2019 Angler Access Stairs at Riverside Park in Auburn Hills on the Clinton River.
The CVTU Conservation Committee continues each year to either establish new angler access sites on Paint Creek and the Clinton River or to refurbish existing angler access sites. These projects have evolved from our initial 2011 Silver Bell Road access site and become increasingly easier over the years. A typical access project includes building a set of stairs down to the creek or river which provide safe, stream-friendly access for all anglers.
Since our first project in 2011 the chapter has completed a total of six angler access projects. CVTU is replacing the first set of stairs at Silverbell Road on June 12th 2021 as part of the CRWC River Day Event. The stairs have seen excessive wear due to human traffic and have provided a great erosion barrier to the river, but due to this they need to be replaced. Each of these sites have required a set of stairs which provide safe access to Paint Creek or the Clinton River and have also included some stream bank improvements surrounding the site. The list of these access sites now include:
- Downstream from Silver Bell Road
- Downstream from Dutton Road
- The Dinosaur Hill access site
- Upstream from Ludlow Road
- Upstream from Tienken Road
- River Woods Park on the Clinton
Dinosaur Hill Access Site
The goal of the CVTU angler access sites is to not only provide safe access but to also reduce the amount of erosion that occurs from anglers entering the Paint Creek or the Clinton River in various unprotected areas. Therefore, each project includes stream bank stabilization, seeding and the occasional usage of heavy shrubs or bushes to help maintain the integrity of the stream bank.
Tienken Road Access Stairs
As the year’s go by the CVTU Conservation Committee will continue its progress towards providing stream-friendly angler access in multiple areas throughout the 15 miles that is Paint Creek and the trout fishery on the Clinton River.