Fletcher Pond

Greenways Birding Trail and Floodwaters Public Boat Launch

Birding Site: Located West of Alpena off of M-32. Turn left (south) on Jack's Landing Rd. & follow the road to the DNRE boat launch site.

Home of the second-largest Opsrey colony in the Midwest. The ideal way to spot birds is by boat. Field trips each year in July to the site are a highlight for birders spotting Loon families, Bald Eagles, Heron species, Canada Geese, and nesting Osprey. There are several boat rental places here. Contact the Hillman Chamber of Commerce for further information.

Osprey research has been carried on at this site for over 45 years by Sergey Postupalsky in cooperation with the Thunder Bay, Michigan and National Audubon Societies. In 2011, two young female Osprey were banded with 11 enthralled birders witnessing the event.

Linda Klemens, Thunder Bay Audubon Society. lklemens@gmail.com

Boat Launch: At nearly 9,000 acres, Fletcher Pond is located on the border between Michigan's Montmorency and Alpena counties. Sometimes referred to as Fletcher Floodwaters, the lake was built in 1930 and is held back by the Fletcher Pond Dam. A shallow water body, most of Fletcher Pond is less than 10 feet deep, but the lake's ample aquatic vegetation provides cover for largemouth bass, northern pike and a variety of other game fish.

For the public boat access, drive 2 miles east out of Hillman on M-32 to Jack’s Landing Road. Turn right (south) and continue to the ending of the road at the shoreline of Fletcher Floodwaters.

Things To Do: Birding, Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Insect Viewing, Kayaking, Parking, Plant Community Viewing, Plant Viewing, Water Feature Viewing, Wildlife Watching

GPS: 44.98987, -83.85536