Monroe County History: Pointe Mouillee has long been site of outdoors recreation

Tom Adamich
Updated ·3 min read
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The Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is pictured in this aerial viewt. It was purchased by the Michigan Department of Conservation (now known as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources) in 1947.
The Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is pictured in this aerial viewt. It was purchased by the Michigan Department of Conservation (now known as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources) in 1947.

One of the most interesting wildlife preservation areas in Michigan is the Pointe Mouillee Marsh and State Game area. Located on 7,483 acres at the junction of the Huron River and Lake Erie’s western basin, the Pointe Mouillee Marsh falls partially in Monroe County (within Berlin Charter Township) and Wayne County (in the jurisdiction of Brownstown Charter Township near Milleville Beach).

First discovered by French fur traders in the 1600s, the Pointe Mouillee name has its origins as the feminine form of Mouillé – translated from the French as “wet” or “moist” and fully translated as “wet point.” In the latter part of the 19th century, the Big 8 Shooting Club was formed by wealthy duck hunters in search of a marshy location to hunt. In the 1940s, the Michigan Department of Conservation (now Michigan Department of Natural Resources) purchased the land from the club with the intent of conserving and preserving the marsh itself and surrounding areas.

The Michigan Historical Marker for Pointe Mouillee is pictured.
The Michigan Historical Marker for Pointe Mouillee is pictured.

Even as water pollution from the River Rouge and other Detroit-area industrial sites infiltrated the Pointe Mouillee area, waterfowl enthusiasts and others continued to hunt in the area and celebrate its natural beauty. Since the 1950s, the Whitwam family – father Dick and son Bob – built duck-hunting boats and have worked to promote the area for hunting, fishing and bird-watching. The 74th edition of the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival took place in September 2022. The festival features duck hunting, decoy competitions, the Midwest Goose Calling Championship and duck-calling contests. The Whitwam’s have been organizers for the majority of those years.

A Pointe Mouillee waterfowl hunting event is pictured in the 1940s. In 1875, successful businessmen purchased 2,000 acres at Pointe Mouillee and formed the Big 8 Hunt Club. Today, the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival honors the area’s hunting and fishing history each year.
A Pointe Mouillee waterfowl hunting event is pictured in the 1940s. In 1875, successful businessmen purchased 2,000 acres at Pointe Mouillee and formed the Big 8 Hunt Club. Today, the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival honors the area’s hunting and fishing history each year.

Major efforts since the 1970s by the Michigan DNR, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and organizations like the Michigan Wildlife Council have resulted in the development of the confined disposal facility (CDF) – creating the 700-acre “Big Banana” barrier island that now protects the areas and restores the marshland to its prior ecological profile. At one time, the Pointe Mouillee CDF was designated as the largest CDF in the world! Without this protection, marshy areas would continue to be eroded by Lake Erie’s forces, and the wildlife living in marsh environments would not be able to survive, much less thrive.

Plant life, such as the American lotus and eastern prairie fringed orchid are joined by more traditional food sources such as seed corn, buckwheat and millet to provide food for wildlife (which includes a health deer population) and to offer future generations like the Whitwams an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the area.

According to the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival’s information press kit, annual peak fall waterfowl migration is estimated at 20,000 to 26,000 birds. Pointe Mouillee remains a significant waterfowling area with about 6,000 user trips annually. Total hunter effort averages around 10,000 user trips annually. Trapping effort is moderate, but trappers took 13,710 muskrats as recently as 2006.

2022 report: Rare Eurasian shorebird spotted at Pointe Mouillee

Jim Foote, Pointe Mouillee State Wildlife Area Biologist, created this image of the Pointe Mouillee ecosystem.
Jim Foote, Pointe Mouillee State Wildlife Area Biologist, created this image of the Pointe Mouillee ecosystem.

Black-billed plover, glossy ibis, whimbrels, bald eagles, osprey and eastern fox snakes populate the marsh areas. Pointe Mouillee was designated as an International Shorebird Importance Area in 2001 with 10,000 to 20,000 shorebirds using the area both as habitat and as a point of migration.

As planning continues for the 75th golden anniversary edition of the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival, the excitement surrounding the milestone event and the opportunities it presents will continue to grow as the year progresses. Pet-friendly events are planned along with the annual arts and crafts show where vendors offer a variety of waterfowl and wildlife art-based items for sale. Also continuing this year will be the archery and BB shoots along with a kids tent with face painting and outdoor-themed games sponsored by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and other local sponsors.

Tom Adamich is president of Visiting Librarian Service, a firm he has operated since 1993. He also is project archivist for the Greening Nursery Co. and Family Archives and the electric vehicle awareness coordinator at Monroe County Community College.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County History: Pointe Mouillee outdoors recreation