Ashland FWCO Partners with Ashland-Bayfield-Douglas-Iron Counties Land Conservation Department on Fish Passage Projects
A unique partnership has been formed between the Ashland FWCO and Ashland-Bayfield-Douglas-Iron Counties Land Conservation Department (ABDI) in regards to fish passage projects being implemented by the Ashland FWCO.  ABDI now goes into the field with the Ashland FWCO staff and helps in conducting the preliminary surveys for the culvert replacements.  Mike Pero, Civil Engineering Technician and Ben Dufford, Resource Management Specialist, from ABDI are the two technicians usually accompanying the FWCO and they bring along a Nikon Total Station Survey unit.  The Total Station Survey unit is used in plotting the present culvert and topography around it and the information is downloaded into an ArcView file.  This information is then used to determine the proper sizing of the culvert needed for the crossing, and the correct setting of the culvert, including the slope needed to allow a “natural” flow to occur at the crossing.  Plans are then reviewed by both offices and if an unusual design is needed, a consultation with Paul Johnson, engineer with the Natural Resources Conservation Services will occur.  After the plans have been finalized the FWCO and ABDI present the new designs to the town boards for their approval.  The Ashland FWCO, ABDI and the NRCS offices have a long history of assisting each other with numerous wetland and stream restoration projects.  The Fish Passage partnership is another chapter in this history which will provide many benefits for migratory brook trout, lake sturgeon and other Service trust resources.

New L☺☺K for the Fish Lines Newsletter and the Region 3 Fisheries Web Page
Frank Stone traveled to the Regional Office to discuss updating the look of the Fish Lines Newsletter and the Fisheries Internet Home page.  Along with Dave Radloff, Karla Bartlet and Jeff Finley, the team drafted recommendations on marketing the Region 3 Fisheries Program for greater visibility.  Our suggestions included; enhancing the look and feel of Fish Lines in order to broaden our audience, revitalization of Region 3 Fisheries website to update content, plus overall marketing strategies. 
 
Currently the Fish Lines newsletter is geared toward internal stakeholders; however Fish Lines has the potential to be more than that.  By providing guidance to the field on writing style and content, we hope to provide more reader friendly articles that will be read by a larger audience.  The group also identified an approach to revitalize the R3 Fisheries website that will expand on the content and ease navigation to all the relevant sites.  Although time lines are still being developed, the team hopes to have the new look for the Fish Lines newsletter and the Fisheries web site on-line by April 2007.

Annual Toy Drive is Another Big Success at Ashland FWCO
The Ashland FWCO, along with the National Park Service Great Lakes Network Office and USGS Lake Superior Biological Office, teamed up and collected toys for the annual Ashland Firefighters Toys for Tots and Teens program.  This is the fifth year the offices have contributed to this worthy program.  Toys collected through this program are distributed throughout the surrounding Ashland – Bayfield - Iron counties area.  This toy drive is now the 24th year that the program that the program has been able to give presents to 500 – 700 kids (each year).

Ashland FWCO completes Lake Superior angler’s creel lake trout scale reading for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Ashland FWCO has completed another set of lake trout scales collected from anglers at various creel check points on Lake Superior.  The creel is run by the Marquette Fisheries Station, Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  Scales were collected in both 1836 and 1842 treaty waters of Lake Superior.  The ageing information is used in conjunction with the biological data in models regulating harvest of lake trout in Lake Superior. Approximately 600 lake trout scales from the 2006 creel (1836 waters) and 150 scales from the 2006 creel (1842 waters) were read. This was the fifth year the Ashland FWCO has assisted with scale reading for the MDNR and this partnership appears to be a long-term association.  Data collected from the creels and surveys by the natural resource agencies throughout the lake will once again ensure the restoration of a native species in Lake Superior.

Poster Presentations for the 2007 Fisheries Project Leaders Meeting
At the request of the Regional Office, the Ashland FWCO prepared three poster presentations for the February Project Leaders Meeting.  The topics we presented included the following:

Ashland FWCO Helps to Announce the 2007 Private Stewardship Grants and the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grants Programs
Frank Stone mailed out an announcement to 27 of our tribal cooperators regarding the Services Private Stewardship and Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grant Programs for 2007. 

The Private Stewardship Grants program provides federal grants on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in voluntary conservation efforts on private lands that help federally listed endangered or threatened species as well as proposed candidate and other at-risk species.  This program is just one of a variety of tools available under the Endangered Species Act that help landowners plan and implement projects to conserve species. These grants and cooperative agreements provide incentives to foster citizen participation in the stewardship of our nation's natural resources.

The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grants program also provides federal grants on a competitive basis to states, tribes and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources and their habitat in the Great Lakes basin. The projects are funded under authority of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006.

In the notice drafted to the tribes, they were also encouraged to contact their local U.S. FWS office if additional technical assistance is needed in the preparation of their proposals. Contact information, web site links and due dates were also provided.

2006 Great Lakes Lake Sturgeon Coordination Meeting
Members of the Service’s Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team - Lake Sturgeon Committee, with assistance from a steering committee of several partner representatives, held a third Great Lakes Lake Sturgeon Coordination meeting, November 29-30, 2006 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  The purpose of these meetings is to provide a forum to foster communication and exchange of information relating to the study, management, and restoration of lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes basin, to address priority research and assessment needs, and to address selected emerging issues. 
 
Over 120 individuals attended the meeting representing 40 different entities including state, tribal/First Nation, federal and provincial governments, academic, private, and other NGOs.  Evaluation forms completed by participants were extremely positive and supportive of the meeting and indicated that attendees were very pleased with the presentations and opportunities for interpersonal interaction.
 
Fish biologists, Henry Quinlan and Jonathan Pyatskowit of the Ashland FWCO contributed to the meeting.  Henry served as a member of the Service steering committee that lead the planning, organization and leadership of the Coordination Meeting.  In addition, Henry prepared and gave a presentation during the Assessment Technology session of the workshop on the use of PIT tag technology for lake sturgeon rehabilitation in the Great Lakes.  He also led the breakout session meeting of the Lake Superior Lake Sturgeon Work Group.
 
Jonathan contributed to the meeting by handling the audiovisual duties for 25 PowerPoint and video presentations given during the meeting.  His professionalism and thoroughness ensured that all presentations functioned as expected and that presenters were at ease and familiar with the equipment prior to and during their presentations.

