Riverkeepers of the Year

George Alexander and Bernard Fowler have been named Riverkeepers of the Year for 1997 by the Board of Directors of The Anglers of the Au Sable for "substantial and unselfish contributions to the preservation, protection, and enhancement of the Au Sable River System."

The readers of The Riverwatch, fishermen, and property owners along the river are well aware of the wok these two intrepid and concerned caretakers have undertaken over the past five years. Whenever large trees fall in the river, as they do many times each year on all three branches, Bernie and George, often with help from Craig Perry and Charlie Weaver, respond to these emergency calls; they keep the river navigable, protect its natural ambiance, and create new habitat for trout. Often with the cooperation of canoe liveries, they try to get to any downfall as soon as possible so that canoeists won't be tempted to just randomly clear a path.

The goal of this team of riverkeepers is to position a fallen tree so that trout cover is maximized and silting is minimized by river hydraulics. (Advice is often solicited from the Michigan DNR and the Huron Pines RC&D.) In the past two years they have been using a portable cable winch that is easily transported by hand or in a canoe. Powered by a chain saw and mounted on a chain saw frame, the winch has a 125-foot cable capable of pulling up to 8000 pounds. This has greatly enhanced their capability of moving large fallen trees into the proper position for river habitat and bank stabilization. (This winch was purchased with the financial assistance of the Mershon and Mason Chapters of T.U., the Au Sable River Property Owners Association, and the Grayling Canoe Livery Association.)

Bernie, born in Roscommon seventy-three years ago, has a long history of love and association with the Au Sable River. He was the owner/operator of Edgewater on the Au Sable from 1955 to 1984, a fishing guide since 1947, and Grayling Township Supervisor from 1961-1984. A U.S. Marine veteran from WWII, he also has had many civic and governmental positions in the Grayling area. (The list is as long as my arm; it includes the American Legion Post 106, the Grayling Booster Club, the Board of Directors of the Au Sable Property Owners Association, and the Board of the Au Sable Watershed Restoration Committee.)

We would be remiss if we failed to note that he has been a MDNR Forest Fire Keyman for about 45 years and that he won the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon in 1953,1954, and 1955.

Bernie is married and lives with his wife, Pat, on the Mainstream above Stephan Bridge. They have two sons and one daughter.

A native of Pennsylvania, George began fishing the Au Sable in 1954 at the age of twenty-four. He now lives at Devil's Elbow on the Mainstream with his wife Peggy, three English setters and two Labs.

George got his first college degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1957, but then decided that law was to be his career and received his J.D. from the same university in 1967. He served as District Judge in Ann Arbor from 1974 to 1991. A highly decorated Marine Corps veteran from Korea (Navy Cross) he has been in semi-retirement from law since 1991 with his guiding activity increasing each year since. A very active member of The Anglers Board of Directors (he is our representative on many ad hoc groups and volunteers for many tasks) George runs a taut and efficient ship at our board meetings as our vice-president.

This past year Bernie and George were also given the Brook Trout Award by the George Mason Chapter for their work.

With George and Bernie we are blessed with over 100 years of experience on the Au Sable River. Their dedication and skill deserve our admiration and gratitude. They richly deserve this award.

Thank you, George, and thank you, Bernie. RWOL

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