Accomplishment Report
for October, 2008

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Partnerships/OutreachAquatic Species ConservationAquatic Invasive Species
Leadership in Science/TechnologyAquatic Habitat Conservation

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Partnerships and Outreach Goals:  Open, interactive communication between the Fisheries Program and its partners. Effective measuring and reporting of progress toward meeting conservation goals and objectives. Ashland NFWCO 2008 Accomplishment Reports Are Now On the Internet The Ashland NFWCO has compiled a listing of their 2008 accomplishments.  This report summarizes all the activities we conducted regarding: Partnerships and Outreach, Aquatic Species Conservation, Aquatic Invasive Species, Public Use, Cooperation with Native Americans, Leadership in Science and Technology, Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Management, and Workforce Management/Administration.  To learn more about these programs and accomplishments, please direct your Internet browser to: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland/AccomRpt_FY08.html Internet web pages can have a tremendous influence to fill in the pieces of a much larger informational network.  Networking with the public to share our accomplishments can take place in many fashions.  The Ashland NFWCO web page is just one tool we use to communicate our responsibilities and staff accomplishments.

Aquatic Species Conservation Goals:  Self-sustaining populations of native fish and other aquatic resources that maintain species diversity, provide recreational opportunities, and meet the needs of Tribal communities. Interjurisdictional fish populations are managed at self-sustaining levels. Gamete Collection in Tobin Harbor a Success in 2008 Coaster brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were once abundant throughout the nearshore waters of Lake Superior.  Except for Isle Royale, Michigan, and perhaps the Salmon Trout River, Michigan, coaster brook trout are functionally extirpated in U.S. waters of Lake Superior.  In 1995, in anticipation of future rehabilitation needs and as a precaution to preserve the genetic diversity of coaster stocks of undetermined size at Isle Royale, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) led an effort to collect gametes for development and maintenance of a broodstock of native Lake Superior Isle Royale strain coasters.  Previous gamete collections occurred in 1996, 1998 and 2001. Information gathered during gamete collection and assessment efforts in Tobin Harbor and Siskiwit Bay indicated several differences between the two coaster stocks.  The differences include both life history traits and genetic characteristics.  These differences led the Service to treat these stocks discretely and refrain from combining the two into a single broodstock pending further information.  For the fourth time since the development of the plan, the Genoa and Iron River National Fish Hatchery (NFH) and the Ashland National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) collected gametes from Tobin Harbor.  The crew consisting of Nick Starzl, Genoa NFH, Glenn Miller, Ashland NFWCO and Anna Varian, Research Technician from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan, headed to Tobin Harbor, Isle Royale National Park on the Ranger III.  Fish were collected by setting fyke nets in known areas that brook trout spawn.  A total of 6 fyke nets were set for 5 consecutive nights, October 17 – 21.  The initial three nights had fish being held in anticipation of the females being ripe for spawning and males had their milt collected and refrigerated to preserve viability of the sperm.  Ripe males and females from the last two days of netting were held for the spawning event the morning of the 22nd of October.  A total of 17 new “families” were created from this effort.  The eggs collected will be reared at Genoa NFH for a quarantine period, and then individuals for the new broodstock line will be delivered to the Iron River NFH for future spawnings.  Along with the new progeny for the recovery effort a total of 118 brook trout were handled in Tobin Harbor: 53 males, 49 females and 16 juvenile fish.  To date Tobin Harbor strain brook trout have been stocked in the Keweenaw and Huron Bay areas in Michigan, Whittlesey Creek in Wisconsin, and Grand Portage, Minnesota.  Brook trout had been stocked in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan, but this stocking was ceased due to potential presence of remnant stocks in area streams.  The stocking in Whittlesey Creek is part of a effort to examine and compare the success of both Isle Royale strains, Siskiwit River and Tobin Harbor.