Ashland FWCO Great Lakes Vessel Fleet and Assessment Activities
Henry Quinlan and Glenn Miller summarized the USFWS Great Lakes vessel and assessment capabilities for Lake Superior as part of a region-wide compilation of this information.  This compilation included information on our station small vessels (<30') that operate on Lake Superior, personnel needs to fully accomplish work activities identified, and projections for M/V Baird operation.  Ashland FWCO has 3 vessels dedicated to Lake Superior fishery assessment.  They include the R/V Chub, a 29.5’ gill net vessel, the Northern Shoveler, a 26’ vessel capable of conducting bottom and mid-water trawling, and the 20’ vessel, Shiny, outfitted for trawling in embayments and estuaries of the Great Lakes.  Combined, these vessels can be on the water for up to 110 days a year.  With a minimum of a two person crew that amounts to at least 220 crew days during the open water season.

Lake Superior Binational Program Accomplishments
Ashland FWCO personnel continue to work with the Lake Superior Binational Program, serving on the Lake Superior Task Force and Work Group, as U.S. Co-Chair of the Aquatics Community Committee and member of the Terrestrial Wildlife Community Committee.  Significant accomplishments so far in FY 2007 include:  

• Attendance of Lake Superior Task Force, Work Group, Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife Community Committee (TWCC) meetings and conference calls. 
• Attended and participated in the SOLEC conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in November of 2006.  Provided ACC materials and comments to draft the presentation prepared for the Lake Superior breakout session.  Provided material for the Ecosystem Goals presentation of the SOLEC Lake Superior breakout session. 
• In collaboration with our counterparts, submitted the three top priority TWCC and ACC accomplishments of 2006 for inclusion in the Lake Superior Annual Report. 
• Continued support of the Lake Superior Pathfinders Leadership School as well as the Connecting the Coast project. 
• Provided information and ecosystem review of the Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) Updater. 
• Provided input and edits to the revision of the Ecosystem Goals.  Attended multiple conference calls about and provided material for the ecosystem goals revision. 
• In conjunction with the winter Lake Superior Technical Committee (LSTC) meeting, solicited presentations on fisheries issues for the October SOL Conference, developed topics for discussion and action by the ACC including progress made on the 2004-06 work plan, and development of work plan priorities for 2007-09. 
• Presented status updates on lake sturgeon and coaster brook trout rehabilitation at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Lake Committee meeting in March.
• Coordination of the TWCC involvement in the implementation of the herptile project by tracking project progress and organizing conference calls to receive updates and provide TWCC input to the principle investigators. 
• Attended two Hog Island planning meetings to offer input into restoration and protection activities proposed for the site.  Opportunities were explored for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be a partner on future wildlife habitat restoration projects at the site.

Scholarships for Deserving Students
At the request of the Washburn High School, Washburn, WI., Frank Stone participated in the review and scoring of 26 senior high school scholarships.  A total of 16 scholarships amounting to $9,000 were awarded to students from the 2007 graduating class.  Ranking criteria included academic achievement, development of leadership skills, community and school participation, financial need and prior work experience.

Ashland FWCO’s Web Page Receives 114,000 Internet Hits for the Month of April!
The Fish & Wildlife Service’s Internet tracking system has shown that the Ashland FWCO received 114,545 hits for the month of April, 2007.  If we were to equate this demand to phone calls during a normal 20-day work month, the office would have received 5,727 phone calls per day.  Naturally this is an overstatement of what would have actually occurred.  However, what is not exaggerated is the enhanced level of technical support and general information that is now being accessed by the public.  One has to just wonder what dividends will develop from this level of public interest.

Some of the highlights collected from this survey include: 

• Average hits per day:    3,949
• Average Page Views per Day:  600
• Most Visited Pages:  Home page, Midwest Tribal Aquaculture Network (MTAN), Accomplishment Reports for 2004 ~ 2006, Aquatic Invasive Species and Ruffe Control.
• Most Downloaded Files:  Ruffe Surveillance Reports, Wisconsin Brook Trout Management Plan, Aquatic Invasive Species and Restoring Coaster Brook Trout.
• Most Active Countries:  United States, Canada, China and United Kingdom.
• Total Number of Countries Visiting Site:  50

Spreading the Words - Aquatic Habitat
Ashland FWCO and partner agencies working to establish a National Fish Habitat Action Plan for Lake Superior continue their efforts through the Lake Superior Habitat Partnership.  Formed in spring 2006, the Lake Superior Habitat Partnership currently has 23 partner organizations and agencies working cooperatively to “restore and protect watershed habitat to increase the abundance of coldwater species (like trout and salmon) and to enhance the health and stability of the aquatic community.”   Many of the agencies and organizations are currently involved with projects to protect and restore stream habitat.
 
Ashland FWCO biologist, Henry Quinlan, delivered a presentation to the Lake Superior LaMP Superior Work Group at their meeting in Thunder Bay, Ontario on the Lake Superior Habitat Partnership and invited agencies to participate on the effort.  The Superior Work Group has representatives from 27 agencies/offices working to protect and restore the Lake Superior environment.  Henry also provided the presentation in electronic format for the subsequent Lake Superior Task Force call.  The Task Force is comprised of upper level managers from 16 agencies working in the Lake Superior watershed.  The presentation can be saved or viewed by click on the link under the National Fish Habitat Initiative http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland/Aquatic_Hab_Conservation.html 
 
The Partnership has developed a Guiding Document which identifies goals and objectives developed by consensus and identified 29 priority watersheds in the states of WI, MI, and MN.  The Service continues to provide leadership for the Partnership committing personnel and financial resources to the effort.  Over the past few years, the Service has provided over $230,000 to projects in Wisconsin’s priority watersheds, $21,000 to projects in Michigan’s priority watersheds, and $11,000 to projects in Minnesota priority watersheds. 

Focus on Fish & Wildlife Newsletter
The Ashland FWCO publishes a quarterly newsletter called Focus on Fish & Wildlife.  The newsletter is intended to be a “quick read” platform that provide highlights and images of specific high profile activities.  Networking with our cooperators and the public to inform and share our accomplishments can take place in many fashions.  The Ashland FWCO’s newsletter and extensive web pages are just two tools we use to communicate our responsibilities and staff accomplishments.  The July 2007 issue of Focus on Fish & Wildlife is now on the web!  To review this or previous issues, point your Internet browser to:  http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland/news.html.

