Michigan Administrative Code › Department - Natural Resources › Fisheries Division › Natural River Zoning (13 Rivers) › Section R. 281.58 - Bridges

Current through Vol. 24-12, July 15, 2024
Rule 8.
(1) A bridge
				for any designated natural river shall conform to all of the following:
(a) An existing bridge that is destroyed by
				any means, whether on a tributary or mainstream segment, may be replaced. On a
				mainstream segment or a tributary, subject to mainstream development standards,
				a destroyed pedestrian bridge may not be replaced with a vehicle bridge. An
				application for replacement of a destroyed bridge shall be submitted within 12
				months of destruction or the replacement bridge shall be considered a new
				bridge and shall be subject to the standards for a new bridge.
(b) A replacement bridge on any mainstream
				segment or tributary subject to mainstream development standards shall span the
				bankfull channel, have a minimum clearance of 5 feet between the ordinary
				high-water mark and the bottom of the bridge deck and/or deck supports other
				than abutments, and be a bottomless structure.
(c) A permanent bridge replacing a bottomless
				bridge on any tributary not subject to mainstream development standards shall
				span the bankfull channel and be a bottomless structure, and in the case of any
				pedestrian bridge, constructed in order to exclude the use by any wheeled or
				tracked motorized vehicle or snowmobile.
(d) A permanent bridge replacing a bridge
				without a natural bottom on a tributary not subject to mainstream development
				standards shall be recessed and span the bankfull channel, and, in the case of
				any pedestrian bridge, be constructed to exclude the use by any wheeled or
				tracked motorized vehicle or snowmobile.
(e) A new bridge of any type is prohibited on
				any mainstream segment and on any tributary subject to mainstream development
				standards.
(f) A new bridge is not
				permitted on any designated river segment on any parcel that is created after
				the effective date of these rules, other than on the original parent
				parcel.
(g) A new pedestrian bridge
				may be permitted on a tributary not subject to mainstream development standards
				provided the lands connected by a new bridge are collectively owned by 1
				person.
(h) A new permanent bridge
				on a tributary not subject to mainstream development standards shall span the
				bankfull channel and be a bottomless structure and, in the case of a pedestrian
				bridge, be constructed to exclude the use by any wheeled or tracked motorized
				vehicle or snowmobile.
(i) A new
				permanent vehicle bridge on a tributary not subject to mainstream development
				standards requires a special use permit as specified in
				R
				281.55.
(j) Only 1 bridge is permitted to access a
				portion of land that is otherwise inaccessible from the owner's contiguous
				property.
(k) A temporary vehicle
				bridge on a tributary not subject to mainstream development standards for the
				purpose of access for timber harvest may be permitted provided it is
				constructed in a manner that minimizes impacts to the stream and aquatic
				organisms and shall be removed immediately after timber harvesting activities.
				All disturbed areas in the natural vegetation strip shall be revegetated with
				native vegetation, any fill placed shall be removed, and the land shall be
				returned to its original grade as soon as possible after removal of the
				bridge.