Water use challenge before boards

A challenge over water is underway in western Branch County and parts of St. Joseph County based on the habitat of brown trout.

A coalition of interested parties called Prairie Water Group is trying to stop the redesignation of the Prairie River from warm to cold, which will result in major economic losses for farmers who irrigate and Branch County.

Time is running out to prevent the change a spokesperson for the group told Branch County commissioners last week.

Aaron Rice asked the commission to oppose the change in designation. The commission will ask the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to provide additional information before making a determination on its own position.

The DNR wants to change the classification based on a flawed statistical model and not actual data, according to Michigan State University Extension irrigation educator Lyndon Kelley.

Both sides presented their arguments before water use boards.

After the 30- day public comment period ends Jan. 12, the DNR director will make a final decision.

The St. Joseph County irrigated portion of the Prairie River — 124,000 acres — has been managed as a trout stream with DNR stocking the river. But irrigation there was in place before the baseline was established.