This quarter’s Fish & Wildlife highlights included:

Ducks On A Stick - Big Hit at Ashland Primary School
Kindergarten and First Grade classes at Ashland Primary School got a special treat in the closing days of the 2007 School year.  While not very tasty because the feathers are still in the way, they all loved the Ducks On A Stick presentation given by Ted Koehler from the Ashland FWCO.  Questions were asked from the minute the birds were brought through the door, and the whole time could have been spent just answering their eager stream of inquiries.  However, there was time to squeeze in the presentations and children got to hold a duck and parade it for the class while the others tried to guess the species and then learn a little bit about the bird and its habits.

Ducks On A Stick are literally ducks attached to a stick so people can handle and identify these taxidermy mounted specimens.  They were provided by Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge and were a big hit at the school as well as the Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival.  Species commonly found on Lake Superior and it’s wetlands around Ashland such as American black ducks, lesser scaup and mallards were part of the show.  For the first time, many of the kids got to see, touch and learn about species such as American black ducks, mallards and lesser scaup.  Now, the next time they stand at Prentice Park overlooking Lake Superior coastal wetlands, they can impress mom and dad with their knowledge of the blue-winged teal that may swim by.

 Electrofishing Demonstration for YCC Staff
At the request of the staff from the Whittlesey Creek NWR, Frank Stone presented a backpack electrofishing demonstration to six YCC employees.  The activity began with a discussion on why and how this gear type is used.  Once the safety issues were discussed the group followed Frank through a section of lower Whittlesey Creek.  Each person had an opportunity to “carry” the bucket and feel first hand how to walk over the sand, rocks and logs while attempting to collect fish in a fast running stream.  During the demonstration, about 20 rainbow trout were collected and then safely returned into Whittlesey Creek.  The group had several questions for Frank on how survey data is ultimately used to formulate management decisions and expressed their appreciation for the field experience.  Because of the close proximity of the Ashland FWCO and the Whittlesey Creek NWR, training opportunities such as this are easy to arrange and add yet another level of experience for Service employees.

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Ashland FWCO Completes Preliminary Fish Passage Surveys on 2006 Projects
The Ashland FWCO and Ashland-Bayfield-Douglas-Iron Counties Land Conservation Department (ABDI) have completed the preliminary surveys on four fish passage projects.  Road crossings surveyed were: 18 Mile Creek, Town of Grand View; Gin Creek, Town of Marengo,;Wildcat Creek, Town of Lincoln and Little Whittlesey Creek, Town of Barksdale.  The crew used a Nikon Total Survey Station to plot the present location of the culvert to be replaced and this includes a topographic survey of the surrounding area.  This data is then downloaded into an ArcView file and a new design for the culvert is plotted.  Using this program allows the designers to choose the appropriate grade and slope, depth for setting the culvert and designing of the slope around the culvert.  A meeting with the appropriate town boards will be scheduled for January/February of 2007 to evaluate the proposed plans.  Construction will begin after water levels have subsided to summer low flows.  All work performed will use Best Management Practices and will be permitted through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Army Corp of Engineers.

Fall Coaster Brook Trout Assessments Completed at Red Cliff
Ashland FWCO assisted the Red Cliff Natural Resources Department with their fall assessments of coaster brook trout in Lake Superior.  The Red Cliff tribe has a stocking program where Lake Nipigon strain brook trout are reared in the tribal hatchery and stocked into Lake Superior.  The tribe has collaborated with the Service to use electrofishing to capture fish to assess their stocking program.  Thirteen kilometers of shoreline were sampled as 1 km segments; 4 km in Raspberry Bay, 2 km in Frog Bay, and 7 km in Red Cliff and Buffalo bays.  In each segment, relative abundances of species are recorded as present (1-4 individuals), common (5-25 individuals), and abundant (>25 individuals).  An attempt is made to capture any brook trout encountered. 

Brook trout captured were measured for length and weight, examined for a fin clip (an indication of hatchery origin), tagged with a Floy tag if >208 mm, and then released.  Fish without a fin clip were tissue sampled for later genetic analysis to identify population of origin.  During the October and November 2006 sampling (6 nights of effort), 47 brook trout were captured, more than twice the number that were captured during sampling efforts in 2005.  Only two of the fish captured were unclipped, indicating that at present the population is comprised almost entirely of stocked fish.  Many of the fish captured were sexually mature.  The tribe is encouraged with the results of these surveys and hope these fish will reproduce and some day support a naturalized population.

 Ashland FWCO Coordinates Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Circle of Flight Partnerships
The Circle of Flight (CoF) program is a waterfowl restoration program unique to the Bureau of Indian Affairs Midwest Region.  It was initially funded in 1991 and has since distributed over 9 million dollars to 31 reservations and three inter-tribal organizations for waterfowl research and management projects as well as waterfowl habitat restoration and enhancement.  CoF funds have been used as matching funds for tribes to participate in several North American Waterfowl Plan projects.  The reservations and inter-tribal organizations are key partners with federal agencies, state and county governments, and private organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and the Minnesota Waterfowl Association.

The Ashland FWCO working through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has worked in partnership with the Circle of Flight program since its inception and has provided financial and technical assistance on tribal projects across the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. 

This year a new approach is being undertaken to better provide U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assistance on CoF projects.  Instead of the Ashland FWCO being responsible across three states, they will attend the CoF meetings and coordinate projects with the three individual state Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program offices.  This years CoF meeting was held in March at the Lac du Flambeau Reservation and the majority of the tribes within the Bureau of Indian Affairs Midwest Region were in attendance.

The Ashland FWCO still directly assists the four tribes and three inter-tribal organizations located within its Wisconsin Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program area of responsibility. The office’s Habitat and Wildlife Operations section is currently working with the Lac du Flambeau tribe to replace the water control structure on the 400 acre Sugarbush Impoundment of the 14,000 acre Powel Marsh.  This highly important emergent marsh wetland system annually supports hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl and songbirds.  A second project is in partnership with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and will restore the 43 acre Jackson Box Flowage in Douglas County Wisconsin.  This emergent marsh wetland is an integral part of a 900 acre wetland system important to migratory waterfowl and songbirds.  Leveraging Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program dollars on these projects will have large scale long term benefits for migratory and local wildlife in northern Wisconsin.

