Years after a 2008 dam failure caused a major fish kill along a Blue Ribbon trout stream near Vanderbilt, the dam will be removed. The state has settled its lawsuit with the property owner, Golden Lotus. The group runs a yoga retreat called Song of the Morning Ranch, along the Pigeon River.
Golden Lotus has agreed to remove the dam, which will also remove a pond on the property and restoring a cold-water river habitat for fish.
Fisheries Specialist David Borgeson, with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says the draw down of the pond will begin this spring.
“As soon as we get a warm up, which seems like it’s been forever this spring, they can begin the draw-down procedure,” he says.
Golden Lotus has also agreed to put money toward a larger river restoration project.