the River Raisin presents a formidable obstacle to both upstream and downstream migration of potamodromous fish species (Figure 22). The Monroe Power Plant is one of the largest fossil-fueled power plants in the United States, and the heat produced during power generation is tremendous. The plant’s cooling water requirement of up to 3,000 cfs greatly exceeds the annual mean flow of the River Raisin of 741 cfs (Blumer et al. 1996). Therefore, during all but the high flow periods of the year, virtually the entire flow of the River Raisin is drawn through the intake canal and processed through the power plant as cooling water. In addition, Lake Erie water is drawn upstream to the plant through the river channel essentially reversing the flow of the river. This processed cooling water is then returned to Lake Erie at an increased temperature through a separate outlet canal to Plum Creek Bay. This feature, part of the plant’s normal operation, certainly deters upstream runs of adult potamodromous fishes. Also, survival of wild downstream migrants and potamodromous fish stocked upstream from the power plant is jeopardized as the fish migrate downstream to Lake Erie. One plant of coho salmon in the River Raisin in 1977 produced virtually no return. Spring walleye and white bass spawning runs are insignificant in the River Raisin, whereas these runs have increased dramatically in other major tributaries to the Western Basin of Lake Erie. The absence of substantial walleye and white bass spawning runs in the River Raisin is probably caused by hydrologic disruptions due to the Monroe Power Plant cooling water intake (W. McCracken, MDNR, Water Quality Division (now MDEQ, SWQD), personal communication). Walleye spawning habitat is good between Monroe and Dundee and a substantial potamodromous spawning run of walleyes could develop. Nursery habitat appears
to be good along the western shore of Lake Erie."
1 comment:
the river raison is still one of my favorite fishing spots and does have some great potential walleye holding and spawning sites that would entice loads of anglers on almost any other river in the area,but most of the river goes greatly unfished due to the lack of walleye and steelhead runs. Ive seen a couple of each pulled out in my 27 years fishing the raison but they are few and far between and insugnificant when compared to similar river ecosystems. The scenery and tranquility on this historic waterway may truly fill a mans heart so that it feels as if it would burst, it is a sad thing that many people will never expierience the one of the most beutifull rivers in the area because nature plan has been exchanged for progress and in doing so possibly changed one of our greatest natural resources to take away from a proud flowing american treasure that in the past provided the surounding ares with so much
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