 Lake Sturgeon Study Continues to do well in the White River
Ashland FWCO staff with the assistance of Bad River Tribal Natural Resources Department members, and area volunteers set gill nets for sturgeon on the White River, Wisconsin.  This is the second year of a study to determine if sturgeon are reaching spawning habitat upriver or are being blocked by four large log jams.  Two 100’ gill nets were set below the potential barrier and one 100’ net was set just upriver of the structures.  After 3 weeks of sets, a total of 44 sturgeon were caught in the lower nets and another 7 were captured in the upstream net. The fish were measured, weighed, sexed, and given a numbered Floy tag and a PIT tag (passive internal transmitter).  Seven of the fish were recaps dating back several years with one being handled initially in 1994.  None of the sturgeon captured were caught in both the downstream and upstream net. 

On May 3rd, 10th and 17th three larval drift nets were set at to collect larval sturgeon.  The nets were set at dusk and lifted twice, approximately once an hour.  Larval fish were counted and sub samples of 50 individuals from each genus were measured.  The catches primarily consisted of suckers and walleye but one larval sturgeon was caught on the last night of sampling.  The larval sturgeon, measuring 18mm and was brought back to the lab for pictures and then released back in the river.

Fish Relocation at Shacte Creek
Frank Stone and Jessica Krajniak provided technical assistance to the staff of the Iron River National Fish Hatchery during their effort to transfer (via back pack shocking) wild trout from the upper sections of Shacte Creek. This collection effort was targeted primarily for brook trout found within a ¾ mile section of the creek up river of the hatchery. As a result of this effort, 30 brook trout were moved to a lower section of the creek below the dam. Shacte Creek is the primary source of water for the hatchery, thus it’s imperative to maintain wild fish stocks to a minimum to reduce the potential for transferring pathogens to the hatchery’s production fish.

New Digs for Hatchery Raised Coasters
This May, when water levels were stable and insects beginning to hatch, twenty thousand 1.5 inch long spring fingerlings from Iron River NFH and 50 adult coaster brook trout from Genoa NFH were given new stomping grounds when Service biologists and volunteers from Trout Unlimited, Northland College, and Ashland schools stocked them in the Whittlesey Creek watershed.  The stockings are part of a cooperative experiment between the Service and Wisconsin DNR to determine if a migratory population of brook trout can be established in Whittlesey Creek through stocking several different life stages of Lake Superior strain coasters, protective regulations, and habitat improvements.
 
The stocking crew undertook the annual blood letting ritual and forged clouds of mosquitoes and hatching black flies to transfer the fish safely to suitable stream habitat.  The fingerlings were stocked in upstream reaches which provide suitable rearing habitat for juvenile trout and salmon, while the adults were placed further downstream in areas with deeper pools and larger forage are present.  Biologists are hoping the fish will leave the stream, feed and grow in Chequamegon Bay and Lake Superior, and return to spawn in the creek. 
 
To assess the status of the fish community and estimate abundance of trout and salmon, Wisconsin DNR and Service biologist with help from Trout Unlimited volunteers conduct a survey each September in Whittlesey Creek.  In addition, Ashland FWCO has placed underwater video camera in the stream to detect upstream and downstream movement of fish.

 Miles and Miles of Shoreline Surveyed for Coaster Brook Trout
A fishery survey was conducted on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation to determine the presence and relative abundance of coaster brook trout. These fish were once abundant throughout the nearshore waters of Lake Superior, but due to overfishing and habitat degradation, there are only a handful of waters around Lake Superior that still have spawning populations of these magnificent fish. 

This two night survey was conducted using an electrofishing boat. The crew started from the mouth of the Pigeon River, moving southward along the north shore. This nearshore survey was part of a Lake Superior restoration plan sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Biological data collected included species caught, length, numbered Floy tag, and tissue samples (for genetic analysis).  The information obtained will help Grand Portage and Service fishery managers gain a broader understanding of the abundance of coaster brook along the Minnesota north shore.

During the survey, the crew focused on netting only brook trout. Other fish species observed during the study were noted as few in numbers (1-4 fish), common (5-25 fish) or abundant (>26 fish). The second night of the survey was cut short due to adverse weather conditions.  However, of the 25 miles that were covered during the study, eight coaster brook trout were collected.  This is a significant increase compared to three brook trout that were collected in 2006 (167% increase in catch rates).  Additional yearly assessments will be scheduled to help determine if these fish are beginning to re-establish the north shores.

Ashland FWCO Completes Electrofishing Survey on Vaughn Creek to Document Fish Passage After Construction
Personnel from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fisheries – Mercer, Wisconsin Department of Transportation – Wisconsin Rapids and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Ashland FWCO used backpack electrofishing gear to assess fish passage on Vaughn Creek, Iron County, Wisconsin.  A step pool series was completed in September of 2006 on the Highway 169 crossing in order to raise the water level of the pool below a perched culvert so fish such as native brook trout can pass through the system.
 
A pre-construction fish survey was completed in August of 2006, three weeks before construction began.  Two crews worked marking fish below and above the culvert.  Brook trout were the only salmonid species caught and were given differentiating clips to identify if they were originally collected above or below the barrier.  A total of 21 brook trout were shocked above the culvert, and given a top caudal clip, and 31 brookies below, which were given a lower caudal clip.  The initial plan was to survey the two stretches of Vaughn Creek a month after construction was completed, but low water levels kept the pools very low and not allowing fish passage.  When the fall rains finally did come along with the addition of some early snow melt, the crews were not able to survey this site. 

After a hectic spring for everyone the crews finally made it back to the site in June of 2007.  Again the two crews surveyed the same areas as before, collecting all brook trout seen.   The lower stretch yielded 25 brookies, with three of them having the lower caudal clip.  The upper stretch yielded 40 brook trout, with one fish having an upper caudal clip, and one with a lower caudal clip.  The crews were quite happy to see the modifications were working and at least one brook trout had made it through the step pools and culvert and found its way into the upper stretch.

Coaster Abundance Climbs
In June 2007, for the second consecutive year, coaster numbers increased in our index survey.  Using data gathered and analyzed by Ashland FWCO, Michigan DNR and the National Park have implemented various management actions over the years including size, bag limit and seasonal harvest regulations, gear and bait changes, and educational programs.  As a result of low or declining abundance from 2000-2004, both agencies implemented “catch and release only” regulations for brook trout at the island in 2005. 

New Ashland FWCO project leader, Mark Brouder, and the Glase family (Jay, Cindy and Joe) with the National Park Service were relatively busy netting coasters during recent electrofishing surveys in Tobin Harbor.  The 2007 catch per unit effort of 15 fish per hour was up from last year’s 10/hr, and up significantly from the six-year average from 2000-2005 of 3/hr. Particularly promising were the distribution of coasters throughout Tobin Harbor as they were caught in 13 of 17 stations and the abundance of young fish age 1 and 2 which will mature and spawn in several years.

