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Michigan Department of Natural Resources Allegan County, Gun Plain Township (T1N, R11W, Sections 24-26, 34, 35) and Kalamazoo County, Cooper Township (T1S, R11W, Sections 3, 4) Surveyed August 14 and 15, 1991 James L. Dexter, Jr. Environment Silver Creek is a small second-order tributary to the Kalamazoo River.
Located in the extreme corner of southeastern Allegan County and north-central
Kalamazoo County, this high quality designated trout stream has a top-quality
coldwater designation. Silver Creek enters the Kalamazoo River about 4
miles southeast of the City of Plainwell. The creek flows through two distinct land use areas. The upper half is
a combination of fallow farm land and scrub shrub wetland; the lower half
is dominated by active farm land (crops and cattle) and the Kalamazoo
River Floodplain, and is interspersed with scrub shrub wetland. The underlying
soils in this drainage are mostly composed of poorly drained loamy sands.
The creek runs parallel to the Kalamazoo Moraine. Estimated to be 5.4 miles in length, Silver Creek's original source was
two very large springs. One has been dammed to form Lake Doster No. 1.
It now has a submerged pipe to discharge to the creek, although it is
not a typical bottom-draw structure. Other numerous springs erupt from
the ground along the entire water course. Silver Creek falls 115 feet
from its source to it's confluence with the Kalamazoo River. The drainage
area is 20.5 square miles, and the average stream discharge is 12 cubic
feet per second (Cronk et al 1978). An interesting hydrological note is
that even though the soils are defined as poorly drained, the stream is
quite stable, rising and falling quickly during any major rain event. Silver Creek averages 14.3 feet in width and 11 inches in depth. Aquatic
habitat through much of the stream is excellent. The survey site upstream
of M-89 serves as a reference site for MDNR Surface Water Quality Division's
GLEAS Procedure #51. The habitat characteristics of Silver Creek were
rated very high in relation to other small cold water streams in the State.
Habitat components throughout the stream course include pools, undercut
banks, overhanging vegetation, logs, riffles, rocks and boulders, and
watercress. These components can be rated as common to abundant. Bottom substrates in the three survey sites averaged 5% boulder, 30%
rock, 45% gravel, 16% sand, and 4% silt. Substrate embeddedness by sand
and silt was not deemed excessive. Water quality parameters collected
in September 1975 indicated the following: Dissolved oxygen greater than
8.0 ppm, pH 8.0-8.5, alkalinity 170-268 ppm, and hardness 200-300 ppm.
Other measured parameters can be found in a Surface Water Quality Division
staff report by Evans et al. (1975). Water temperatures rarely
exceed 70° in the warmest months (Dexter, personal records). Benthic macroinvertebrates are plentiful. A total of 29 taxa were collected
during the GLEAS Procedure #51 sampling. Mayflies and caddisflies were
extremely common. Stoneflies were also present. Silver Creek ranks very
high in insect species diversity compared to other area trout streams. Development in the watershed is limited. Few houses are found along the
creek banks, but a large development has formed around Lake Doster No.
1. The only other development would include the few active farms along
the stream corridor. No State-owned land is found along Silver Creek,
however, the entire creek is accessible by landowner permission. The upper
area just north of M-89 is also a designated county drain (known as Lower
Doster Drain). Silver Creek has been managed for trout since at least 1933. Stocking
records indicate that brook trout were stocked from 1933 through 1962
in most years, while brown trout were stocked just once in 1943. Stocking
was discontinued in 1962, and the brown and brook trout populations have
been self sustaining since that time. Through the 1960s, the fishery in
Silver Creek was almost 100% brook trout in the upper half and a combination
of brook trout and brown trout in the lower half. A small diversion dam built in the 1800s below M-89 (T1N, R11W, Section
34, behind old Gun Plain Township Hall) once diverted the creek from its
original channel into a series of ponds and through another dam structure
which fed a grist mill. For decades the second dam effectively blocked
most brown trout out of the upper half of the stream. In the fall of 1973,
the owner of this dam pulled the boards out of the dam to flush sediments,
and shortly thereafter was killed in an auto accident. The extended period
of time that the boards were out (about a year) allowed full incursion
of brown trout to the upper waters. Subsequently, the dam was closed again
and has not been opened since. The first diversion dam also fell into
disrepair and was abandoned, allowing the majority of the stream flow
to return to its original channel. The grist mill burned to the ground
in the late 1970s, and the current owner's plan to produce electricity
fell by the wayside. The ponds have since silted in, and the owner currently
