Why DNR, Saugatuck Brewing are partnering during trout fishing season

Madalyn Buursma
·2 min read

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) — A unique partnership between a private business and a public organization aims to raise funds and awareness for habitat restoration.

Throughout trout fishing season, which runs approximately from May to October, Saugatuck Brewing Company will be donating to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for every case it sells of the Rainbow Rodeo IPA. The partnership was announced Thursday near the Rogue River in Rockford, a fishing spot where a dam was removed, Michigan DNR Director Scott Bowen told News 8.

Saugatuck Brewing Company is partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources during this year's trout fishing season to raise funds and awareness for habitat restoration. (April 25, 2024)
Saugatuck Brewing Company is partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources during this year’s trout fishing season to raise funds and awareness for habitat restoration. (April 25, 2024)

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He said the DNR has 263 dams in Michigan that need to be removed, along with other habitat restoration projects that need to be done throughout the state. Bowen hopes the partnership will help the team get “ahead of the game” in habitat restoration.

“We just have to be more creative to get the resources we need to do the work we need to do,” he said. “This is another way that we can raise money … and get community engagement and get attention around some of these aging dams that need removal and restoration.”

Saugatuck Brewing Company is partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources during this year's trout fishing season to raise funds and awareness for habitat restoration. (April 25, 2024)
Saugatuck Brewing Company is partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources during this year’s trout fishing season to raise funds and awareness for habitat restoration. (April 25, 2024)

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John Miller, the president and CEO of Saugatuck Brewing and a fisherman himself, said the project helps the company put into practice its core values.

“This is a great opportunity for us at Saugatuck Brewing Company to partner with the Department of Natural Resources and help them shine some light and hopefully generate some resources to help with their environmental projects that they have going on throughout the state,” he said. “To me, this is an awesome example of private and public coming together to solve old problems that we’ve had forever.”

He added the company’s wholesale partners will also be participating in the project, and QR codes will invite the public to make their own donations to the Michigan DNR.

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