The work conducted in cooperation with the National Park Service and Michigan DNR, was the eighth consecutive spring coaster index survey in Tobin Harbor.  We also surveyed Siskiwit Bay where a total of 430,000 brook trout reared at Iron River and Genoa National Fish Hatcheries were stocked from 1999-2005.  Four stocked coasters were captured under difficult survey conditions and limitations due to boat presence at docks.  Three fish had left ventral fin clips indicating they were stocked in 2004 and one fish had a right ventral fin clip which was stocked in 2003.  Biologists also observed coasters from the dock and received reports of small schools of coasters being observed by Park Service personnel.  Despite the low catch, abundance in Siskiwit Bay appears to be increasing, primarily as a result of stocking.

The overall goal of the project at Isle Royale is to protect self-sustaining coaster brook trout populations and rehabilitate depleted populations.  Specific objectives of the spring work are to determine the relative abundance of wild and stocked coasters, to describe population demographics, to mark and recapture fish for population estimates, determine of growth and movement, and to collect tissue samples for genetic analysis.

Fish Relocation at Shacte Creek
Frank Stone and Whittlesey Creek YCC members Scott Stipetich and Sara Fletcher, provided technical assistance to the staff of the Iron River National Fish Hatchery during their effort to transfer (via back pack shocking) wild trout from the upper sections of Shacte Creek. This collection effort was targeted primarily for brook trout found within a ¾ mile section of the creek up river of the hatchery. As a result of this effort, 75 brook trout were moved to a lower section of the creek below the dam.  Shacte Creek is the primary source of water for the hatchery, thus it’s imperative to maintain wild fish stocks to a minimum to reduce the potential for transferring pathogens to the hatchery’s production fish.

Final Schacte Creek Fish Relocation Conducted to Determine the Presence of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens
Frank Stone and Whittlesey Creek YCC crew leader, Scott Stipetich, provided technical assistance to the staff of the Iron River National Fish Hatchery during their effort to transfer (via back pack shocking) wild trout from the upper sections of Schacte Creek. This collection effort was the third (and final) project for the year that targeted brook trout found within a ¾ mile section of the creek up river of the hatchery. As a result of this effort, 60 brook trout were moved to a lower section of the creek and placed in live traps.  These fish will be sampled by staff from the LaCrosse Fish Health Office, to determine the presence of bacterial and viral pathogens.Schacte Creek is the primary source of water for the hatchery, thus it's imperative to maintain wild fish stocks to a minimum to reduce the potential for transferring pathogens to the hatchery’s production fish.

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No Ruffe Captured in Eastern Lake Superior
The Ashland FWCO, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MIDNR), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) completed fall surveillance of invasive ruffe and other aquatic invasive species in Lake Superior from the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan/Ontario.  A total of seven nearshore locations were surveyed, targeting habitat preferred by ruffe and other invasives.  No ruffe were captured east of the Keweenaw Peninsula (south central Lake Superior).  This is in contrast to the spring 2006 survey, which confirmed several ruffe captured in eastern Lake Superior. 

The spring 06 ruffe discoveries in eastern Lake Superior prompted a consolidated effort by the Ashland and Alpena FWCO’s and cooperation from the MIDNR, OMNR, and the ACOE to survey for ruffe in the St. Marys River near the Soo Locks on the Lake Superior side.  Following discussion with the ACOE, concern was raised that ruffe could migrate through the Locks, down the St Marys River, and reinforce the declining Lake Huron ruffe population (no ruffe have been captured in Lake Huron since 2003). With cooperation from the OMNR, Upper Great Lakes Management Unit-Lake Superior and Algoma Steel Inc., a commercial vessel slip (attractive to ruffe) owned by Algoma Steel was sampled in the St Marys River on the Lake Superior side of the Locks.  No ruffe or other invasives were captured in this slip.  The Alpena FWCO sampled other sites further upriver from the Locks on the Lake Superior side, and no ruffe or other invasives were captured there. Other planned sampling was not completed near Sault Ste. Marie due to weather, including the Soo Locks.

Abundance of Invasive Ruffe Continues to Increase in Thunder Bay Harbour, Lake Superior
The Ashland FWCO and the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) completed a fall investigation of the invasive ruffe population in central and southern Thunder Bay Harbour, Lake Superior.  This long term investigation is conducted annually to monitor relative abundance and distribution of ruffe and native fish in central and southern Thunder Bay Harbour.  A total of 2,345 ruffe were captured for a catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of 1,655 ruffe per hour in trawls.  This catch is more than double the previous high catch and the CPUE is triple the previous high CPUE set in 2003.  In the southern half of the harbour, the largest ruffe colonies occur in the Kaministiquia and Mission Rivers which drain into the harbour. 

Stickleback, smelt, and trout-perch have been the most abundant native fish in association with ruffe since this survey began in 1991.  As ruffe increase in abundance, data from this investigation may reveal potential impact on native species in terms of abundance, and these investigations also aid in detecting ruffe vulnerabilities that may be exploited for population reductions.  Potential ruffe vulnerability was detected in the Kaministiquia River, and the feasibility of an effective population reduction there is pending investigation.

Ruffe Reduction Experiment Benefits Lake Sturgeon Study
The Ashland FWCO and the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) continue to investigate the feasibility of bottom trawling in reducing an abundant invasive ruffe colony in the Kaministiquia (Kam) River, Ontario, a tributary of Lake Superior.  Biologists believe that an abundance of chironomids (midge fly larvae) and oligochaetes (tubifex worms) in this site may be attracting ruffe and lake sturgeon.  A total of 4.7 hours trawling effort in 2005 and 2006 combined has netted a total of 6,837 adult ruffe and 14 juvenile lake sturgeon.  OMNR is coordinating with Ontario Hydroelectric in a water flow project that allows adult sturgeon to access a known spawning site upriver from the ruffe reduction site.  OMNR reported that 9 out of the 11 sturgeon captured during the 2005 ruffe reduction were likely spawned in this upriver site in 2004.  If ruffe reduction in the Kam River proves feasible, the juvenile sturgeon bycatch from future ruffe reductions would aid OMNR in establishing an index of juvenile sturgeon abundance.  This index would be a useful monitoring tool during years in which a water drawdown prevents sturgeon access to their spawning site.  At least one 5-day continuous trawling effort is required to assess the feasibility of an effective long term ruffe reduction in this Kam River site.  Ashland FWCO and OMNR are coordinating this trawling effort.