is trying to secure permits to once again divert a considerable amount
of the flow to the ponds. Many land use changes have caused management problems that have plagued
this stream. In 1962 the main spring source for Silver Creek was dammed
to create Lake Doster No. 1. This 155-acre artificial impoundment supposedly
cut off one of the major brook trout spawning areas. In addition, its
summer discharge temperatures exceed 75° F. This has undoubtedly
led to the demise of the self-sustaining brook trout population. Hokanson
et al. (1973) suggested that the natural occurrence of self-sustaining
brook trout populations are limited at stream temperatures above 66.2-68°
F. Silver Creek is typically 66-70° F in the summer (Dexter, personal
observations). In 1974, the Lake Doster Development Company applied for a permit to
construct Lake Doster No. 2. This proposed 570-acre impoundment would
have inundated the creek from M-89 upstream. This proposal was strongly
opposed by the DNR and the permit application was finally denied. However,
in 1981 the State Court forced the DNR to issue the permit. The bad economic
climate at that time kept the development company from starting the project
before the permit expired (even after a 1-year extension). The company
has since not pursued that development. In 1981 a major fish kill (but not total) occurred on Silver Creek from
M-89 downstream. A sewage pumping station that serves the Lake Doster
community malfunctioned and sent raw sewage directly into the creek. Apparently,
maintenance of the station was not being handled correctly. The City of
Plainwell and the township have amended their maintenance agreement and
no problems have occurred since. In 1989 the Lake Doster Development Company placed a small D-shaped culvert
across the creek above M-89 while constructing a road leading to a new
gravel operation. This culvert placement was deemed illegal by the DNR,
but not by the Allegan County Drain Commissioner, who gave approval to
the Development Company for this placement. Further investigation into
this matter showed that the DNR could not get the culverts removed because
they were placed in the legally designated Lower Doster Drain, which the
drain commissioner had ultimate authority over. This culvert crossing allowed the development company access to a gravel
deposit in the upper headwater area. In 1992, an overflow from the gravel
washing basin leaked into an abandoned farm tile and caused a serious
turbidity problem. Quick action by landowners, the DNR, and the development
company stopped the problem before a serious fish kill occurred. The abandoned
tile has been broken and filled. The only other aquatic resource threat on the stream has been a local
farmer whose cattle had complete access to almost a half mile of stream.
The cattle seriously damaged riparian vegetation and streambanks, causing
severe erosion and loss of fish habitat. It has taken 5 years to convince
the landowner to fence the creek off to cattle access. This will be completed
in 1993 by the landowner, Soil Conservation Service, and MDNR's Surface
Water Quality Division. The earliest fishery survey on record was conducted in 1954. This one-station
survey (location unknown) showed a good brown trout population and a few
brook trout, along with blacknose dace, rainbow darters, and mottled sculpins.
Numerous additional surveys were conducted from 1967 through 1981 because
of the need to document impact of Lake Doster No. 1 and the potential
impact of Lake Doster No. 2. These surveys were similar, with many brook
trout in the upper areas through the mid 1970s, and many brown trout in
the lower areas. Species collected in surveys after 1954 included white
suckers, creek chubs, american brook lamprey, grass pickerel, central
mudminnow, and some centrarchids--although their numbers were never very
high. The fish community of today is a little different from that of 50 years
ago (Table 1). Brown trout now dominate the entire creek, although a remnant
brook trout population remains. This is most likely due to a combination
effect of higher water temperatures due to Lake Doster No. 1, and the
brown trout out-competing the brook trout. Brook trout are confined mostly
to the upper one-third of the creek, although they may be more abundant
in the extreme headwater areas above the Lake Doster outlet (not surveyed
in 1991). Species other than trout are not numerous. Some come from the
outlets of a few farm ponds located along the waterway, while others (such
as smallmouth bass) have free access to the creek from the Kalamazoo River. The 1991 fishery survey was conducted at three locations. Population
estimates (Bailey modification of the Peterson method) were made at each
site. The lengths of survey sections ranged from 800 to 1,050 feet (see
fish collection forms, population estimate forms and fish growth forms
for detailed information). Brown trout biomass estimates at the three
survey sites ranged from 62 pounds per acre (above M-89) to 120 pounds
per acre (below M-89). Estimated number of brown trout ranged from 446
(above M-89) per acre to 917 per acre (Dalrymple farm at the county line).
