Boardman River

The "FishPass" project on Traverse City’s Boardman-Ottaway River is now set to move forward. The Michigan Court of Appeals overturned a circuit court ruling on Thursday, October 20, which had stalled the project for over a year.FishPass is designed to replace the Union Street dam with a a first-of-its kind, high tech structure that would block invasive species, like sea lamprey, while letting desirable fish continue upstream.

An invasive species that threatens rivers and streams has been spotted in the Boardman River, near Traverse City.It’s called “didymo,” but it also has an unappetizing nickname: Rock snot.

Traverse City residents won’t be voting on the proposed FishPass project in November. That’s after city commissioners decided not to put the question on the ballot and instead continue with an appeal process in court.

In a hearing Thursday morning, a circuit court judge heard arguments about whether Traverse City residents need to vote on the FishPass project.That’s a…