TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City Commission voted 6-1 to join the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the operation and maintenance of the Fish Pass being constructed on the Boardman-Ottaway River.
The agreement will last for 10 years following the completion of construction, which is now expected until sometime in 2026.
The city will provide $27,000 a year toward operation and maintenance, along with $600,000 from the GLFC.
In addition to that, directly from the Memorandum of Agreement as written, the city will transfer $300,000 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Natural Resources Trust Fund Development Grant to the support park access amenities and $1,000,000 in funds from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Dam Risk Reduction Grant to support replacement of the Union Street Dam.
The Grand Traverse Band will transfer to the GLFC $1,432,090 in funds received from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant to support the Public Affairs Specialist for 3 years and construction of educational, natural river features, and green infrastructure.
After the first 10-year period, the agreement may be renewed on a yearly basis, depending on agreement from all of the parties involved.