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Wf&ft A PROFILE OF ST. MARYS RIVER lU ftflft Thomas A. Edsall and John E. Gannon National Fisheries Research Center- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ann Arbor, Cover: The St. Marys River and Surrounding Areas The eastern end ofLake Superior, and Whitefish Bayare visibleat the upper left. The St. Marys River originates in andflows ina southeasterly direction through the St. Marys Rapids and past the cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, . AtSugar Island theriver divides forming Lake Nicolet on the westand Little Lake George and Lake George on the east. Theoutflow ofLake Nicolet divides at the head ofNeebish Island, a portion of the water following the West Neebish Channel and the rest following the East Neebish Channel into andthen through Detour Passage between Pt. Detour andDrummond Island into the north end ofLake Huron. The outflowof Lake Georgedividesat thehead of St. Joseph Island and a portion ofit enters the East Neebish Channel and the restgoes into the St.Joseph Channel and then into the ofLake Huron, north ofDrummond Island. The input of highly turbid water from theMunuscong and Little Munuscong Rivers is readily visible at the upperend ofMunuscong Lake and its influenceextends downstream into between St. Joseph andDrummond Islands andinto northern .

Image data processing by the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM), AnnArbor, Michigan.

41 Rapids

Upper Peninsula

MICHIGAN

Drummond Island

A PROFILE OF ST. MARYS RIVER

Thomas A. Edsalland John E. Gannon National Fisheries Research Center-Great Lakes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan "A river is more than an amenity. It is a treasure." — Oliver Wendell Holmes

View ofthe St. MarysRiverfrom the Canadian side in the early 1800s A PROFILE OF ST. MARYS RIVER

The St. Marys River is a magnificent natural resource shared by the and . The waters, wetlands, and riparian areas are habitat for important fish and wildlife resources that provide recreational opportunities for residents and for visitors who may travel considerable distances to enjoy them. Boating is popular and the recreational fishery is valued at more than 2.5 million dollars. (U.S.) annually. The cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario—often colloquially referred to as the "Soo"—are the major population and industrial centers on the river and face one another across the St. Marys Rapids. The river is the municipal and industrial water supply for the Soo and receives its municipal and industrial wastes. The river is the navigation channel between and Lake Huron for commercial shipping, and a large flow control structure, navigation locks, and hydropower facilities domi nate the St. Marys Rapids. Although much of the river, its wetlands, and riparian ecosys tems are productive and virtually unimpaired by human activities, other portions are heavily affected. For example, the water, riverbed, and biota for some distance downstream from the Soo are contami nated with wastes released historically and presently into the Ontario side of the river. In the St. Marys Rapids, which once supported a highly productive fishery for aboriginal inhabitants and early settlers, more than half of the riverbed has been dredged or filled for naviga tion and hydropower development. Much of the remaining fishery habitat in the rapids is threatened or degraded by water flow manage ment policies directed at serving hydropower and navigation inter ests. Navigation-related dredging and the extension of the navigation season into the normally quiescent winter period when ice covers the river has raised many unanswered questions about adverse impacts on the ecosystem and its biota. The Early Years

