Dam across the St. Joseph River in downtown Mishawaka IN.
Fish Ladder at the Mishawaka Dam (far side of picture above)
Every year the Indiana Department of Natural Resources releases 275,000 Skamania Steelhead Trout into the the St. Joseph River just a few miles upstream from the Mishawaka dam. These little guys follow the river out to Lake Michigan where they live and grow to maturity for 3 to 4 years (some never make it to the lake). When they return they have grown from 6-7" fingerlings to 24-36" monsters weighing from 9- 12lbs but can get up to 20lbs.
The amazing thing about these steelhead is that they grow up in Lake Michigan which covers 22,300 sq miles, yet God has given them the ability to return to the same tributary that they came from to spawn. So when the urge hits them they migrate the 63 miles back up the river to spawn.
The Indiana and Michigan DNRs have built 4 fish ladders at the dams that cross this stretch of the river to help the fish return up stream. The one at Mishawaka is the last one (most of the fish never make it back this far). They return in early spring and late fall and have a summer run also. It is awesome to stand at the dam and watch these magnificent fish leap out of the current and try to jump over the dam. They try and try but the dam is to high and the current to swift, they get washed back down every time. After a while they get tired, and rest in the calm water near the river's edge, then they try again.
None of them ever make it over the dam, which is over 300 feet wide and 28 feet thick. But a few of them do make it to the other side. While they are resting in the calm they find the narrow 4 foot wide opening of the fish ladder. The ladder is a series of steps up and around to the top of the dam. They have found the way.
What would happen today if we used the ability God gave us to return to our place of origin, Him? What would happen today if instead of trying to get over the dam time and time again and not making it, we rested in the calm and found the narrow gate? What would happen today if we found the way and took the steps to follow?
What would happen today...?
The amazing thing about these steelhead is that they grow up in Lake Michigan which covers 22,300 sq miles, yet God has given them the ability to return to the same tributary that they came from to spawn. So when the urge hits them they migrate the 63 miles back up the river to spawn.
The Indiana and Michigan DNRs have built 4 fish ladders at the dams that cross this stretch of the river to help the fish return up stream. The one at Mishawaka is the last one (most of the fish never make it back this far). They return in early spring and late fall and have a summer run also. It is awesome to stand at the dam and watch these magnificent fish leap out of the current and try to jump over the dam. They try and try but the dam is to high and the current to swift, they get washed back down every time. After a while they get tired, and rest in the calm water near the river's edge, then they try again.
None of them ever make it over the dam, which is over 300 feet wide and 28 feet thick. But a few of them do make it to the other side. While they are resting in the calm they find the narrow 4 foot wide opening of the fish ladder. The ladder is a series of steps up and around to the top of the dam. They have found the way.
What would happen today if we used the ability God gave us to return to our place of origin, Him? What would happen today if instead of trying to get over the dam time and time again and not making it, we rested in the calm and found the narrow gate? What would happen today if we found the way and took the steps to follow?
What would happen today...?
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