On May 14, 2003 the breaching of an earthen dike about 30 miles west of Marquette drained Silver Lake Basin and started a chain reaction of flooding on the Dead River that eventually destroyed the Tourist Park Dam and Tourist Park Lake in the City of Marquette. While this flooding on the Dead River may have caused an unfortunate amount of destruction, it has led to opportunities and decisions that can benefit the surrounding Marquette community as a whole.

Recently, a group of citizens from the community formed Citizens for a Free-Flowing Lower Dead River, with the intention of gathering input from community members who do not want to see the dam rebuilt, educating the community on the benefits of river restoration and ultimately persuading decision-makers not to rebuild the dam.

The impetus for the group came not only from the results of the flood but also from the fact that an upstream remnant dam near Marquette, the Collinsville Dam, is scheduled to be removed this summer. With both dams out of the river, over three miles of natural river ecosystem will be restored.

Citizens for a Free-Flowing Lower Dead River believe the following benefits will be realized if the Tourist Park Dam is not rebuilt and the lake is not restored:

Aquatic resources

• Restoration would provide over three miles of quality habitat accessible to coho salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead and potentially lake sturgeon.
  
• The free-flowing Dead River would create a highly desirable fishery within the city limits.
  
• Water quality would be improved by increasing dissolved oxygen and lowering water temperatures, both important for fish survival.

Recreation

• A free-flowing river and park environment would maximize the recreational potential for canoeing and kayaking.
  
• The restored river would attract waterfall enthusiasts.
  
• Additional land on the old Tourist Park lake bed could be used to create recreational facilities, such as walking trails, ball fields and birding areas.

Socioeconomics

• Additional recreational opportunities could enhance tourist revenue for the City of Marquette. Fall and spring spawning migrations would bring in anglers and campers who would provide revenue outside of the typical summer tourist season.
  
• Habitat restoration and mitigation of some lost wetlands may be accomplished by using outside funding sources.
• The Board of Light and Power, which owns the dam and will make the decision about its future, would save on costs normally incurred in dam rebuilding, retrofitting (for fish passage), dam maintenance and/or future licensing compliance.
  
  Citizens for a Free-Flowing Lower Dead River see the non-rebuilding of the Tourist Park Dam as an opportunity for Marquette-a community that has already received national attention as a very livable place-to further enhance its quality of life. The City and the Board of Light and Power could make a national statement about creative river restoration.