Geological History

TheSt. Marys River isgeologically change resulted in the establish vessels to by-pass the rapids. This the newest of the five large rivers ment of seasonal or permanent was the first ship canal in the that form the connecting channels villages at sites where there were United States and its locks were the of the Great Lakes and carry the significant concentrations of largest in the world at that time. outflow of the lakes to the Atlantic catchable fish. Whitefish Island in The number of European Ocean. The St. Marys River came the St. Marys Rapids was one such immigrants settling in the area into existence about 10,000 years site that was occupied continu increased sharply in the latter half ago as a strait between Lakes ously, beginning about 2,000 years of the century and by the late 1800s Superior and Huron, when the last ago, by Ojibwas and other Wood they were the majority inhabitants of the glaciers covering the Great land Indians. In the mid-1600s, of the river valley. Lumbering Lakes basin retreated to the north French missionaries traveling became a major industry in the late east. The St. Marys River occupies a through the area found several 1800s and large numbers of white valley bordered in Ontario by thousand "Saulteurs" (People of the pine logs were harvested in the volcanic and metamorphic rock, Rapids) occupying the island and eastern upper peninsula of Michi covered in places with a thin layer engaged in fishing in the rapids. gan and floated down the St. Marys of glacial till and lake clays. In Some of these early fishers were River to sawmills along the river. Michigan, the valley floor is mainly permanent residents of the island Lumber from these sawmills was lake clays, glacial moraines, and others were seasonal visitors then exported by ship to eastern remnant lakeshore features, and from tribes as far away as Wiscon and midwestern ports on the Great marshlands. Dolomite, a sedimen sin, James Bay, and . Lakes. The lumber industry spurred tary, carbonate rock, underlies In the mid-to-late 1600s, the development of a narrowly focused much of the Michigan shoreline in river and the rapids area in particu agriculture in the river valley to the lower river. The St. Marys lar became the western focus of produce horses for hauling logs, Rapids are perhaps the newest French trade in the Great Lakes hay and grain to feed the horses, major geological feature of the region. However, French influence and beef and pork to feed the river. They were formed about was not sustained and in the early loggers. Wet soils and a short 3,000 years ago as the sandstone 1700s the British began to assume growing season limited the devel bedrock beneath the river re control of the upper Great Lakes opment of a more diverse agricul bounded slowly upward after the region and its valuable fur trade. ture in the river valley. glaciers melted and their weight on The establishment of the river as the the land surface decreased. The development of hydro- boundary between the United power facilities at the St. Marys States and Canada in 1782 and the Rapids began in Ontario in the late Settlement and Development garrisoning of American troops on 1800s and in Michigan in the early the south side of the river in 1822 Archeological records indicate a 1900s. The construction of the 16- signaled the onset of a permanent sequence of human occupation in gate Compensating Works at the American influence in the area. the St. Marys River valley beginning head of the rapids provided control about 11,000 years ago. The In the 1800s, the St. Marys of the level of Lake Superior, earliest inhabitants of the valley River became the major trade route enhanced hydropower develop were probably members of hunting for the developing Lake Superior ment, and facilitated navigation, but cultures that moved about in search region to the north and west. The also significantly changed the free- of areas where game was abundant. St. Marys Rapids posed a major flowing nature of the river. Steel As aboriginal fishing implements impediment to shipping to and from and pulp-paper production devel improved and spears and gorges Lake Superior until a canal and 12- oped on the Ontario side by 1910 were replaced with nets, fish foot-deep lock system was con and became the major industries in became a more important food structed on the American shore in the river valley. resource for these early people. This 1855 that allowed fully loaded Commercial shipping also grew in importance after the turn of the century. Large quantities of iron ore from Minnesota and Michigan and grain from western Canada moved down the St. Marys River to ports in the lower four lakes and ocean seaways, while coal, petroleum products, and finished goods moved upbound through the river. In 1953 a record 128 million tons of commodities passed through the locks. The larger Poe Lock, which was opened to navigation in 1968, and the 27-foot deep navigation channel (25.5 feet assured clear draft) allow a variety of large vessels including ocean-going ships and the 1000-foot-long lake freighters to move between Lake Superior and the rest of the Great Lakes system.

Great Lakes freighters in the St. Marys River The Early Fishery

The earliest commercial fishery in the St. Marys River was established by the fur trading companies in the mid-1800s. This fishery targeted lake whitefish, lake herring, and lake trout. Fishing was conducted with scoop nets in the rapids and later on with pound nets on the Michigan side. The catch was dried or salted and packed in barrels for export. By the late 1800s the catch in the rapids had declined mark edly, probably due to overfishing, and the fishery had begun to shift to other parts of the river.

Lake whitefish was the princi -s^»3|jj pal catch in U.S. waters of the lower river in the late 1800s, but also supported an impor Early dipnet fishery in the St. MarysRapids,about 1900 tant commercial fishery near the turn of the century. Michigan brook trout in the rapids and on waters of the river from Waiska Bay walleye and other warmwater fish at the head of the river in Whitefish in the lower river. Bay to Lime Island in Raber Bay in Early attempts to improve the sport the lower river were closed to fishery included the stocking of lake commercial fishing in 1901 to whitefish, brook trout, brown trout, protect the sport fishery. Closure of lake trout, Atlantic salmon, and the commercial fishery in Ontario rainbow trout in the late 1800s. waters of the river followed the Rainbow trout became plentiful in closures in Michigan. The tribal the river after 1900 and contributed fishery continued until the early significantly to the fishery. 1900s when Whitefish Island, which was the center of that activity There are few statistics on the in the rapids, was converted to early sport fishery, but in the 1970s other use by the Canadian Pacific anglers fished for about 10,000 to Railway. 20,000 hours annually in Ontario waters of the rapids. The early sport fishery in the river focused on lake whitefish and

