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• Meet Augusta Creek
• North Country Trails
• A forester's reflections on August Creek.
• J.R. Russell's Augusta Creek
• Brook Lodge - A legacy of preserved natural beauty.

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Augusta Creek and its watershed, and explain why we think Augusta Creek is so special!

The Augusta Creek watershed covers 30 square miles, has 40 linear miles of stream, and contains 11 noteworthy lakes. The stream arises as outflows from Gilkey and Fair Lakes in Barry County, and flows south to its confluence with the Kalamazoo River at Augusta. Along its course the stream steadily increases in flow as it is fed by groundwater springs, tributaries, and outflows from lakes and wetlands. The stream is accessible to the public at the Kellogg Forest (owned by Michigan State University) and at the hunting and fishing area between B and C Avenues in Ross Township, which is owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The Augusta Creek watershed was largely forested before European settlement. Upland areas were primarily oak savannas and forests of oak-hickory and beech-maple. Lowland or wetland forests consisted mostly of elm, black ash, basswood, and soft maple; tamarack swamps were common along the streams. Significant settlement of this region began in the 1830's, and beginning around 1840 upland areas were cleared for agriculture. Lowland swamp forests were also lumbered, but in some areas these have regrown so that they currently resemble the original forests (with the notable absence of the American Elm, which fell prey to Dutch Elm disease).

Augusta Creek played a pivotal role in the early settlement process by providing the energy for a water-driven gristmill and sawmill. Currently, only three low-head dams, two in Barry County and one in the village of Augusta, interrupt it as a free-flowing stream. Most of the stream course remains free of dams, channelization, artificial bank stabilization and other physical modifications that frequently alter natural streams and degrade the stream habitat.

Water quality of streams and lakes throughout the watershed is generally very good, and Augusta Creek usually carries clear, cool water. Nitrogen, a necessary nutrient for plant growth, exists in high concentrations in the creek, primarily as a result of the high nitrate concentrations in local groundwaters. However, phosphorus concentrations in the stream are quite low, and since algae and other aquatic plants need both nitrogen and phosphorus to grow, the stream remains free of nuisance algae and other undesirable characteristics that we associate with excess nutrient pollution ("eutrophication").

The creek remains in good ecological health not only because it remains largely free-flowing, but also because it has extensive wetlands surrounding its headwaters, and because forest lines much of the stream valley. The wetlands have deterred extensive development along the creek, and function as natural filters to remove sediment and pollutants. Streamside wetlands often have rich muck soils and lush plant cover, and although the water table is close to the surface they may flood only infrequently.

Shrubs and trees along the stream are also important in maintaining the good water quality, reducing erosion and intercepting nutrients and other contaminants before they reach the stream, and they help keep the water cool in the summer by shading the stream. Past agricultural development in the watershed resulted in the removal of much of this vegetation, but today many areas close to the stream are considered marginal for agriculture and are being allowed to return to their natural vegetation. However, a new form of land use, residential development, is presently expanding rapidly in the area, and sometimes the new landowners clear streamside vegetation and replace it with lawns. The consequences of this riparian land development for the ecology of the stream are not well understood, but could lead to greater nutrient and sediment inputs and higher stream temperatures.

Augusta Creek receives a lot of groundwater, a relatively stable source of water that is usually near 50°F throughout the year. The creek is not prone to major floods because so much of its water arises from springs, and because the wetlands along its course absorb excess water temporarily during high runoff periods, later releasing it back to the stream. The combined effect of cool groundwater inputs and shady channels maintains the summer water temperature low enough to support trout fisheries. Eastern brook trout (the native Augusta Creek trout), rainbow trout and brown trout have all been present in Augusta Creek at one time or another, although brown trout is currently the primary target of fishermen here. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocks several thousand brown trout into Augusta Creek every year.

In addition to fish, the Augusta Creek drainage supports a wide variety of interesting and unique plants and animals, including a great blue heron rookery. The watershed also contains several species that the Michigan Natural Features Inventory considers to be of special concern or threatened status, including the spotted turtle, massasauga rattlesnake, Blanchard's cricket frog, the pugnose shiner, and white lady-slipper. Other interesting critters that you might run across near the stream include snapping, softshell, and box turtles, blue racers (a snake), pickerel frogs, sandhill cranes, and mink. If you happen upon any of these plants or animals, please treat them with respect!

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An exciting creation is occurring in this area. The North Country Trail which was established by Congress in the late 1970's as one of eight national scenic trails is being built by volunteers. This great foot path is being made in the same manner as the Appalachian and Pacific Coast Trails with emphasis on minimal environmental impact and maximum hiker usage and appreciation. It extends from New York State to North Dakota in its 4,000 mile plus length. For information about the local trail activity, please call Tom Garnett at 382-2561 or Barbara VanDyken at 623-3897.

The trail will follow the banks of Augusta Creek through the Kellogg Forest, between EF Ave. and M-89. The trail will cross the Creek at the entrance to Lemien Loop. The ACWA is working with the Chief Noonday Chapter of the North Country Trail Association to re-construct a covered bridge at this site.

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Walter Lemien during his forty years as resident forester at the Kellogg Forest got to know something about his neighbor the Augusta Creek. By keeping water level records, taken from under the car bridge at the forest, he could watch the waters crest within 24 hours after a rain in his area. If there was a rainstorm further upstream in the Hickory Corners area it would take an additional 24 hours to swell. When it rained in both vicinities he could watch it crest twice, each crest 24 hours apart. In midsummer when the water was at a low level it would be crystal clear and looked clean enough to chance a drink.

