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Michigan Department of Natural Resources Allegan County (T4N, R11W. Sections 25, 31, 32, 35, 36) (T3N, R11W. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10; T3N, R12W, Sections 1, 2, 10, 11) Surveyed August 1-4, 1989 James L. Dexter, Jr. Environment The upper portion of the Rabbit River is a second order stream rated
as second quality coldwater. Located in northeastern Allegan County, the
designated trout stream portion of the Rabbit River ends at U.S. Route
131 (US 131). The Rabbit River flows through the City of Hopkins. Originating
in springs in the farmland of Leighton Township, and as outlets in a couple
of very small lakes, the stream flows in a westerly direction and eventually
empties into the lower Kalamazoo River. Most areas of the Rabbit River
below US 131 have not been surveyed yet. A rotenone survey of those waters
is planned for the near future. The watershed of the upper Rabbit River is primarily farmland and some
woodlots. Soils in the drainage include poorly drained Granby and Glendora
loamy sands, and very poorly drained Adrian and Houghton mucks. The upper Rabbit River is approximately 9.8 miles in length. The average
width is 14 feet, with depths averaging 1.5 feet. Water velocities range
from fast to slow. On average, substrates are composed of sand (60%),
silt (20%), gravel (10%), rock (5%), and clay (5%). Only three of seven
stations above US 131 contained enough gravel areas (greater than 3%,
Raleigh et al. 1986) to support favorable salmonid spawning conditions. Depending on the section surveyed, overall habitat varies from poor to
excellent. Undercut banks and brush are common in most sections, while
the occasional log and pool is also found. Watercress is common only to
the extreme headwater areas. Duning of sand appears common, indicative
of a heavy moving bedload. Chemical characteristics that have been studied
include pH (7.4-8.6), dissolved oxygen (greater than 5.0 ppm in August),
and DDT concentrations (not detectable in sampling from 1964). After a fish kill in July 1989, the Surface Water Quality Division (SWQD)
conducted a biological survey of the river, with specific sampling conducted
both above and below 135th Avenue. The area above 135th Avenue was the
site of the chemical contamination causing the fish kill. Alkalinities
at this time ranged from 188 to 234 ppm. Many other chemical characteristics
were also analyzed. The results are available in a report issued by the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Surface Water Quality Division
(1990). The macroinvertebrate communities were qualitatively sampled at four
locations in the upper Rabbit River (also by SWQD for the same biological
survey). Up to 24 species, including mayflies and caddisflies, were documented.
Many of the species can be classified as intolerant, meaning they succumb
easily to polluted waters. There is no state-owned land along the banks of the upper Rabbit River.
However, access is good at most road crossings, and landowner permission
is easily obtained. The Rabbit River has been actively managed for trout since at least 1939.
Brown trout yearlings were (and still are) planted annually. Stocking
rates today are about 225 per acre. Steelhead stocking in the lower Rabbit
River started in the mid-1970s and continues today, averaging 7,000 spring
yearlings. Steelhead migrate up into the designated trout stream area
and spawn in available habitat. Some natural reproduction of steelhead
has been noted in past surveys. The upper Rabbit River has historically been popular with trout anglers,
primarily upstream of Wayland. Historical records also indicate that northern
pike and both largemouth and smallmouth bass were popular gamefish, especially
in the lower reaches. Other than the addition of trout to the fish community,
there is no evidence of change in the community composition of today compared
to 50 years ago. The headwater area above 135th Avenue was designated as a county drain
in 1926 (Hooker-Harvey, by name). This designation has caused many fishery
management problems for the upper Rabbit River. Dredging activities and
the opening of several large springs by dredging have substantially increased
sediment loads in the river. Mitigation measures, including sediment basins,
have been installed. In 1983, an attempt was made to extend the county
drain designation from 135th Avenue downstream to 6th Street. This attempt
was overwhelmingly opposed by the public and defeated through court action. In April of 1971, an extensive stream electroshocking survey found low
trout numbers and high numbers of competing species. A chemical reclamation
project in May of 1971 removed fish from 4th Street to US 131. Brown trout
were restocked, along with smallmouth bass below Hopkins. No chemical
treatments have occurred since 1971. The trout fishery of today is only a remnant of what it was prior to
a fish kill that occurred on July 16, 1989. A crop-dusting helicopter
sprayed the insecticide Endosulfan on celery fields between 135th and
137th avenues. The landowner also apparently dredged the river without
the proper DNR permits just prior to spraying, probably destroying beds
of watercress. The river in this area typically is full of watercress,
which most likely held back runoff previously. Without the watercress,
the Endosulfan freely entered and flowed unimpeded down the watercourse.