Large lake whitefish were common in the commercial catch in the St. MarysRiverin the late 1800s Lake whitefish

Lake trout

Brook trout

"At present the bestrainbowtrout fishing in the world is in the rapids ofthe Canadian Soo... . It is a wild and nerve-frazzling sport. .. second only in strenuousness Lakeherring to fishing for tuna offCatalina Island.. .. Rainbow as large as U pounds have been taken...." — ErnestHemingway The St Marys River Today

The River and its Watershed

Flooding is not usually a problem along the river because the flow is regulated, the river flushes rapidly, and most low-lying shore Lake Superior lines are undeveloped. Seasonal changes in water level in (he river average about one foot and largely reflect changes in the levels of Lakes Superior and Huron and the operation of the flow control structures at the head of the rapids. The greatest recorded short-term change in water level was about five feet in three hours. This fluctua tion resulted from a change in the amount of water being released through the rapids acting together with a weather-driven change in the level of Lake Huron. Forestry and agriculture are still the predominant uses of the river valley. About 346,000 acres are in agricultural production and beef, milk, and hay are the major prod ucts. Industrial and urban develop Themajor tributaries ofthe St. Marys River. ment is greater on the Ontario side 1. Waiska River, 2. Charlotte River, 3. LittleMunuscong River, of the river. Hydro-electric power is 4. Munuscong River, 5. BigCarp River, 6. BennetCreek, a major product of the river and 7. Root River, 8. Garden River, 9. Echo River, 10. Bar River about 93% of the total flow of the river at the rapids is presently The St. Marys River drains Lake separating the cities of Sault Ste. diverted for this use. The cities of Superior and is one of the large Marie, Michigan and Ontario; and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and rivers of the world. The discharge of the nearly 56-mile-long lower river Ontario are the only major popula the St. Marys River into Lake Huron between the foot of the rapids and tion centers on the river. About averages 73,000 cubic feet per Point Detour on Lake Huron. 81,000 of the 96,000 people in this second annually and is regulated by The river falls about 22 feet bi-national metropolitan area live in gated, flow-control structures at the over its 70-mile course and 20 feet Ontario. head of the rapids. of that fall occur in the rapids. The LakeSuperior contributes about sharp drop in the rapids together 98% of the total flow of the river with relatively swift flows in the and the rest is added by small main channels of the upper and tributaries that enter the river lower river cause most of the water directly along its course. The river is entering the river to be flushed into divided hydrologically into three Lake Huron in only a few days. reaches. These are the 14-mile-long Flushing may be incomplete or upper river between Whitefish Bay considerably less rapid in wetlands and the head of the St. Marys and other non-channel areas that Rapids; the 0.4-mile-long rapids have restricted water circulation.

8 The Food Web and Natural Production

A diverse and complex food web rooted plants such as bulrush and brates such as caddisfly larvae, supports natural production in the quillwort, and terrestrial plants mayfly nymphs, mussels, and St. Marys River. A simplified version along the shoreline capture the crayfish; and by fish, ducks, and of that food web illustrating the energy of the sun and produce wetland mammals. Fish also prey major elements and linkages is leaves, stems, and roots. This plant upon smaller aquatic animals, given below. Green plants are the matter is then eaten, fresh or as it including other fish; birds of prey base of the food web. Aquatic decays, by zooplankton (small, feed upon fish, smaller birds, and plants including phytoplankton weakly-swimming invertebrates); wetland mammals. (microscopic drifting algae), larger larger, bottom-dwelling inverte

Microscopic Phytoplankton

Large Aquatic Bottom Dwelling Invertebrates

Simplifiec St. Marysfood web Fern Pondweed. A dark greenplantwith flat leavespointing away from the stem on two sides, thereby giving it the appearanceofa fern. Plantsare known to provide habitatfor small aquatic animals used as food by predatorfishes, especially .

