Sturgeon (Dickinson), Michigan, US
|
|
Sturgeon Dam (1.7 miles)
| Usual Difficulty |
III-IV (varies with level) |
| Length |
1.7 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
35 fpm |
Sturgeon River ca. 1922
Sturgeon River ca. 1922Photo by image courtesy of WE Energies
Gauge Information
| Name |
Range |
Difficulty |
Updated |
Level |
|
FORD RIVER NEAR HYDE, MI
|
|
usgs-04059500 |
250 - 1000 cfs
|
II-III+ |
60d13h15m |
~ 254
cfs
(rc= 0.0 ) |
Unconfirmed. Probably best flows for whitewater on this reach. (Likely 200-500 cfs.) We need your comments and reports to refine runnable ranges. Sturgeon (389 sq.mi. at Hwy.2, downstream of this reach) might roughly correlate to 80% of the flow of the Ford gauge (450 sq.mi. drainage). |
River Description
As a result of the Wilderness Shores Settlement Agreement (by WE Energies), removal of the Sturgeon
Dam (near Norway, MI) has resulted in a new paddling destination which is convenient to other area
rivers (Piers Gorge on the Menominee and Horeserace Rapids on the Paint).
The removal process was started summer of 2003 and completed autumn of 2005. This removal yielded
about 1/3 mile of whitewater located in a scenic gorge. This should be big water class III and IV
during the high flows of early season and more moderate class II and III in the summer months.
See additonal 'User Comments' attached below for the most recent information regarding this
reach.
For current information on the removal process, please see WE Energies's
Sturgeon River Restoration Project.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2011-09-01 21:56:34
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
be just above a narrow dells. (The point where the canyon pretty much ends) and ran back to the
parking lot. At 1600 cfs this run is a hoot! But be cautious to search for logs. During our run the
rapid where the dam used to be had logs choking the main channel to river right so we had to take
the river left channel. There are 3 holes at the end of the rapids that look pretty munchy. In fact
2 of our group got stuck in the bottom most hole on river right and kept them for a while before
finally flushing them.<br>
In 2007 Ran at same level and holes at end of run are now more like big waves and not so keepy. The
river right channel just below where the dam used to be was log free, but looked low head damish.
We took the river left channel again.
a very dramatic inner gorge with high banks of sand.<br>
The re-bar appears to be gone and so is the dam, but<br>
watch out for logs. We put in from a wooden bridge<br>
off of G69. This gave us a long flatwater approach.<br>
Although it was very scenic, and even had a little dells,<br>
most whitewater paddlers will want to just carry up<br>
and only run the whitewater.