Mission Statement
The Friends of the Boyne River strives to improve and conserve the environmental health and recreational quality of the Boyne River and its watershed.
What We Do
FoBR is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. We work to protect the Boyne River and its tributaries in the 63-mile watershed. Stream “health” monitoring, river sweeps, environmental speakers, controlling invasive purple loosestrife, membership events that promote camaraderie, and scholarships for students studying environmental fields are some of our activities.
Membership
Please consider becoming a member and help keep the river healthy. We are a friendly group of people with a love of the Boyne River and concern for our earth’s environment. Join today!
Donate
Your donation funds our programming. We don’t have paid staff, so funds go directly toward protecting the river. The easiest way to donate is to become a member. Please mail to PO Box 186, Boyne City MI 49712. Questions? Send us an email!
History
Founded in 1998, our river steward efforts protect and conserve the river. Membership is diverse – paddlers, fishers, bird watchers, those with environmental and recreational interests. We do annual activities (river sweeps, stream monitoring, purple loosestrife control, guest speakers, scholarships) and have completed projects of notable impact.
- The Friends built the Boyne River Nature Area in 2014. It includes boardwalks over the wetland to the river, a pavilion with picnic tables, and a rain garden to filter road run off before it enters the river. Hundreds of species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, fish and amphibians rely on healthy wetland habitats for survival.
- In 2005 we initiated riverbank stabilization in downtown Boyne City at Old City Park featuring fishing platforms and native plants along 350 feet of river.
- 100 small bird-friendly shrubs and 20+ trees have been planted along the river and at city parks to provide food and shelter, filter ground water, provide shade to the river, and provide riverbank stabilization.