Aquatic plants produce about Quillwort. A small plant up to one foot long with tufts of 64,000 tons (wet weight) of fresh quill-likeleaves originating from a swollen base. Plantsare material annually in the river. usually restrictedto areas ofclean water where other plants are absent. Phytoplankton is about 10% of this production and bulrushes, reeds, and other aquatic plants that extend above the surface of the water in emergent wetlands along the shoreline contribute an additional 70%. The remaining 20% is from submersed plants such as quillworts, pondweeds, and stone- worts (Chara and other macroalgae) that grow beneath the surface of the river. Quillwort and pondweeds are most abundant in water less than 20 feet deep and stoneworts grow in water as deep as 45 feet in soft- bottomed areas of the river.

Emergent wetland

10 The phytoplankton community support fish and wildlife production of the river is largely composed of in the river. Most of this plant diatoms and other clean-water production is eaten, as it decom forms that are dominant at the poses, by bottom-dwelling inverte source of the river in Lake Superior. brates including tubeworms, midge The phytoplankton community larvae, caddisfly larvae, burrowing changes little as it is swept down mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, the river and into Lake Huron. snails, and crayfish. Phytoplankton probably contributes The production of bottom- little to fish and wildlife production dwelling invertebrates varies widely in the river because its population throughout the river. Production is density is low and it remains in the highest in emergent wetlands and river for only a few days. the rapids, intermediate in offshore, An important exception occurs soft-bottomed areas, and lowest in in the St. Marys Rapids where large the navigation channels where the populations of net-building riverbed is continuously scoured by caddisfly larvae feed upon phyto fast currents and vessel-induced plankton that they strain from the turbulence. Midges and tubeworms swiftly flowing water. Caddisfly are the important components in larvae and winged-adults are an the emergent wetlands, whereas important food for lake whitefish, burrowing mayflies and fingernail trout and other fishes that frequent clams dominate the invertebrate the rapids and the adjacent portions production in the soft-bottomed of the river. habitats of the river. Caddisflies, crayfish, small (non-burrowing) Rooted aquatic plants are abundant in portions of the upper mayflies, midges, and stoneflies dominate invertebrate production in and lower river and they are the the rapids. major source of nutrients and energy that enter the food web and

case and net of larva larva adult Net-building caddisflyin various life stages

11 The Fishery Today

Anglers continue to seek lake Most angling occurs during the whitefish, lake herring, lake trout, warmer months of the year, but walleye, smallmouth bass, northern Munuscong Lake provides an pike, and other native species that important fishery through the ice for supported the early fishery. Intro walleye. duced species, including rainbow trout, Pacific salmon (coho, chinook, and pink) and landlocked •3 Atlantic salmon now support popular fisheries, primarily in the ^3 St. Marys Rapids.

The first creel census con ducted in the Michigan waters of the river revealed anglers fished for Atlantic salmon about 750,000 hours in 1987—an $ effort equal to about one-sixth of Landlocked Atlantic salmon, which total annual fishing effort in Michi have been stocked annually in the gan waters of the Great Lakes in St. Marys Rapids since 1987, offer 1987. The upper river received the newest angling opportunity in 10% of the effort, the rapids 40%, the river. The fish are 5 to 9 inches and the lower river 50%. About long and 1.5 years old when they 85% of the effort targeted are stocked in the river. They warmwater fish and the remainder migrate quickly into Lake Huron, was directed at coldwater fish, where they live and grow for 1.5 to including trout, salmon, lake 3.5 years before returning to spawn whitefish, and lake herring. Angler as 2- to 20-pound fish. Most angling harvest in Michigan waters of the for them occurs in the rapids area river in 1987 included 5,699 pink where they concentrate, beginning salmon, 4,662 chinook salmon, 136 in late June. There is also a popular coho salmon, 1,990 rainbow trout, fishery for lake herring in late June 538 brown trout, 203 lake trout, and early July in the lower river 141,386 lake herring, 25,187 during the emergence of the whitefish, 316,436 yellow perch, burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia. 25,602 walleye, and 20,965 northern pike.

12 The Sea Lamprey Menace

Thesea lamprey uses itssucking mouth to attach to Like trout and other fish. Its mouth (lower left)is lined with rows of teeth and its tongue is equipped with a single tooth that it uses to rip through the skin ofthe fish so that it can feed on the blood ofthe fish.

