Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh recently made an important decision that will help protect the vaunted Au Sable River from some of the environmental threats associated with deep shale fracking for natural gas.

Canada-based Encana Corp., which is rapidly expanding fracking operations across northern Lower Michigan, had its sights set on drilling near the Au Sable — one of the nation’s finest trout streams. That would have been environmentally risky at best, tragic at worst.

Fortunately, DNR Director Creagh heeded calls to prohibit surface drilling near the river. Read more about his decision on the Anglers of the Au Sable website.

Creagh’s decision came at a critical juncture in the history of  the Au Sable. A new report commissioned by the Anglers of the Au Sable, and authored by yours truly, found that the river has recovered from many environmental problems but faces several new challenges. Leaky…