Aquatic Invasive Species Goals:  Risks of aquatic invasive species (AIS) are substantially reduced, and their economic, ecological, and human health impacts are minimized.  The spread of ruffe, round gobies and zebra mussels through the Great Lakes is delayed and they are prevented from entering new inland lakes and watersheds. Boat Hulls Inspected for Invasive Mussels and Snails in Wisconsin Waters of Lake Superior Under the guidance of the Ashland National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO), Jeremy Bates, a student at the University of Wisconsin (UWS)-Superior and a Wisconsin Sea Grant volunteer, inspected a total of 16 boat hulls as the vessels were being lifted from Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior for winter drydock.  The vessels spanned six marinas from Bayfield to Port Wing, Wisconsin, a distance of 36 miles.  Unidentified snails were collected from three vessels, and identification of the snails is pending.  In addition, the managers of the marinas of Ashland and Washburn, Wisconsin, reported no mussels or snails observed on over 30 vessels hulls lifted at their marinas.   Typically, Lake Superior does not contain sufficient calcium content for zebra and quagga mussels to become established, but the discovery of two zebra mussels in the mouth of the Amnicon River, Wisconsin, during the fall of 2007, and increased warming of Lake Superior waters encouraged the Ashland NFWCO to initiate limited mussel and snail surveillance in Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior.  The Amnicon River is a Lake Superior tributary, 10 miles east of the Duluth-Superior Harbor, the only location in Lake Superior where zebra mussels are established.  Dr. Mary Balcer, director of biological research at UWS, expressed concern that higher temperatures in Lake Superior for longer periods of time may help invasive mussels to survive longer.  This observation coupled with private vessel traffic between Ashland, Wisconsin, and the Duluth-Superior Harbor has also stimulated renewed interest in invasive mussel and snail monitoring by the Ashland NFWCO.

Leadership in Science and Technology Goal:  Science developed and used by Ashland FRO biologists is state-of-the-art, scientifically sound and legally defensible, and technological advances developed by the Service are available to partners. SPIT is Under Construction The Ashland NFWCO is developing an Internet web site where fishery agencies with in the Lake Superior basin can share important PIT tagging information.  As the use of PIT tagging technology increases in Lake Superior, researchers will need to identify captured fish that may have been marked from other areas.  The intent of the Salmonine Passive Integrated Transponder (SPIT) web site is to provide an on-line searchable database containing tag numbers (PIT tagged salmonines in L. Superior), points of contact, assessment information to facilitate tracking of tagged fish and information sharing among contributing fishery resource agencies.  Partners for this project include Red Cliff, Grand Portage and Bad River Indian Reservations, Ontario MNR, Dept. of Fisheries/Oceans-Canada, University of Guelph-Canada, National Park Service and Northern Michigan University. PIT tags, also known as microchips, allow researchers to permanently mark fish internally without altering their external appearance and have been used for over twenty years to permanently identify individual animals.   Although the SPIT web site database is still in the developmental stages, you can preview the introduction pages at:  http://www.fws.gov/midwest/LakeSuperiorSPIT.

Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Management Goal:  America’s streams, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands are functional ecosystems that support self-sustaining communities and fish and wildlife. Bratley Wetland Restoration Project The Bratley wetland restoration project was recently completed.  The area restored lies adjacent to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Sioux River Fishery Area in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.  This high priority state natural area consists of a blue ribbon trout stream and a large complex of Lake Superior coastal and inland wetlands.  Substantial runs of migratory fish from Lake Superior inhabit the Sioux River and its wetlands are home to many species of migratory waterfowl and songbirds.  The project was closely coordinated with the Wisconsin DNR because of its proximity to this high profile public resource.  Because wildlife does not respect artificial boundaries, the habitat restoration efforts undertaken by this private landowner will have a positive impact on the neighboring public land.  Species benefiting from the habitat restoration and protection project include migratory waterfowl such as wood ducks, mallards and American black ducks, as well as migratory songbirds such as sedge wrens and song sparrows.  Grey wolves frequently travel the Sioux River corridor and bald eagles perch in the towering white pines.  The landowners have been actively managing their entire 80 acre farm for wildlife and the restored wetlands will help enhance the entire property for federal trust wildlife species.  The project restored of 4 wetland sites totaling 2 acres, and took place on formerly drained agricultural land.  A Habitat Development Agreement was signed to protect the restored area for a period of 10 years.  Partners on the project included the landowner, Bayfield County Land Conservation Department, Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.  Funding from the Service was provided through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

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The Ashland NFWCO welcomes questions or comments about fish and wildlife resources or about the programs of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Members of the staff are available for presentations to schools, civic groups, and others interested in fish and wildlife resources.

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ashland National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office

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Last updated: November 19, 2008

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