The sea lamprey is a non-native fish than 400,000 parasitic-stage sea tional lampricides may be problem of great concern to Great Lakes lampreys in Lake Huron, 90% of atic because of the large size of the fishery managers. It preys on which were produced from river. However, the Great Lakes desirable coldwater fish including spawnings in the St. Marys River. Fishery Commission is completing a trout, salmon, lake whitefish, lake Estimates of sea lamprey-induced tactical plan to reduce the repro herring, and chubs and is largely mortality of fish in Lake Huron are ductive success of the population of responsible for the extinction of the difficult to obtain, but laboratory sea lampreys that spawn in the St. native lake trout in the lower four studies indicate each sea lamprey Marys River. An integral part of this Great Lakes. Recent estimates that returns to spawn may have plan, which began in 1991 and is indicate about 30,000 sea lampreys seriously wounded many fish and scheduled annually through the may now spawn in the St. Marys also killed about 20 to 40 pounds of foreseeable future, is the release of Riverannually. The young lampreys fish during the 18 months it spent as sterile adult male sea lampreys into produced from these spawnings a predator in the lake. the river. Tests show that these spend several years in the riverbed sterile males will mate with fertile, The U.S. and Canada are sediments feeding on algae, dia- wild females in the river and working jointly to reduce the toms, and decomposing plant prevent them from producing viable abundance of sea lampreys in the matter before they transform into offspring. St. Marys River and the wounding predators of fish and migrate and mortality of fish in Lake Huron. downstream into Lake Huron. Treatment of the river with conven Recently developed estimates indicate there may now be more

13 Effects of Contaminants on the River and Its Fish and Wildlife

A recent study performed jointly by Contaminants in riverbed the U.S. Environmental Protection sediments have adversely affected Burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia Agency and Environment Canada the composition of the benthic revealed levels of contaminants in invertebrate community. Only the river which reflect both histori sludge worms (e.g. Tubifex and cal and current waste disposal Limnodrilus) and other pollution- practices of municipalities and tolerant species are found near industries located on the river. contaminant discharges on the Industrial and municipal wastes Ontario shoreline. produced on the Ontario side of the The burrowing mayfly, river significantly degraded water Hexagenia, is a pollution-intolerant and riverbed sediments and ad benthic invertebrate that is absent versely affected the biota along the from most of the Ontario portion of Ontario shoreline. Impairment was river from the foot of the rapids to nymph most severe immediately down the upper reaches of Lake George, stream from Algoma Steel and St. where oil and grease were found in Marys Paper and extended into the the sediments. High concentrations mid-reaches of Lake George. of oil and grease and heavy metals Contaminants of concern in in the sediments also reduced cluded nutrients, particulate solids, production in the surviving popula organochlorine compounds, tion of Hexagenia nymphs in cyanide, heavy metals, and oil and Ontario waters of upper Lake grease. The study also showed that George. These losses of Hexagenia combined sewer overflow dis are significant because the species is charges in Sault Ste. Marie, Michi an important link in the food web gan, downstream from the Edison that supports fish production in the Sault Electric Company canal, St. Marys River. polluted Michigan waters of the river for a short distance down stream from the rapids.

adult ••vW,-\t ».£;:•:: * :a y. -5 •:". -.

Industrialized Canadian shoreline

14 River Otter

In addition, ducks, geese, loons, terns, gulls, ospreys, bald Ui >*HU eagles, and wetland mammals including muskrat, mink, beaver, and otter frequent the river and are exposed tr rough the food web to contaminants discharged into the river. Information on the effects of contaminants on these biota is limited, but indicates there is a basis for concern. Concentrations of organic contaminants measured in terns and gulls were generally below the level known to produce population effects on them. How ever, the levels were high enough to pose a

