The Upper Black River has long been considered one of Michigan’s finest brook trout fisheries; Earnest Hemingway fished (and wrote about) the Upper Black.  It is also the only river in Michigan’s lower peninsula to be managed exclusively for brook trout.

The Upper Black River Council (UBRC) was established in 1993, forming a unique partnership of local, state and national governmental entities, non-profit conservation and sportsmen’s organizations, property-owners associations and a land conservancy, with funding provided by a balance of private and public sources.  Its partners are committed to the UBRC’s mission of “restoring and maintaining the outstanding water resources and natural brook trout fishery of the Upper Black River Watershed.”   Over the years, the UBRC’s partnership with the MDNR Fisheries Division has confirmed through study data that growth rates of brook trout in the Black River system are among the highest found in any study area in Michigan.

Since its formation, the UBRC and its partners have successfully completed numerous habitat improvement and educational/outreach projects.  With professional guidance provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment (MDNRE) and US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the UBRC has been able to employ a part time summer work crew consisting of college students who, together with volunteers, have worked to improve habitat and address a variety of stream restoration issues. The Summer Conservation Corps now includes four “river rats” whose employment is managed by project partner, the Montmorency Conservation District.

The UBRC’s partners also engage in various road/stream crossing projects, dam removal, erosion site remediation, data collection and educational outreach programs to further the UBRC’s mission.