200 Years of Michigan Fish
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Huron River Report Published quarterly by the Huron River Watershed Council FALL 2013 feature story 200 Years of Michigan Fish The final installment of a four-part series on Michigan’s fisheries Michigan boasts 11,000 lakes, 36,000 invasive species changed the Great miles of streams and rivers, and is Lakes fish community in the 1960s. surrounded by the largest freshwater This article revisits these topics from lakes on Earth. Over the past two a modern perspective to provide a hundred years European settlers and better understanding of current fish their descendants have done much management challenges and strategies. to alter these natural systems and the creatures that inhabit them. This The changing face of stream article is the last in a four-part series management that examines how humans have Modern stocking changed – and are still changing – fish From the 19th century, when brown Recent sampling indicates that the diversity and abundance in Michigan trout and rainbow trout were first beautiful lake trout may be making a through greed and stewardship, introduced, to the mid-20th century, comeback. credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service ignorance and intention. when the Coho and Chinook salmon The previous three issues were stocked to control alewives, ecosystem’s overall integrity. However, looked at how commercial and fish stocking has shaped and defined over the years there have been many recreational fishing changed the Michigan’s fisheries. Fisheries changes to what species and size Great Lakes region in the 1880s managers’ primary purpose in of fish are stocked in an attempt to and 1890s, how scientists began stocking fish has always been to meet meet these demands. The Michigan researching and managing fish commercial fishing and recreational Department of Natural Resources populations in the 1930s, and how fishing demands without altering the continued on page 4 A Paddler’s Journey• Ron Sell’s 2013 river expedition A little over 20 years ago, Joan Martin of the river from start to finish. The could see how close we have come to (HRWC Adopt-A-Stream emeritus) expedition was fun, enlightening and making a true water trail. We would had the wonderful idea of getting a a great experience for all – forming do it in 5 days without the fanfare or bunch of people together and pad- bonds and networks that continue agenda, just for fun and adventure. dling the whole length of the Huron today. For this trip, we were a small River. After a year of planning, getting It seemed like time to do the trip and select group of paddlers. Paul dozens of people involved and com- again, to see what has changed over and Joanne Lang from Ohio, Marty munities on board, Joan’s idea grew 20 years. Armed with HRWC’s new Cooperman from Cleveland, Steve into RIVERFEST, a nine day celebration Paddler’s Companion guide book, we continued on page 10 INSIDE: UPCOMING EVENTS AND worKSHOPS 2014 HRWC H2O Heroes Calendar Laura Honored by River Network | Portage Creek Project Making Progress | www.hrwc.org HRWC status and updates Laura’s Stream of Consciousness iver Hero But this award and my15 year anniver- This year I was awarded sary have me looking back, and I can R the National River see that it does make a difference. It’s Hero award. This year also hap- definitely made a difference at HRWC. pens to be the 15 year anniversary of We have achieved great things includ- my tenure at HRWC. Early on, my son ing phosphorus reductions, the Dexter Abe came in to my office, saw me at Dam removal, land and natural area my desk and asked, “Mom, how do you protection, and strong community save the river through typing?” I have to engagement and stewardship! admit I didn’t have a great answer – all Buffman H. I wanted to do was run out and get on While I am so moved and proud of this the water immediately. honor, more than anything, this award is a reflection of OUR work. The work of We’ve all been there, right?…. HRWC staff and board, our local gov- Laura Rubin, Executive Director making flyers, monitoring for bugs or ernments, citizen scientists, enlightened Ultimately, you are reading this because flow, picking up the phone and mak- business leaders, planners and environ- you share a deep belief in clean water ing calls to decision makers, writing mental consultants, donors, recreational and a clean river, and we work really grants…it doesn’t always feel like it enthusiasts, and partner nonprofits. hard to make it happen! Thank you for makes a difference. Altogether, this award is an affirmation your hard work, confidence and friend- that OUR WORK WORKS! ship. Stormwater, Asset infrastructure, in addition to setting spills, flooding, and sewer back-ups, Management, and Wastewater goals for future projects, it is important while also identifying future funding Program to start with an inventory of exist- sources. More information is at: http:// As you’ve read in past newsletters, ing natural features and other green