By Associated Press - Monday, May 19, 2014

OCQUEOC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Century-old remnants of a former grist mill have been removed from the Ocqueoc River in northern Michigan’s Presque Isle County, the state Department of Natural Resources said Monday.

Chunks from 15-foot-tall, 5-foot thick concrete abutments had fallen into the river in the past year, creating hazards for swimmers and kayakers. Removing the concrete and abutments also allows the Ocqueoc to continue its natural flow.

“As the walls fell into the river, flow was constricted and significant amounts of sediments entered the water,” Tim Cwalinski, a DNR fisheries biologist, said in a news release.

The mill had operated on the site more than a century ago. A hundred years of water and ice deteriorated the abutments, which stood on both sides of the river.

More than 60,000 people visit the Ocqueoc Falls area and a rustic campground each year. Many use the river on hot summer days, according to the DNR.

“We’ll be working on stabilizing the river banks with native vegetation this summer,” said Cody Stevens, a unit manager with the DNR’s Forest Resources Division. “Local volunteer groups are lending a hand to help restore the site to a more natural appearance. We’ll be monitoring the site for any erosion concerns.

“We want to get this area back in great shape to enhance the aquatic habitat and provide a safe place for people to enjoy.”

Part of the Ocqueoc River Grist Mill project was funded by an Aquatic Habitat Grant awarded earlier this spring to the DNR to help protect the river.

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