the remaining rapids habitat and the valuable fishery that it supports for lake whitefish and trout and also for salmon and other desirable species that migrate into the rapids from the lower river and Lake Huron. The nominal flow that is now main tained in the rapids is achieved by a 50% opening of one of the 16 gates in the Compensating Works. Resource advocates and scientists who have studied the problem believe that two to four gates must be opened fully to provide the minimum flow needed to prolect Rapids, berm, and Compensating Works the remaining rapids habitat and its The St. Marys Rapids were changed shoreline. These periodic de- biota. markedly by the construction of waterings, which are more common The St. Marys River is a physi navigation locks, flow control than extremely high flows, are cally and ecologically diverse structures, and hydropower generat created by short-term demands for system. Portions of the lower river ing facilities. These developments increased hydropower production. seemingly remain in the natural reduced the watered surface area of They cause significant losses in the state and the river as a whole the rapids by about 50% and benthic invertebrate community of supports a variety of beneficial uses diverted about 93% of the total flow the rapids and unmeasured but including fish and wildlife produc of the river through hydropower assuredly significant losses in the tion and water-oriented recreation. canals that by-pass the rapids. The production of fish that spawn in the However, other competing uses of effects of these major habitat losses rapids or depend on the inverte the river—as a municipal and on the fishery potential of the rapids brate community of the rapids for industrial water supply, for naviga and downstream areas are food. Although dewaterings have tion and hydropower production, unmeasured, but they could easily occurred for more than a decade, and for the dispersal of municipal have reduced aquatic production in only recently has a serious attempt and industrial wastes—create an the rapids by more than 50%. been made to correct the problem. array of problems that imperil or The unnatural flow regime A berm was constructed in the exclude many natural beneficial rapids in 1985 to help retain water resulting from the present operation uses. Of greatest concern are the along the west side of Whitefish of the Compensating Works—the spills and permitted discharges of Island during periods of reduced gated, flow-control structure at the persistent toxic contaminants and flow, but large areas of riverbed are head of the rapids—poses a signifi other pollutants that continue to still dewatered periodically in the cant threat to the biological integ impose unacceptable chemical rapids. rity and productive potential of the loadings on the system. These remaining rapids habitat. Periods of As the demand for electric chemical loadings adversely affect extremely high flow when all 16 power increases, the demand for the aquatic food web, suppress gates are opened scour the river increased diversion for hydropower reproduction in birds and mammals bed and displace biota. Periods of will also increase and the adverse that frequent the river and its severely restricted flow dewater effects of low flow on the rapids wetlands, and produce concentra more than 60 acres of riverbed in habitat will be exacerbated. Regula tions of contaminants in fish that the rapids and create inadequate tory agencies should be encouraged can exceed Michigan and Ontario flow velocities for fish spawning in to act soon to develop minimum guidelines for safe consumption of Whitefish Channel on the Ontario flow requirements that will protect fish by humans.

16 Problems and Solutions What Can You Do? Contacts

A Remedial Action Plan being • Enjoy the river and encourage Binational Public Advisory prepared by Ontario and Michigan others to do so. A large group of Council is designed to relieve the effects of concerned users can promote c/o Marilyn Burton pollution and habitatalteration and ecologically sustainable uses of 1004 Bingham guide restoration of the river in the the river and encourage the wise Sault Ste. Marie, Ml 49783 1990s and beyond. The future of management of this valuable the St. Marys River ecosystem will resource. Soo Area Sportmens Club depend on the adequacy of this • Become informed about the c/o Dave Gonyeau plan and the diligence with which it P.O. Box 497 resources and the conflicts among is applied to ensure sustained, Sault Ste. Marie, Ml 49783 different users and voice your beneficial use of this important concerns to resource managers, natural resource. decision-making agencies, and Saint Marys River International Sports Fishing Commission To protect tne St. Marys River your elected representatives. c/o Steve Gipp ecosystem we need to: • Support actions that will elimi 215 Rapids Drive • monitor the river and its plants nate pollution at municipal and Sault Ste. Marie, Ml 49783 and animals closely to provide industrial sources and improve early war ling of any adverse the quality of the river environ Sault Rapids Society changes t lat are occurring, ment and its living resources. c/o Harry Graham 1184 Queen St. E. • study the natural processes that Public support for the Remedial Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2E6 regulate f sh and wildlife produc Action Plan being developed for the river will be required if the Canada tion so that we can better under stand them and avoid harmful plan is to be used effectively to changes, and correct past abuses and protect Sault & District Anglers the system in the future. Association • develop and implement proce • Support actions that will lead to c/o Mr. C. Gordon Stewart dures to correct past and present 74 Atlas Ave. the establishment and mainte abuses of the system and to Sault St. Marie, ON P6A 4Z4 nance of adequate minimum prevent further environmental Canada degradation. flows in the St. Marys Rapids. • Support land-use controls that Sault Naturalist Club protect wetlands and other c/o Gladys Wallwork environmentally sensitive areas. P.O. Box 1043 • Support programs to reduce the Sault St. Marie, ON P6A 5N7 reproductive success of the sea Canada lamprey in the river. Michigan Sea Grant Extension • Contact and support organiza c/o Jim Lucas tions dedicated to natural re Chippewa County Cooperative source protection and steward Extension Office ship of the river. 139 Arlington Sault Ste. Marie, Ml 49783-1901