Brook trout were found only above M-89 (50 fish/acre and 6.2 pounds/acre).
Our electroshocking efficiency ranged from 64.8% to 72.2%. The trout fishery today is considered by many anglers to be one of the
best in southern Michigan. Spring Brook in Kalamazoo County is about the
only stream in the area that can compare to Silver Creek in quality. Although
brook trout in Silver Creek are not as abundant as in previous years,
their presence still attracts many anglers. Brown trout, however, sustain
the fishery. We collected brown trout from 2 to 16 inches long, and brook
trout from 5 to 9 inches long. All trout appeared very healthy. Recruitment of young-of-the-year brown trout (2 to 4 inches long in Figure
1) is very good. No young-of-the-year brook trout were collected.
These probably could be found upstream from the survey stations. Age and
growth of brown trout is at the state average for the population as a
whole. The brook trout population is growing at a rate above the state
average. Growth slows in each successive year, and is best in first year
of life. This may be density related or environmentally related (temperature). The estimated age frequency of brown trout (Table 3) does not show anything
surprising. The mortality rate appears normal, but the proportion of 2-year
olds may be somewhat depressed. This is most likely due to this age group
becoming vulnerable to harvest. Also, between age group 0 and 1, the typical
ineffectiveness of electroshocking young-of-the-year trout shows up. Even
though the length frequency data shows good recruitment, the electroshocking
efficiency on this age group was about 51%. Habitat degradation has undoubtedly occurred since the construction of
Lake Doster No. 1. In the 1975 SWQD staff report on Silver Creek, 33 different
taxa of insects were found above M-89. The 1991 survey in the same area
found only 29. Also, water temperatures in the upper portions of the stream
have warmed considerably due to the Lake Doster discharge. Very few streams in Southern Michigan rival Silver Creek in production
of wild trout. The biomass of trout that it produces ranks it with some
of the best trout streams in the state. Although it has enjoyed a good
reputation for decades, the stream is not overfished. The stream does
have its faithful anglers, however, many who like to take home a limit
or two of trout each year. The environmental conditions of the watershed
have changed quite a lot in the last 30 years. Stream mileage has been
lost due to Lake Doster No. 1, water temperatures have increased, and
continued threats of siltation and development occurs in the headwater
area. Brown trout are prospering, however, perhaps to the demise of brook
trout. Silver Creek should continue to be managed as a top-quality coldwater,
designated trout stream. Significant natural reproduction of brown trout
and limited natural reproduction of brook trout will continue to provide
the creek with excellent angling opportunities. No fisheries management
action need be taken at this time, except to assure that the fencing project
at the Dalrymple farm is completed. If land ownership of that farm transfers
in the near future, the Fisheries Division should pursue a full scale
habitat improvement project on that portion of stream that is extensively
damaged by cattle. The present landowner will not allow us to do that
work. Continued monitoring of the stream by landowners and anglers will keep
us appraised of problems as they arise. Our management goal into the next
century should be to maintain the existing excellent trout fishery at
its present capacity by working with stream riparian owners to maintain
careful habitat management. Report completed: January 1993. Cronk, C., et al. (21 authors). 1978. Kalamazoo County. Geology and the
Environment. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Evans, E, D. Tierney, A. Massey. 1975. Staff Report. Silver Creek, Allegan
County Michigan, September 16, 1975. Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
Surface Water Quality Division, Lansing and Plainwell files. Hokanson, K.E.F., J.H. McCormick, B.R. Jones, and J.H. Tucker. 1973.
Thermal requirements for maturation, spawning, and embryo survival of
the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis. Journal of the Fisheries
Research Board of Canada 30:975-984. Table 1.-Species, relative abundance, and length of fish collected
by streamshocker during marking runs at three stations on Silver Creek,
Gun Plain Twp., August 14-15, 1991.
Table 2.-Average total unweighted length (inches) at age, and
growth relative to the state average, for fish sampled from Silver Creek,
Gun Plain Twp., with DC streamshocker, August 14-15, 1991. Number of fish
aged is given in parentheses.
Table 3.-Estimated age frequency (percent) of fish caught from
Silver Creek, Gun Plain Twp., with streamshocker on August 14-15, 1991.
Last Update: 08/05/02
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