Iron Ore Creek — Why One Small Creek Matters
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2026 10:26 am
A Message from the Peaine Township Supervisor:
Iron Ore Creek — Why One Small Creek Matters
A couple of weeks ago, I shared information about improvements made at Iron Ore Bay and briefly touched on the importance of Iron Ore Creek. I said then that Iron Ore Creek is small enough to overlook, but important enough that Peaine Township cannot afford to overlook it. I was not aware of just how important Iron Ore Creek is until I sat behind this desk, but with the knowledge I now have, I cannot ignore the critical importance of protecting it.
So, the question is why is such a small creek so important to Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, and the State of Michigan? It begins with Michigan’s state fish: brook trout. They require cold, clean water and suitable habitat to survive and reproduce. Iron Ore Creek supports naturally reproducing native brook trout and juvenile steelhead. Michigan DNR also documents spring migrations of adult steelhead and suckers and states that Iron Ore Creek historically supported migratory “coaster” brook trout.
But Iron Ore Creek is more than a trout stream. The creek begins in the wetlands of southern Beaver Island and flows directly into Lake Michigan at Iron Ore Bay. It creates a physical connection between inland wetlands, forest, coldwater habitat, shoreline, dunes and Lake Michigan, all part of the larger ecosystem. Streams allow fish to move between lake and inland habitat while carrying water, sediment, nutrients and organic material between the land and Lake Michigan.
Iron Ore Creek also enters Lake Michigan within the ecologically significant Iron Ore Bay dune system. Michigan Natural Features Inventory has documented important Great Lakes species in this area, including Pitcher's thistle, Lake Huron tansy and Lake Huron locust. This means Iron Ore Creek should not be viewed simply as a small stream beside South End Road. It is part of a larger ecological corridor that begins in wetlands, moves to streams, and passes through dunes, making its way to Lake Michigan.
We are also not the first generation to recognize its value. In 1984, the decision to protect public access was a decision that also preserved an environmental resource. Years later, when failing culverts interfered with the connection between Iron Ore Creek and Lake Michigan, local, county, tribal, state, federal and conservation partners worked together to improve fish passage. That history tells us that protecting Iron Ore Creek has always required people and organizations willing to invest in it. Imagine if the many organizations that set out to protect Iron Ore Creek had simply looked the other way? What would have been the result?
I’ve learned that many times protection and ownership can become passive. Public ownership alone does not preserve a natural resource or provide safe public use. Stewardship requires maintenance, monitoring, planning, coordination with natural-resource professionals and, sometimes, financial investment. As we learn more about Iron Ore Creek, I believe it is appropriate to consider whether the way we manage this property gives those responsible for its care the ability to respond when work needs to be done.
As the Peaine Township Supervisor, I believe responsible stewardship begins with practical goals: keeping the creek corridor free of dumping and unnecessary obstructions; protecting the investment already made in fish passage; working with DNR, EGLE, tribal fisheries experts, the Road Commission and conservation partners; improving information about water temperature, flow and habitat; protecting surrounding public land; and maintaining appropriate public access.
We cannot protect Lake Michigan by protecting only Lake Michigan. We also have to protect the streams, wetlands and natural connections that feed it. Iron Ore Creek is one of those connections and one of our pieces. Protecting the pieces is how we protect the whole. Protecting it is more than simply names on a deed. It requires commitment, investment and the ability to act when protection is needed. It is also about ensuring that people can continue enjoying it. The public beach, dunes, creek and Lake Michigan are parts of the same place. Thoughtful stewardship allows recreation, private property rights and environmental protection to coexist.
Over the coming months, I will be working with our natural-resource partners to better understand the condition of Iron Ore Creek, identify appropriate protections and investment, and work toward ensuring that the long-term stewardship of Iron Ore Bay and Iron Ore Creek is structured to protect this extraordinary public resource and recreation area for generations to come.
Maria Dal Pra
Peaine Township Supervisor
Iron Ore Creek — Why One Small Creek Matters
A couple of weeks ago, I shared information about improvements made at Iron Ore Bay and briefly touched on the importance of Iron Ore Creek. I said then that Iron Ore Creek is small enough to overlook, but important enough that Peaine Township cannot afford to overlook it. I was not aware of just how important Iron Ore Creek is until I sat behind this desk, but with the knowledge I now have, I cannot ignore the critical importance of protecting it.
So, the question is why is such a small creek so important to Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, and the State of Michigan? It begins with Michigan’s state fish: brook trout. They require cold, clean water and suitable habitat to survive and reproduce. Iron Ore Creek supports naturally reproducing native brook trout and juvenile steelhead. Michigan DNR also documents spring migrations of adult steelhead and suckers and states that Iron Ore Creek historically supported migratory “coaster” brook trout.
But Iron Ore Creek is more than a trout stream. The creek begins in the wetlands of southern Beaver Island and flows directly into Lake Michigan at Iron Ore Bay. It creates a physical connection between inland wetlands, forest, coldwater habitat, shoreline, dunes and Lake Michigan, all part of the larger ecosystem. Streams allow fish to move between lake and inland habitat while carrying water, sediment, nutrients and organic material between the land and Lake Michigan.
Iron Ore Creek also enters Lake Michigan within the ecologically significant Iron Ore Bay dune system. Michigan Natural Features Inventory has documented important Great Lakes species in this area, including Pitcher's thistle, Lake Huron tansy and Lake Huron locust. This means Iron Ore Creek should not be viewed simply as a small stream beside South End Road. It is part of a larger ecological corridor that begins in wetlands, moves to streams, and passes through dunes, making its way to Lake Michigan.
We are also not the first generation to recognize its value. In 1984, the decision to protect public access was a decision that also preserved an environmental resource. Years later, when failing culverts interfered with the connection between Iron Ore Creek and Lake Michigan, local, county, tribal, state, federal and conservation partners worked together to improve fish passage. That history tells us that protecting Iron Ore Creek has always required people and organizations willing to invest in it. Imagine if the many organizations that set out to protect Iron Ore Creek had simply looked the other way? What would have been the result?
I’ve learned that many times protection and ownership can become passive. Public ownership alone does not preserve a natural resource or provide safe public use. Stewardship requires maintenance, monitoring, planning, coordination with natural-resource professionals and, sometimes, financial investment. As we learn more about Iron Ore Creek, I believe it is appropriate to consider whether the way we manage this property gives those responsible for its care the ability to respond when work needs to be done.
As the Peaine Township Supervisor, I believe responsible stewardship begins with practical goals: keeping the creek corridor free of dumping and unnecessary obstructions; protecting the investment already made in fish passage; working with DNR, EGLE, tribal fisheries experts, the Road Commission and conservation partners; improving information about water temperature, flow and habitat; protecting surrounding public land; and maintaining appropriate public access.
We cannot protect Lake Michigan by protecting only Lake Michigan. We also have to protect the streams, wetlands and natural connections that feed it. Iron Ore Creek is one of those connections and one of our pieces. Protecting the pieces is how we protect the whole. Protecting it is more than simply names on a deed. It requires commitment, investment and the ability to act when protection is needed. It is also about ensuring that people can continue enjoying it. The public beach, dunes, creek and Lake Michigan are parts of the same place. Thoughtful stewardship allows recreation, private property rights and environmental protection to coexist.
Over the coming months, I will be working with our natural-resource partners to better understand the condition of Iron Ore Creek, identify appropriate protections and investment, and work toward ensuring that the long-term stewardship of Iron Ore Bay and Iron Ore Creek is structured to protect this extraordinary public resource and recreation area for generations to come.
Maria Dal Pra
Peaine Township Supervisor