Fish Passage (Frankenmuth, MI)
Project Description 
The Frankenmuth Dam is located on the Cass River within the city of Frankenmuth, approximately 20 miles south of Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay. The Cass River originates in Tuscola County in east central Michigan near Cass City. The Cass River’s watershed encompasses 848 sq. miles and lies within the Saginaw Bay watershed. The Frankenmuth Dam is a concrete dam, and is approximately 240 feet long with a structural height of 14 feet. It was built in the 1850s to supply water to a local mill. Although the walleye and lake sturgeon are the species targeted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Partnership for the Saginaw Bay Watershed, a fish passage at the Frankenmuth Dam would also increase habitat connectivity for a variety of other species including white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), white bass (Morone chrysops), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), channel catfish (Icatalus punctatus), northern pike (Esox lucius), and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Connecting river habitat for these species would benefit the overall diversity of Cass River and Saginaw Bay watershed species.
Nonfederal Project Sponsor
City of Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Congressional Interest
- Senator Carl Levin (D-MI)
- Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
- Representative Dale Kildee (D-MI-5)
Stage
Feasibility.
Current Status
A preliminary restoration plan has been approved and a concept design completed. Future funds will be used to continue feasibility-level planning and design efforts focusing on environmental regulatory agency coordination and site data acquisition. Additional funding would be used to complete the feasibility efforts, including hydraulic modeling, detailed design, feasibility report preparation, and administrative review and approval.
Funding
| Total | Federal | Nonfederal | |
| Current working estimate | $2,400,000 | $1,560,000 | $840,000 |
| Funding to date | $125,400 | $125,400 | $0 |
| Funds required to complete project | $2,274,600 | $1,434,600 | $840,000 |
Frankenmuth Dam Project Manager Patrick Kuhne Click here to download a copy |