Ruffe Control Abstract Accepted in Upcoming Research Conference
The International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) has accepted an abstract based on a ruffe control experiment conducted by the Ashland FWCO and Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin.  The experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of bottom trawling in physically removing isolated colonies of invasive ruffe will be presented as a poster in IAGLR’s 50th Great Lakes Research Conference – Past, Present, and Future, hosted by Penn State University.  The conference will focus on the history of research in the Great Lakes, what is currently known, and a look into the future for resolving complex issues relating to limnology and lakes management.  The conference convenes from May 28 to June 1, 2007, and the poster will be displayed in the session, “Challenges and Successes for Addressing AIS (aquatic invasive species) in the Great Lakes and Inland Waters”.  The experiment confirmed earlier observations that ruffe colonies confined to small and isolated areas of preferred habitat may be vulnerable to effective removal by physical methods.  The term “effective removal” implies removal of 90% or more of the total individuals that comprise a colony.  The conference oral and poster presentations combined will encompass a total of 536 Great Lakes research projects.

Service Contributes Data to Status of Lake Superior Fishery Resources
Ashland office fish biologists, Jonathan Pyatskowit, Glenn Miller, Gary Czypinski, and Henry Quinlan and office administrator, Joan Bratley worked as a team to summarize data on lake trout, lake whitefish, siscowet, cisco, and all species collected during aquatic invasive species surveys for the Lake Superior State of the Lake report.  Biologists conducted surveys and assisted Joan with data entry.  Joan and Henry queried the database records and provided data to partner fishery agencies.  Fishery agencies actively involved with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Lake Superior Technical Committee are contributing data and expertise to develop oral presentations for the 2007 Lake Committee meetings which will feature Lake Superior's aquatic ecosystem.  The presentations will be followed with written reports.  Henry serves as a member of the Technical Committee and is the lead for the lake sturgeon and brook trout sections and a contributor for the very nearshore fish community section.

Great Lakes Fish Invader Expands Only in Lake Superior…Highlights 2006 Report
The National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Offices (FWCO) of Ashland, Alpena, Lower Great Lakes, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) collaborated in drafting the report, Surveillance For Ruffe in the Great Lakes, 2006.  The invasive, perch-like ruffe received the stigma of “nuisance species” in 1992, following suspected implication with declines of native forage fish in the Twin Ports harbor of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The report summarizes fish sampling activity in each of the Great Lakes that targets invasive ruffe, as well as other reported fish sampling that does not target ruffe, but is capable of capturing ruffe incidentally.  From this sampling data, new locations containing ruffe are identified, the range of ruffe is updated, and control strategy is evaluated based on location of new discoveries and the suspected pathway of introduction.  Sampling that targets ruffe (dedicated ruffe surveillance) also collects baseline data on native fish communities.  Since 1992, the USFWS and OMNR have been tracking the ruffe to document its range, evaluating opportunities to delay ruffe range expansion in the Great Lakes, and working to prevent range expansion into inland lakes and streams. 

Assisting with this task are numerous cooperators including the U.S. Geological Survey, the state departments of natural resources bordering the Great Lakes, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada, Native American communities, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Sea Grant, universities, and recreational anglers.  The ruffe was confined to western Lake Superior until 1995, when it was detected in Lake Huron, near Alpena, Michigan.  Catch per unit effort in Lake Huron surveillance trawls reached a climax of 660 per hour in 1999, but declined to zero in 2001. 

Capitalizing on a distressed, self-confined ruffe population, the Alpena FWCO enhanced the ruffe decline by initiating an intense gill netting effort in 2002 to remove adult spawning ruffe.  Paralleling the ruffe decline in Lake Huron was increasing round goby abundance there, suggesting that the goby may have also been a contributing factor in that ruffe decline.  No ruffe have been captured from Lake Huron since 2003.  In Lake Superior during 2006, the ruffe made a major range advance of 226 km eastward along the south shore from Marquette Harbor, Michigan.  Along the Lake Superior north shore, minor expansion was verified within the ruffe range in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  The Bays de Noc have comprised the ruffe range in Lake Michigan, since 2002 and 2004.  No ruffe range expansion was detected in Lake Michigan during 2006.  In the Lower Great Lakes, ruffe remain undetected, as well as in all inland lakes and streams within the Great Lakes Basin.  The complete ruffe surveillance report is distributed to the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) and the National ANS Task Force; and will be available on the Ashland FWCO website, http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ashland.

Soo Locks Sampled for Ruffe and Other Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Gary Czypinski and University of Notre Dame volunteer, Jody Murray, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), completed surveillance trawling for ruffe and other AIS in the two most active of the four U.S. Locks.  Close coordination, including radio communication and visual observation, between the Ashland survey crew and Chief Lockmaster, Gary Clow, insured the safety of the crew and prevented delays to shipping.  Although many fish were observed on the trawler fish finder within the Lock water columns, no fish were captured in the bottom trawl which primarily samples bottom dwelling forage fish such as the ruffe.  No further surveillance trawling is planned within the Soo Locks until ruffe are confirmed in closer proximity to the Locks.  ACOE personnel Carl Woodruff, Al Klein, Kevin Sprague, and Gary Clow are to be commended for their high level of support and coordination, which contributed greatly to the successful trawling of this AIS surveillance target.  In other surveillance sampling, no ruffe or other AIS were captured during extensive sampling in the St. Marys River above the Soo Locks, and in Marquette Harbor and Huron Bay in Lake Superior. 

The Eurasian ruffe, an exotic, invasive, perch-like fish, was accidentally introduced into the Duluth-Superior Harbor, Minnesota/Wisconsin, Lake Superior, during the mid 1980s.  The Ruffe Control Committee of the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force developed eight management objectives within the Ruffe Control Plan to prevent/delay the spread of ruffe; surveillance is one of these objectives.  Three USFWS fishery resource offices and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources are actively involved in monitoring the spread of ruffe and any other AIS that are observed incidentally in all the Great Lakes.  Due to the implementation of the Ruffe Control Plan, cooperation from the public and many partners, ruffe are mostly confined to the south shore of Lake Superior, and the spread of ruffe across the south shore (a distance greater than 700 km) was successfully delayed for 20 years until 2006.  During 2006, ruffe were confirmed in eastern Lake Superior in Whitefish Bay, 55 km west of the Soo Locks, the gateway to Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes.  The Soo Locks make it possible for fish as well as shipping to bypass the Soo Falls in the St Marys River, allowing access between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes.

