SHERWOOD TWP., MI. — Crews in boats cleaned the cove in front of Prairie Rose Lane on Saturday, March 21, removing debris from the March 6 tornado.

Officers from various agencies from Calhoun County, Branch County, and the Nottawaseppi Tribal Police manned shallow, flat-bottomed boats to remove storm debris and place it in dumpsters for disposal in landfills.

The deadly EF-3 tornado blew all kinds of items into the water.

Some were embedded in the mud, and some required winches to pull them out.

Branch County Emergency Manager Tim Miner said several boats or parts of boats are in the water, but none are in any danger of drifting into the lake or toward Riley Dam.

Attempts will be made later to retrieve them, and if identifiable and capable of reuse, they will be returned to the rightful owners.

Miner urge private citizens not to attempt removal without the supervision of emergency management.

Hardest hit was the cove in Prairie Rose Lane, across from the public access.

The morning after the storm, area fire departments provided fire hoses, filled with air and capped off, and stretched them across the water to prevent storm debris from washing into the main lake and toward the Union City hydropower station at Riley Dam downstream.

A specialized water curtain, with materials hanging below the water, arrived by Sunday and was installed to prevent underwater debris from escaping.

Debris must be removed from the wetlands along the lake.

For the first two weeks, emphasis was on clearing trees and debris from along roads, public land, and private property.

He publicly thanked the national Samaritans Purse for providing over 70 people who worked with property owners to clean and salvage property and help restore homes, making them livable where possible.

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Contact Don Reid, dReid@USATodayCo.Com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Sherwood Township, Michigan tornado debris cleanup continues