The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Consumers Energy have announced that they will jointly reconstruct the tailwater fishing access area at Foote Dam located on the Au Sable River.
The site is presently being operated by Michigan DNR under a lease agreement. The reconstruction work will be carried out over a period of two years under which one phase will be completed by 2012 and the site will be made open for public usage by 2013. Reconstruction work was required due to the bad conditions of the sheet pile wall that provides the main access to the fishing site.
During the first phase the lower portion of the sheet pile wall will be closed for the public. However fisherman will be allowed continuous access to the stairway that exists now. The fencing for the closure area has been installed recently. The design for the project was developed based on consultations with Michigan DNR. According to Chuck Allen who is the Tawas Point State Park Manager the reconstruction of the fishing area will ensure that it remains the favourite fishing destination in Michigan.
The final design however, is yet to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Once the approval is acquired, the design and construction plan will be made available to the public. The reconstruction work is likely to provide 15 to 20 construction jobs. The construction of the Foote Dam was completed in 1917 and it has received a new 40-year FERC operating license in 1994.
Source: http://www.michigan.gov