ELI ON EARTH: Red Cedar Myths and Facts

A fisherman proudly showing off his catch on the Red Cedar River

The Red Cedar River is 51 miles long, flowing directly through the heart of Michigan State University and eventually into the Grand River in Lansing. The river has been a symbol of the university since 1855 and is even referenced in the first lyrics of the fight song.

It is seen by some students and community members as an “eyesore” and “unhealthy.”

The river is actually home to a large variety of fish and aquatic insects, and many of them are indicators of good water quality. “The perception of the river being too polluted to support life and posing a danger to humans and animals is not justified,” states John Hesse, Adjunct Professor with the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. “In reality, studies have shown that the water quality is very good based on the presence of a diverse variety of pollution-intolerant fish and aquatic insects.”

In 2002, fish tissue analyses were conducted on the Red Cedar River. Of the 27 chemical parameters analyzed, only mercury and PCBs approached levels of health concern, but the levels were as low or lower than found in the majority of waters statewide. Only PCBs were found in carp at levels of concern, which is typical of any water in the state of Michigan. Elevated levels of E. coli do occur periodically following rain events but, for the majority of the time, the river meets either swimming water quality or partial body contact health standards.

“Part of the reason the river has a bad image is the dark coloration of the water. The darkness is caused by soil erosion, natural tannins, and healthy algae growth, and is not an indicator of the actual water quality, yet many perceive the color and assume it must be dirty,” explains Hesse. “Another reason is the odor, a sewage pipeline runs along the north side of the river, sometimes gases can escape, giving a perception that the river smells.”

Hesse also states that the perception of the river being unhealthy is largely due to the amount of trash found in and along the river banks. At a recent river clean-up event, orchestrated by the MSU Fisheries and Wildlife Club, over 70 bicycles, futons, construction signs, 40-gallon drums, beer bottles, and even a lawn mower were removed from the river.

Alongside the bustling campus swims a highly prized sport fish, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, more commonly known as the “steelhead trout.” Thousands of steelhead migrate from Lake Michigan up the Grand River and its tributaries each year to spawn. An ordinance put into place in the 1960’s prohibited fishing along the Red Cedar riverbank and bridges, but in December of 2013 the University’s Board of Trustees voted to amend the ordinance to allow hook-and-line fishing between the western edge of Brody Complex and the bridge connecting West Circle Drive to Chestnut Road. In April 2013 3,000 steelhead trout were released on campus by the Department of Natural Resources to celebrate the ordinance modification.

Smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, channel catfish, walleye, bluegills and sunfish and a variety of other fish species are also commonly found in the Red Cedar River. In the fall migrating Coho salmon can oftentimes be found in the river as well.

To learn more about the Red Cedar River and ways to reduce pollution visit: http://msu-water.msu.edu.