By Louie Stout

Canoeists, kayakers and fishermen who have used the Michigan DNR’s Dowagiac River’s Sink Road access in Cass County will find it closed and now belongs to the Pokagon Indians.

But don’t fret – another site is being constructed nearby this spring.

The DNR swapped the Sink Road Site with the Pokagon Band for another upstream land parcel on Peavine Road, west of Champlain and near where the Dowagiac crosses under Peavine.

The change was necessary due to construction of a new bridge on Sink Road that required loss of some of the previous state land.

Although the new parcel of land is smaller, DNR District Access Supervisor Gary Jones said it is wider and will provide better access to the river. It also will include designated parking areas.

Jones said construction will begin in May and should take about two weeks.