17 £*

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"Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons ofearth. Man did not weave the web oflife; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."

ChiefSeattle

19 Additional Reading Bayliss, J.E., E.L. Bayliss, and M.M. Quaife. 1955. River ofDestiny: the St. Marys. Detroit-Wayne University Press. Detroit, Michigan. 328 p. Duffy, W.G., T.R. Batterson, andCD. McNabb. 1987. The St. Marys River, Michigan: an ecological profile. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 85(7.10). 138 p. Edwards, C.J., P.L. Hudson, W.G. Duffy, S.J. Nepszy, CD. McNabb, R.C Haas, C.R. Liston, B.A. Manny, and W-D.N. Busch. 1989. Hydrological, morphological, and biological characteristics of the connecting rivers of the international Great Lakes: a review, p. 204-264. In D.P. Dodge led]. Proceedings of the International Large River Symposium. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 106. Koshinsky, G.D., and C.J. Edwards. 1983. The fish and fisheries of the St. Marys Rapids: an analysis of status with reference to "Condition 1. (b)". 164p.* Munawar, M. and T.Edsall (eds). 1991. Environmental assessment and habitat evaluation of the upper Great Lakes connecting channels. Hydrobiologia 219. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada. 1988. Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study. Vol. 1. Executive Summary. 50p.* * Available from the International Joint Commission, 100 Ouellette Ave., Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9A6T3.

Technical Input J. Heinrich, USFWS, Marquette Biol. Sta. C. Fetterolf, Great Lakes Fishery Commission T. Magnuson, USFWS, Marquette Biol. Sta. J. Reckahn, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources J. Hiltunen, USFWS, NFRC-GL (retired) R. Gieil, Lake Superior State College J. Nichols, USFWS, NFRC-GL D. Behmer, Lake Superior State College R. Seppala, USFWS, Ecological Services Office S. Campbell, Michigan Sea Grant D. Cutty, Fisheries and Oceans Canada R. Kinnunen, Michigan Sea Grant Extension L. Schleen, Fisheries and Oceans Canada J. Lucas, Michigan Sea Grant Extension J. Weise, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Conversion Table - U.S. Customary to Metric

Multiply by to obtain

inches 2.54 centimeters

feet 0.3048 meters

miles 1.609 kilometers

acres 0.4047 hectares

square miles 2.59 square kilometers

cubic miles 4.168 cubic kilometers pounds 0.4536 kilograms

tons 0.9072 metric tons

20 © National Sea Grant Depository Pell Library Building - GSO University of Rhode Island Narragansett, Rl 02882-1197USA

Designed and produced byMillie J. Flory, Michigan Sea Grant. Produced incooperation with the National Fisheries Research Center-Great Lakes, U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, 1451 Green Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105. Printed with funds from grant no. NA89AA-D-SG083 from theNational Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department ofCommerce, and funds from the State ofMichigan. Additional support was provided bythe International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Regional Office; Great Lakes Fishery Commission; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Central Region and Branch ofExtension and Publica tions, Office [of Training and Education.

Please cite this booklet as follows: Edsall, T.A., and J.E. Gannon. 1993. A Profile ofSt.Marys River. MICHU-SG-93-700 Michigan Sea Grant College Program. Ann Arbor, Michigan. To purchase copies of AProfile ofSt. Marys River (MICHU-SG-93-700) or for ifi on additional profiles and other publications about the Great Lakes, contact wrawn Michigan Sea Grant Communications, 2200 Bonisteel Boulevard Ann Art or, Michigan 48109. 313/764-1138.

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