Sediments flowing to Lake Michigan start in tributaries to the Muskegon River. When you drive over a stream or river, you can sometimes see how sediment is building up by the edge and making its way into the stream or river below as shown in the photo to the right.
Staff from the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited inspected some road stream crossings in Newaygo County to determine how improvements could help the Muskegon River.
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- Wildlife such as Beavers building dams also change stream flow.
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- When water flow is restricted by small culverts under roads, the stream will create ponds because the energy of the water is not allowed to flow naturally. In addition, sediment from roads spill into the stream altering fish habitat.