No Gobies or New Invasive Species Collected from River Mile (RM) 150-143, Illinois River
Gary Czypinski from the USFWS Fishery Resources Office, Ashland, Wisconsin, and Terry Hubert from the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin, crewed one of 14 survey vessels that comprised the 12th annual Carp Corral/Goby Round Up in the Illinois Waterway.  The purpose of this survey is to assess relative abundance and monitor the range expansion of the invasive round goby and other aquatic invasive species (AIS) as they migrate and expand their range from Lake Michigan down the Illinois River toward the Mississippi River.  This survey also verifies the effectiveness of the experimental electrical fish barrier located near Romeoville, Illinois, in preventing range expansion of Asian carp upstream of Romeoville toward Lake Michigan and range expansion of Lake Michigan invasive residents downstream of Romeoville toward the Mississippi River.  In this way, the experimental electrical fish barrier and the Carp Corral/Goby Round-Up, support one of eight elements comprising the Ruffe Control Plan, to prevent the movement of ruffe from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi watershed via the Chicago, Des Plaines, and Illinois Rivers.

Targeting the round goby, the Ashland /La Crosse crew sampled a 7-mile reach (RM 150-143) of the Illinois River downstream of the Peoria Lock and Dam, the leading edge of the goby range in the Illinois River.  Sampling with minnow traps and bottom trawls, the crew collected no gobies or other AIS during the 3-day effort, but numerous silver (Asian) carp were observed jumping around the sampling vessel.  A few carp even managed to jump into the vessel.  A mud substrate maintained by dredging within this reach assists in deterring occupation and migration of round goby, which prefer rock substrate.  Although not preferred by round goby, the mud substrate in the dredged channel together with the high turbidity of the water is preferred habitat for invasive ruffe.  With exception to silver carp, no goby or other AIS were captured and the leading edge of the goby range in the Illinois River remains at the Peoria Lock and Dam.

Summer Monitoring of Four Invasive Ruffe Populations Completed
The Ashland FWCO completed summer monitoring of the invasive fish, ruffe, and native fish by bottom trawling in three Wisconsin tributaries and one Michigan tributary to Lake Superior.  These ongoing investigations were initiated in 1995 to compare trends in relative abundance of ruffe and native fish populations, one of eight elements in the Ruffe Control Plan.  Monitoring is also conducted during spring and fall, and the abundance results are averaged to account for seasonal variation.   

A total of 2,386 fish representing 18 species were captured including 2 invasive species, ruffe and threespine stickleback.  This compares to a total catch of 3,123 fish representing 25 species captured during this cycle in 2006.  Trout-perch, spottail shiner, and common shiner were the 3 most abundant species captured, comprising 57%, 18%, and 10% of the total catch respectively.  The majority (55%) of the trout-perch were captured from the Ontonagon River, Michigan.  Walleye comprised nearly 1% of the total catch with 75% of the walleye catch consisting of young-of-the-year (YOY), and all YOY walleye were captured from the Ontonagon River.  Ruffe comprised 1 % of the total catch compared to 3% during this cycle in 2006, and only 1 threespine stickleback was captured in 2007 compared to 2 fish captured in 2006.  In both years, threespine sticklebacks were only captured from the Iron River, Wisconsin.  No YOY ruffe were captured in this cycle, including the Flag River, Wisconsin, which contains the most nursery habitat of the four tributaries.  In 2006, YOY ruffe numbers in the Flag River had indicated a strong year class there.  Yellow perch comprised nearly 4 % of the total catch in this cycle, compared to 1% in 2006.  One third of the yellow perch catch were YOY, and all YOY yellow perch were captured from the Flag River.  All fish were released alive except the two invasive species.

FWS Continues Assistance to EPA with Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection Case Study
The Ashland FWCO continued technical assistance to the USEPA Laboratory, Duluth, Minnesota, in developing an aquatic invasive species (AIS) early detection monitoring design.  The case study location is the Duluth/Superior Harbor, St. Louis River Estuary (SLRE), Minnesota/Wisconsin.  From 2005-07, the EPA lab studied sampling methodology relating to various aquatic habitats in order to develop a systematic early detection monitoring design encompassing both invasive fish and aquatic invertebrates.  Fish sampling methods included electrofishing, trapping, and bottom trawling. 

In 2006 and 2007, the Ashland FWCO assisted with the trawling phase by providing a smallcraft trawler and an operator/biologist.  A trawl was specially configured with a fine mesh liner for capturing larval as well as juvenile and adult fish.  Bottom trawling was conducted in 2007 primarily for comparison with the 2006 trawling.  A total of 30 five-minute tows were completed in just over three days at point locations and zones representing a spectrum of trawlable habitats identified by the EPA.  Captured AIS included ruffe, round goby, white perch, and zebra mussels.  All of these AIS are established (reproducing) in the SLRE.  During the 2007 trawling, captured species of interest included a quillback carpsucker and a brook silversides, both native fish but rarely captured by the Ashland FWCO trawler.  The EPA lab has reported a total of 10 new AIS (all invertebrates) detected by this case study in the SLRE.

Invasive Ruffe Decline in Four Lake Superior Tributaries; Zebra Mussel Range Expands in Lake Superior
The Ashland FWCO completed a fall investigation of invasive ruffe and other aquatic invasive species (AIS) in four southwestern Lake Superior tributaries.  Bottom trawl sampling verified declines in all ruffe populations, and also detected the presence of zebra mussels in one of the tributary estuaries.  These ongoing investigations were initiated in 1995 to compare trends in relative abundance of ruffe and native fish populations, one of eight elements in the Ruffe Control Plan.  Monitoring is also conducted during spring and summer, and the abundance results are averaged to account for seasonal variation.
Totals of 379 fish representing 18 species and 16 crayfish representing 1 species were captured from all four tributaries, including invasive ruffe.  This compares to a total catch of 6,571 fish representing 21 species captured during this cycle in 2006.  The significant decline (94%) in the total fish catch was likely due in part to low water levels in all tributaries and high turbidity in one tributary.  The total catch included 7 (<2%) ruffe and 11 (<3%) yellow perch.  This compares to total catches of 49 (0.7%) ruffe and 42 (0.6%) yellow perch captured in fall, 2006.  Yellow perch is a species demonstrated by experimental research to be impacted by ruffe.  Common shiner, johnny darter, and trout-perch were the 3 most abundant species captured, comprising 39%, 16%, and 14% of the total catch respectively.  A total of two zebra mussels were captured from one tributary, the Amnicon River estuary, Wisconsin, a new location for this invasive.  The Amnicon River estuary is located 8 miles east of the Duluth/Superior Harbor, Minnesota/Wisconsin, the only location in Lake Superior known to have a reproducing population of zebra mussels.  No other AIS were captured.

