Observation / Fishing Pier A grant application for the construction of an observation / fishing pier at the Oscoda Beach Park has been submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources   More Info

 

 Oscoda Township is located in Northeast Michigan's Iosco County on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron and along the banks of the Mighty AuSable River.  It is one of eleven townships in the County.  It is bordered by Alcona County to the north, Plainfield Township to the west and southwest, and by Wilber and AuSable Township to the south; Lake Huron forms its eastern border.  With a land area of 121.8 square miles, Oscoda Township covers more that 22 % of the County's total land area.  U.S. 23 is the major North-South highway; it follows the shoreline and links to I-75 (50 miles south of the Township) for access to downstate areas.  In the westerly-most section of the township, M-65 enters the Township's northern border and proceeds south until it crosses the AuSable River at the Five Channels Dam area; then it travels west to the Township's western border.  Highway F-41 proceeds southeast from the northern border of the Township until it intersects with US-23 south of Van Ettan Lake.  River Road and Bissonette Road provides local east-west travel routes.  Besides Lake Huron National Forest which covers large portions of the Township; a significant amount of Township land area is in the AuSable State Forest.  Consumers Energy Company operates four dams on the AuSable River and holds a considerable amount of land along the riverbanks.  Oscoda Township was the home of the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base; this Base closed in 1993.

Over 80% of the land in the Township is held as Federal or State land designated for multi-purpose use, including recreation.  Of the 77,942 acres (121.8 square miles) on the Township, approximately 59,884 acres are held as part of the Huron-Manistee National Forest; this represents 76.8% of all Township land.  Another 3,906 acres (4.7%) are held in the AuSable State Forest and as other State-owned land.  In addition, 3,565 acres of property belonging to Consumers Energy Company are open to public recreation use.  Not only do these lands provide abundant recreation opportunities, they also bring tourist dollars to the region and contribute to the region's image as an attractive and enjoyable place to live and vacation.

The AuSable River, Van Ettan Lake, Cedar Lake and the many streams expand the Township's theme of "Fun with Water".  These bodies of water offer opportunities to enjoy fishing, boating, swimming and relaxing besides that enjoyed upon Lake Huron.

The area was settled in the late 1860's. Originally name AuSable the town was renamed based on the writings of Henry Schoolcraft, who named it after the Indian words "Ossim" and "Muscoda", meaning "Pebbly Prairie". Located at the mouth of the AuSable River, Oscoda played a major role in the distribution of lumber on the Great Lakes during the lumbering era. Oscoda's main industry is tourism.  Recreational activities available to residents and visitors of Oscoda includes, but is not limited to camping, canoing, hiking, fishing, hunting, trail riding, cross country skiing and snowmobiling.