When I was birdwatching last weekend, I spent time traipsing through the snow along the shoreline of the St. Clair River and found my way to the Blue Water River Walk near Desmond Landing in downtown Port Huron, Michigan.
I was peering through my binoculars at the gulls and canvasbacks on the river when I spotted the back tail of what I thought was a whale sculpture.
I was wrong.
What I saw was the tail of Stella Clair, a 1,500 pound metal sturgeon sculpture, fabricated by South Haven, Michigan native Lou Rodriquez.
Stella Clair is one of two pieces of public art installed at the River Walk last year to help tell the story of the area. Stella is a perfect choice for the River Walk. I learned there are almost 30,000 adult sturgeon at the mouth of the St. Clair River.
Blue Water River Walk
The Blue Water River Walk is an almost one-mile stretch of St. Clair River shoreline open to the public that includes a pedestrian trail, restored railroad ferry dock, outdoor classroom, and habitat restoration area.
Owned by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, I discovered the River Walk was the perfect spot for birdwatching.
I also learned there are man-made reefs—tons of rocks, stones, and concrete—strategically placed along the shoreline to create a shallow water habitat for fish and wildlife. The reefs also protect the shoreline from the waves caused by passing boats.
I’m planning a return trip to Port Huron this summer with my bicycle (the River Walk is part of the Bridge to Bay Trail system), so I can explore the River Walk when it’s not under two feet of snow.
Wondering what those black dots are in the middle and upper right portion of Stella’s photo? Those are the gull and canvasbacks I was watching when I came upon Stella Clair.
You’ll be biking right by the cottage where we lived for a while when I was three years old. Right off B Street.
Hi Josie,
Thanks for stopping by. I’ll keep an eye out for B Street when I’m bicycling this summer. Do you have many memories of your time at the cottage?