Walter Moravski, an entomologist from MSU had his crews put in deflectors to control the flow of the water in the 1930's. He wrote in the Quarterly Bulletin, a MSU research publication, that he believed Augusta Creek was originally a brook trout stream. In 1940 brown trout and more brook trout were introduced to the stream. Because these hatchery reared trout were so "stupid" and naive they were easy to catch and their numbers receded soon after. Research crews attempted to train these hatchery grown brown trout to be wary by shocking the fish whenever food was broadcast on the surface of the water. However within two weeks the fish forget all their education, became easy-top-catch game, and as many as 60% found their way into the frying pan.

Lemien says that in 1941 there was so little vegetation growing on the Augusta Creek banks that you might be able to see the next fellow fishing some distace away. The sparse vegetation was probably due to the many small farms along the creek and animals grazing to the waters edge. Where they could Lemien and others planted trees to protect the stream from runoff and silt buildup.

Probably the worst day for Augusta Creek came in 1960 when a bag of Rotenone was either inadvertently or intentionally dumped into the steam at a point near 43rd Street. This organic insecticide suffocated all of the fish and killed aquatic insects and crayfish. The tragedy was to alter the viability of the stream and to this day it has never regained the same populations of fish it formerly supported.

Lemien has moved from the Augusta Creek area since retiring, but he still thinks about the old neighborhood. He feels that more brown trout could over winter if more silt holes were dug and maintained in the Augusta Creek.

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J.R. Russell has been a long time acquaintance of the Augusta Creek. His memories include bits and pieces of history of local folks whose lives crossed the creek in different. ways. Russell himself lives on the curve of 37th Street close to his mother's farm which is the next place north of him on Baseline road. His father planted the elderly maples that shade most of the roadside in front of the farmhouse. J.R. has the yoke in his attic that was used to help haul water from the creek. It seems the family has dug up a large area about four hundred feet. from the creek and then set in a barrel to collect the water.

Thrashers would often use the creek as a quick and easy source of water during harvest time. As a boy, Russell would ride the shoulders of his neighbor Ed Lepper as the older man walked his trap lines set for muskrat. It was a good source of income during the winter months for farmers. John Lepper, Ed's father owned and operated a sawmill where Hamilton Lake and Augusta Creek merge. If you know how to find it there are still a few remains of it's concrete foundations to be found.

Another farming family, the Mahoney's, were the area's only black family. Their children attended Tyler's school. Most students had to walk at the maximum two miles to school as every section of the township (640 acres) had a schoolhouse within it. There use to be a Day schoolhouse on the corner of C Avenue and M-89 or 46th St. Where Augusta Creek crosses Hickory Road there was the Burdick schoolhouse.

J.R. Russell has a lot more history in the form of old time pictures and a beautiful collection of township maps that, show the development of the local roads and farmlands and Augusta Creek runs through it all.

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Near the southern extreme of the Augusta Creek watershed, where Ransom Creek (named after former Augusta founder and Michigan governor Epaphroditis Ransom) empties its receiving waters from Douglas Lake into Augusta Creek, is The Upjohn Company's Brook Lodge conference facilities.

The history of Brook Lodge began in 1895 when Dr. William Erastus Upjohn, hereafter called Dr. Will, bought 40 acres of land, including a creamery. The creamery operation eventually was converted into Dr. Will's summer residence.

Prior to the creation of Brook Lodge, a sawmill existed on Ransom Creek. Delbert Douglas, for whom Douglas Lake is named, built a dam and operated a sawmill here. Today, the visible evidence of this dam is the millpond at Brook Lodge.

Dr. Will and farm worker John DeYoung planted hundreds of shade, ornamental and fruit trees and thousands of flowers - iris, lilacs, tulips, lilies and peonies. Soil conditions were most-favorable for growing peonies. Dr. Will is remembered for growing more than 400 varieties of peonies on almost 40 acres. The peonies were cultivated, cut, wrapped, packed with ice and shipped as far away as California.

Buildings were erected on the Brook Lodge property during Dr. Will's tenure. Along with the lodge (former creamery) and the gardener's house across the millpond, a combination garage and guest house, greenhouse (post WW II) and dining hall (1927) were built.

The rock wall was laid down along Douglas Lake Road as far as the gardener's house and along 42nd Street to the main gate (1917-post WW I). Along with the rose garden (1918), a swimming pool was built by diverting filtered, unwarmed water from the millpond.

Dr. Will died at Brook Lodge on October 18, 1932. Brook Lodge was left to his three daughters. There was little use of this summer residence by family members.

During WW II, the Lodge was used by patients from the Red Cross, the Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek and the Base Hospital at Ft. Custer. In 1949, Brook Lodge began its transformation from the Upjohn family estate to The Upjohn Company Conference Center.

The Upjohn Company purchased Brook Lodge and the surrounding 170 acres of land in 1956. This land includes small lakes, wetland, forested area and some farmland.

Brook Lodge can accommodate up to 200 people for meetings, 120 people for dining and nearly 50 people for overnight lodging. Seven cottages exist on the property, each of which has an independent lounge and bathroom, as well as six to eight bedrooms.

Recreational activities include putting greens and driving range, volleyball, tennis, fishing, boating, bicycling and walking. Nature trails exists throughout the property. Brook Lodge is a historical preserve of natural beauty, a landmark on the Augusta Creek watershed.