“Biological Hotspots” of the Lower Estuary Technical Habitat Map Brennan Dow Adviser: John Janssen http://city.milwaukee.gov/port#.WIjklFw8q6g Lake Sturgeon Green Breakwall North Avenue Dam

Dave Schindelholz, Jeff Zinuticz, Pradeep Hirethota

Smallmouth Bass

The North Avenue Dam spawning reef was reconstructed in 2014 to provide better spawning habitat for Lake Sturgeon, Walleye and redhorse. Stocking efforts for Lake Sturgeon in Milwaukee started in 2003. Return of Lake Sturgeon for spawning in the Milwaukee River will 1:800 occur when they reach maturity (25 to 30 years for females and about 15 years for males). This section of the river also provides much needed rocky habitat for other fish species.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources With the invasion of the round goby in 1994 and more recently Hemimysis Walleye Lake Sturgeon anomala in 2006, an established, Hemimysis anomala abundant, nearshore forage base for littoral zone predators was created. While this forage biomass is comprised of mostly invasive species, predators do not know the difference and are now more 1:2,500 localized than they have been in the past. Discovery World Jeff Zinuticz & Cheryl Masterson Tom Burzynski

Summerfest Lagoon

South Menomonee Canal

Black-Crowned Night-Heron Spawning The Burnham Canal is a good example of “accidental” spawning habitat. , Green Sunfish, and Largemouth Rock Bass Spawning Bass that displayed spawning characteristics, occupy small Burnham Canal sections of collapsed dock walls with overhanging cover. In 2018, the west side of the canal is to undergo a large remediation and ecosystem restoration project. Bathymetry (meters) 0.50 - 0.75 1:3,000

0.76 - 1.00 Largemouth Bass Nest 1.01 - 1.25

1.26 - 1.50

1.51 - 1.75

1.76 - 2.00

2.01 - 2.25

2.26 - 2.50 Bluegill Largemouth Bass Fry 2.51 - 2.75 The Summerfest The seiche dominated inlet, which is attached to Lagoon is a biological 2.76 - 3.00 the Grand Trunk wetland, is an important area for hotspot that acts as a spawning bluegill. This gravel spawning habitat was 3.01 - 3.25 separate entity to accidentally introduced through the construction of Grand Trunk other locations in the 3.26 - 3.50 docks and parking lots. There are plans currently area and is most likely underway to create spawning habitat further into 3.51 - 3.75 a small lake in terms the wetland area for Northern Pike. of dynamic structure. 3.76 - 4.00 Both shorelines 4.01 - 4.25 provide spawning habitat for fish and 4.26 - 4.50 Rock Bass Nest allow diverse habitat 4.51 - 4.75 for a large variety of fish species. 4.76 - 5.00

5.01 - 5.25 1:450 5.26 - 5.50 1:2,000 5.51 - 5.75 Smallmouth Bass Nests

5.76 - 6.00

6.01 - 6.25

6.26 - 6.50 Pumpkinseed Nest

6.51 - 6.75 South Shore Terrace

6.76 - 7.00

7.01 - 7.25

7.26 - 7.50

7.51 - 7.75

7.76 - 8.00

8.01 - 8.25

8.26 - 8.50

8.51 - 8.75

8.76 - 9.00

9.01 - 9.25

9.26 - 9.50

9.51 - 9.75 The South Shore Terrace provides a lot of habitat 9.76 - 10.00 and macrophyte cover for nearshore fishes in Milwaukee. It also provides important shoreline Acknowledgements: Funding and support for this research project 10.01 - 10.25 habitat for spawning fishes (Rock Bass, and was provided by the Fund for (FFLM) and the Wisconsin 10.26 - 10.50 Smallmouth Bass). Figuring out how to protect this Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR). Thanks to John Janssen, shoreline from wave action and prominent Eric Leaf, Tom Hansen, Eric Geisthardt, Chris Goff, Mark Lausten, Tom 10.51 - 10.75 shoreline currents is essential to have better Hansen, Tom Simmons, Jeff Cable, Jeff Zinuticz, Nathan Tennies, 10.76 - 11.00 recruitment success. 1:2,500 Captain Greg Stamatelakys, and the Neeskay R/V crew.