www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135- Green Infrastructure is receiving infrastructure along with a strategy for 3307_3515_4143-294952--,00.html greater emphasis at all scales (site, com- maintaining it. munity, and landscape) of land use man- Stormdrain Art, June 2013 agement and planning. As with other To help communities spur this along, This summer, working to expand our the State of Michigan passed new adopt-a-stormdrain program, HRWC legislation establishing grants for asset partnered with the City of Ann Arbor’s management plan development, storm- Mayor’s Green Fair, along with local water plan development, sewage collec- artist David Zinn and the Ann Arbor tion and treatment plan development, Public Art Commission. Our stormd- and state-funded loans to construct rain chalk art event was exciting and projects identified in the asset manage- educational! Fair participants enjoyed ment plans. An asset management plan looking on while dozens of youth (in requires a local unit of government to age as well as in heart) decorated identify, map, and assess the condition downtown stormdrains. of the wastewater and stormwater sys- tems. This includes the level of service, Drawings and messages revolved criticality, maintenance strategies, and around the stormdrain’s direct connec- long-term funding. tion to Huron River. If you would like to get involved in this program, take HRWC encourages watershed local a look at www.hrwc.org/volunteer/ governments to apply for these unique, adoptastormdrain. one-time grant funds to conduct a – Laura Rubin thorough inventory of all infrastruc- ture and identify future threats and Local artists encouraged people to consider needs. This planning can avoid future their stormdrains. credit: J. Wolf Protection for Portage Creek Communities work to keep high-quality creek healthy Education Campaign HRWC will also direct an education campaign to residents who live along Portage Creek and the creekshed’s tributaries and lakeshores. Materials will promote river- friendly home practices, teaching homeowners to minimize stormwater runoff, prevent erosion, maintain healthy lawns and gardens, and use natural shorelines or streambank buffers to protect water quality. To inform the effort, HRWC surveyed those residents earlier this summer seeking their opinions about the creekshed’s water Thanks to funding from MDEQ design workshops. HRWC has resources and what they might do under the Clean Water Act, HRWC submitted a related plan and map to to help. The survey results will shape has begun work with communities both townships describing the extent the educational campaign. Near within the Portage Creek watershed and value of their green infrastructure completion of the project, HRWC will survey residents again to measure the (see map) to implement parts of – the forests, wetlands, lakes, streams the Portage Creek Watershed and other open areas that clean the impacts of the campaign in changing Management Plan adopted two years air, filter polluted runoff, replenish attitudes and behaviors. ago. This work will address two major drinking water supplies, provide The Portage Creek Watershed objectives of the plan: habitat for fish and wildlife, and Plan is the only one in the Huron maintain quality of life. These materials watershed that the MDEQ designated as one focusing on protection l Improve local ordinances and lay out options for planning for “ ” policies in order to accommodate development in concert with, not in – preventing future impacts from degrading a high quality, mostly development and protect the creek’s opposition to, that vital infrastructure. health Similar green infrastructure natural creekshed – as opposed to mitigation cleaning up waters l Launch an education campaign workshops will occur this fall in “ ” – to increase awareness about the Stockbridge Village and Unadilla already impacted from agricultural creek and promote water-friendly Township. HRWC is talking with and development practices. Its residential practices Dexter and Lyndon Townships about communities and residents recognize improving ordinance language to help their unique situation and want to keep Portage Creek beautiful and Local Planning protect the creek as development occurs. healthy while avoiding the high cost of Dexter and Lyndon townships have remediation in the future. already held Green Infrastructure – Kris Olsson PAGE 3 200 Years of Michigan Fish continued from page 1 (DNR) once stocked trout as fry the structures. to provide an organized long-term (1875-1920), then as fingerlings (1920- Over time, DNR attitudes reference for agencies and citizens. 1950), and then as legal-sized (large towards stream improvement projects enough to keep while fishing) adults changed. In a 1989 memo that marked The struggling Great Lakes (1950-1960). Currently, the DNR a shift in stream improvement theory, Invasive species everywhere stocks fingerlings or very close to Dave Borgeson Sr., former Assistant In the past two hundred years, more legal size, depending on the situation.