FishPass Flood Heroes

By Ross Boissoneau | April 27, 2026

In this week’s Northern Express—sister publication of The Ticker—FishPass leaders look back at the mid-April flood. The unprecedented rain throughout the region, including the Boardman-Ottaway River, forced road closures, caused sinkholes, destroyed bridges, and was, by any stretch, a disaster. Yet it could have been much worse in downtown Traverse City at the FishPass site if not for the efforts of Team Elmers, AECOM, and Spence Brothers.

“The silver lining was how well and how quick people responded,” says Leah Bagdon McCallum, a consultant and project lead for the project.

But not only does FishPass have recovery efforts to make, but so does the river itself, with the help of groups like the Grand Traverse Conservation District. Read more here.

Pick up a free copy of this week’s Northern Express, available to read online or at one of nearly 650 spots in 13 counties across northern Michigan.