I stopped for a moment next to an impressive eastern cottonwood tree, snarled and stretched over the river, listening to bursts of cool air rushing through its bare branches...

Several years ago, the Watershed Council received a planning grant from the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program and matching fund support from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation to create plans for two fledgling water trail projects. We worked with partner communities along the river, Oakland and Macomb County officials, SEMCOG, Michigan Sea Grant, Lake St. Clair Tourism Initiative and others to create the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair Water Trail Master Plan.