Michels Corp. Begins Work on Restoring Onion RiverEfforts will help stabilize watershed in Sheboygan County
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. Michels Corporation, in conjunction with the Lakeshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, began work on restoring the Onion River in Sheboygan County this week.
The 100-square-mile watershed has undergone sustained reclamation and restoration efforts since the late-1990s to help trout and other wildlife reinhabit the area.
Michels is assisting the conservation efforts of the Lakeshore Chapter and the DNR by preparing five to six sites along the Onion River for the installation of lunker structures. The structures, which are embedded into the riverbank, are covered with layers of limestone and mulch, and ultimately help minimize erosion and stabilize the watershed.
?We are very pleased to be underway on this project, and we?re excited about the opportunity to work with Trout Unlimited and the DNR to restore one of the great watersheds in the state,? said Tim Michels, vice president of Michels Corp. ?These efforts are part of our continuing commitment to environmental sustainability, and we hope to continue capitalizing opportunities to protect and restore natural wonders across our great state.?
The Onion River, the only Class A trout stream in southern Wisconsin, has seen its natural trout populations almost vanish since the mid-20th Century. Headwater alterations caused the narrow, cold stream to grow wider and warmer which, combined with nearby agricultural practices that lead to pollution and contamination, made it almost impossible for trout to inhabit the river.
Beginning in the late-90s, the Lakeshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited and other environmental groups, with the support of local businessman Terry Kohler and the Sheboygan County Land and Water Department, began purchasing area around the Onion River to allow restoration efforts to take place. Those efforts were aided by a restoration plan developed by the DNR.
While the Onion River trout have begun to make a comeback, population levels are still only at approximately 10 per 100 feet of stream well below the original levels prior to environmental changes.
Brownsville-based Michels Corporation has been pioneering innovative new technologies for more than five decades. With a proven track record of success, Michels has earned a sterling reputation while growing from a small pipeline construction company into one of the largest utility contractors in North America. With its collective strength, Michels offers construction, engineering and procurement services to keep pace with the growing demand in the energy, transportation, telecommunications and utility construction industries. For more information, please visit
www.michels.us.
