Habitat and Ecosystem Health

Habitat and Ecosystem Health

The Habitat Restoration Branch of the Alpena FWCO focuses on improving habitat for federal trust resources including: federally-listed endangered or threatened species, interjurisdictional fish, migratory birds, refuge lands, and resource conservation priorities. Efforts are focused on stewardship, partnerships, fish and wildlife, and future generations.

Alpena FWCO has been involved in habitat and ecosystem health restoration activities which involve on-the-ground habitat restoration for fish and wildlife resources through the fish passage program and Partners for Fish and Wildlife program.

Projects

Fish Passage

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Resource Materials

Habitat and Ecosystem Health Poster Presentation (pdf - 198 Kb)

Habitat and Ecosystem Health Fact Sheet (pdf - 1.01 Mb)

National Fish Habitat Action Plan Fact Sheet (pdf -1.23 Mb)

Useful Websites

National Fish Habitat Action Plan Website - http://fishhabitat.org/

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is a nationwide effort for the establishment of partnerships for collaborative efforts to address the nation’s biggest fisheries problems, loss and degradation of aquatic habitat. Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s fish populations are in decline and half of our waters are impaired in some way. Although steps are being taken to address the problem at the local level, the fragmented approach is not keeping up with the declines and the trend continues. This national initiative will allow partnership efforts at the local and regional level to address the problem in a strategic manner similar to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and its Joint Ventures.

Staff of the Alpena FWCO are providing Service leadership for partnership development at the basin level for lakes Huron and Erie and the connecting waterways. In addition, Alpena FWCO biologists are assisting in the development of a Great Lakes Basin Partnership.

Huron-Erie Corridor Initiative Website - http://huron-erie.org/

The Huron-Erie Corridor (HEC) describes the international waterway connecting Lake Huron with Lake Erie and includes the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River. This waterway includes represents one of the busiest navigation centers in the United States and provides an international trade route between the U.S. and Canada. The HEC provides habitat to over 65 species of fish, is home to sixteen threatened or endangered fish species, is part of the Central Great Lakes waterfowl flyway, and includes the recently established Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Conflicting uses of the aquatic habitat of the HEC have resulted in a number of environmental changes to the system and its function. To address the multiple impediments to ecosystem health in the system, the Huron Erie Corridor Initiative was launched in 2004. A primary objective of this partnership effort was to create relevant new science that will assist resource managers in making decision concerning restoration of native aquatic species and their habitats. Since its initiation, the HEC Partnership has grown to include over 20 partners representing federal, tribal, state, provincial, local, and non-governmental entities. Primary goals established by the partnership are to restore/improve the ecological function and resilience of the HEC ecosystem, and maintain, healthy, diverse, and productive aquatic ecosystems throughout the corridor.

To help guide and coordinate efforts of the HEC Partnership, a steering committee was established with representatives of each of the participating agencies and NGOs. This committee helps determine research strategies and direction, prioritize restoration needs and seeks funding opportunities to pursue collaborative restoration projects. The committee meets annually to re-assess HEC needs and priorities, discuss emerging issues, and determine next steps in aquatic habitat restoration. Staff of the Alpena FWCO serve on the Steering Committee and provide leadership for Service efforts in the HEC.

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