Sampling by SWQD within 1 month of the fish kill found Endosulfan concentrations
in the sediments as high as 120 PPB. Contaminant samples of trout also
revealed high concentrations of Endosulfan in the fish. An extensive fishery survey was conducted within 3 weeks of the fish
kill to assess the damage. Based on previous surveys (notably the 1983
population estimates) it was felt that the effects of the fish kill went
as far as 5th Street, at least for trout. Brown trout up to 23 inches
were found dead in this stretch. Other species did not appear as affected
this far down, as they were found in similar numbers as in previous surveys. The 1989 fish community was still quite varied (Table 1). A total of
16 species of fish were collected in the designated trout stream portion
of the Rabbit River. But, only five (5) brown trout, 7 to 15 inches long,
were collected. Compared with the 1983 survey (Table 2) many more species are present
today than then. This may be due in part, however, to the better equipment
available for collecting fish. Population estimates in 1983 revealed that
brown trout were by far the most abundant species found. Estimates of
brown trout populations in 1983 between 135th Avenue and 4th Street ranged
from 43 to 170 pounds per acre (rivaling Blue Ribbon trout streams in
Region II). The trout population in the effected area of chemical contamination
was, for all practical purposes, wiped out. The majority of the trout
production in this area was natural. In July 1990, three sections of the upper Rabbit were surveyed because
of concern voiced by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) over
lack of fish and lamprey ammocetes in their electrofishing stations below
Wayland. Backpack electroshocking was conducted by our crew at 135th Avenue,
4th Street, and 8th Street. The trout population appears to be rebuilding
itself well. Many trout were taken above 4th Street, with a considerable
percentage of those trout appearing to be wild fish. I believe larger
trout moved up the system last fall, and spawned successfully. At least
six young-of-the-year brown trout were captured that were not of hatchery
origin. It turned out the USFWS equipment was faulty. Because of the fish kill, it will be 2 to 4 years before the trout population
can be restored. In recent years the area between 135th Avenue and 4th
Street has become quite popular for catching 20-inch plus brown trout.
A 7¼ pound brown trout was caught in this section in June 1985. A
restocking regime was developed specifically for rebuilding the lost population
to 1983 population structures. Stocking rates were developed assuming
50% mortality rates per year, per year class. Further information can
be found in the documents listed at the end of the report. The upper Rabbit
River must be restored to its previous condition. No other trout waters
in District 12, or perhaps Region III, rivaled the trout production of
some sections of the Rabbit River. The upper Rabbit River should continue to be managed as a second quality
coldwater stream. The trout fishery should be restored in the near future
to its previous level of production. Chemical reclamation of the river
was considered after the fish kill, but it was felt that the Endosulfan
probably did a good enough job at removing a significant portion of fish
biomass that it was not needed. The many points of fish species contamination
(lake outlets) will always be a problem, and chemical reclamation of the
river will most likely be needed within the next decade. Habitat restoration at present is not prudent, as perhaps the best technique
for rehabilitating the Rabbit River would be numerous sediment basins
to remove the existing (and increasing) sand bedload. At present there
are two sediment basins upstream of 135th Avenue. An agreement exists
with the county to clean one basin and a private farmer keeps the second
one clean. More sediment basins are needed. The feasibility of more basins
needs to be studied in depth. Much of the sand bedload is coming from
the Hooker-Harvey Drain, and we have no control over what happens up there.
The fact that the headwaters are designated county drain, and that nothing
below that is, will continue to create fish management problems for the
river. The opportunity exists now to greatly improve the fishery, but only because
of an unfortunate fish kill. The section between 135th Avenue and 4th
Street has good gradient, excellent habitat and bottom substrate. There
is no reason to believe that this area will not return to its original
state. Hopefully, production of wild brown trout in this area will be
high enough so that migration downstream can seed areas that we are presently
stocked yearly. If funding becomes available in the future for habitat
restoration, it is recommended that a complete survey of the bottom substrate
be made so that the feasibility of sand traps can be determined and weighed
against the possible benefits. One other potential obstacle to improving the fishery beyond what it
was, may be the continued runs of steelhead up into the headwaters. Research
in Michigan has suggested that rainbow trout may compete with brown trout
(Ziegler 1988). Report completed: September 14, 1990. Quinn, D. 1990. Staff Report Biological Surveys of the Rabbit River in
an agricultural area east of the town of Wayland, Allegan County, Michigan,
July 11-18, 1989; August 8, 1989; October 11, 1989. Michigan Depart-ment
of Natural Resources, Surface Water Quality Division, MI/DNR/SWQ-90/100,
Lansing. Raleigh, R. F., L. D. Zuckerman, and P. C. Nelson. 1986. Habitat suitability
index models and instream flow suitability curves: Brown trout, revised.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 82(10.124). Ziegler, R. L. 1988. Stream Resource Utilization of Sympatric and allopatric
juvenile brown (Salmo trutta) and Steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri). Michigan
Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Research Report 1957, Ann Arbor. Table 1.-Species, relative abundance, and length of fishes collected
at nine stations on the upper Rabbit River, August 1-4, 1989.
Table 2.-Species and relative abundance of fishes collected by
number at four stations on the upper Rabbit River, 1983.
Last Update: 08/06/02
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