Volunteer assistants included Don Livingston, Red Cliff Tribal Fisheries, on the Iron and Flag Rivers, Wisconsin; Bob Price, independent auto body specialist, on the Amnicon River, Wisconsin; and Jenna Scheub, intermittent with the National Park Service, on the Ontonagon River, Michigan.

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Ashland FWCO Staff Contribute Labor to Community Event
Staff at the Ashland FWCO, along with the NPS Great Lakes Network Office contributed their non-work time to make ice luminaries for an extremely popular community event…. Book Across the Bay.  The Book Across the Bay is a cross country ski event that attracts nearly 1,500 people of all ages.  After the sun has set, participants ski 10k across Chequamegon Bay from Ashland to Washburn.  The ski trail is lighted by 750 large ice luminaries.  The luminaries are made by freezing water in a five-gallon pail to form a clear ice structure, much like a light bulb.  Within the hollow center of the ice block, a candle is placed.  It’s an art/science to create the luminaries hollowed out center.  The Ashland FWCO made more than 125 such luminaries.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the National Park Service were recognized as contributors for this very popular event.  The Ashland FWCO has already been notified that we are on call to do it again next year.

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Lake Superior Sturgeon Sampling Ontonagon, Michigan
To help restore the ecological integrity and fishery potential of Lake Superior, fishery agencies developed the Lake Sturgeon Rehabilitation Plan for Lake Superior.  Many agencies are collaborating to protect and rehabilitate sturgeon populations per this plan.  One collaborative survey effort started in 2005 was undertaken once again in 2006. 

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan DNR, GLIFWC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collaborated to conduct a pilot survey in 2005 in Lake Superior waters near the mouth of the Ontonagon River.  The agencies are interested in gathering more information to evaluate stocking progress and to describe the status of lake sturgeon in Lake Superior near the Ontonagon River.

To continue on the success of last year’s effort, the Ashland FWCO again used the USFWS R/V Chub as the platform for the gill net survey work.  To minimize capture of non-target species, nets were set and lifted at 12 hour intervals.  We were able to get eight 24 hour sets (16 lifts) during the week of October 2-6, 2006 obtaining our target of a deep and shallow set in each of three statistical grids. 

A total of 6,300 feet of net were set.  Twenty-nine juvenile lake sturgeon ranging from 401 mm to 986 mm were captured.  Coded wire tags were detected in 23 of the 29 fish captured, positively identifying them as stocked fish.  In addition, a thumb-nail size piece of tissue was collected from the fins of all fish.  Fin clips will be genetically analyzed by Michigan State University to determine the parental origin of these fish.  The sturgeon were tagged and released.  If these fish are captured during future Lake Superior survey work, agencies will obtain data on the growth and movement of these fish.

2007 Tribal Wildlife Grant and Tribal Landowner Incentive Grant Programs
The Ashland FWCO recently mailed an announcement to all our tribal contacts alerting them to the opening of the 2007 Tribal Wildlife Grant (TWG) and Tribal Landowner Incentive (TLIP) Grant Programs.  Our intent was to insure that tribal resource managers and biologist were alerted to this resource funding opportunity and to remind them to contact the Ashland FWCO for any technical assistance they may require. 
 
The TWG and TLIP programs will provide funding opportunities to protect and restore habitats for fish and wildlife species of Tribal significance.  During the first four years of these tribal grant programs, tribes in Region 3 were awarded 42 grants totaling $6,852,452. These grant programs also support the efforts of tribal governments to develop or augment the capacity to manage, conserve, or protect fish and wildlife species of concern through the provision of funding and technical support.

TWG Technical Assistance Requested from the Fond du Lac and Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Chippewa Indians
Mike Schrage (Tribal Wildlife Biologist) from the Fond du Lac (FDL) Indian Reservation and Paul Christel (Tribal Fisheries Biologist) from the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, requested that the Ashland FWCO review and comment on a draft Tribal Wildlife Grant (TWG) project 2007.  Staff biologist, Frank Stone read the draft documents and discussed the project proposals with both Mr. Schrage and Mr. Christel.
 
The FDL project would establish funding for extensive moose field research in northeast Minnesota.  The FDL Band is seeking $199,706 from the TWG Program to continue monitoring and to improve their understanding of the causes of mortality and survival rates of this important moose herd.  The FDL Band is conducting this research in partnership with; the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the 1854 Treaty Authority (representing the Bois Forte and Grand Portage Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa).

The LCO Conservation Department is proposing to initiate restoration activities for several coldwater stream habitats found on the LCO Reservation.  The proposed project would protect and enhance stream habitat on the LCO Reservation by removing barriers to fish passage, re-establishing shoreline vegetation through the planting of desired species, and by installing in-stream structures to increase cover and spawning areas for native brook trout.
 
Tribal resource programs throughout the United States will receive financial help in 2007 to initiate projects ranging from base line data collection and habitat restoration to the control of invasive plant species.  The TWG (and TLIP) program provide new funding opportunities to Tribes for activities that protect and restore habitats that will benefit fish and wildlife species of Tribal significance.  TWG grants also support the efforts of tribal governments to develop or augment the capacity to manage, conserve, or protect fish and wildlife species of concern through the provision of additional funding and technical support.

TWG Technical Assistance Request from the Sac and Fox and Bois Forte Tribes
John Leonard (Regional Tribal Liaison) requested the Ashland FWCO review a 2007 Tribal Wildlife Grant proposal from the Sac and Fox tribe (Meskwaki Settlement).  Staff biologist, Frank Stone read the draft document and provided comments to the tribe.
 
The purpose of this proposal is to conduct an inventory of populations of game, furbearer, and non-waterfowl bird, on Tribal lands which will provide baseline data necessary for the tribe to develop management programs of the flora and fauna of the Meskwaki Settlement.  The data will also be used to implement management tools including habitat protection and development and harvest quotas.

Chris Holm (Bois Forte Water Resource Program Manager) requested the Ashland FWCO also review a 2007 Tribal Wildlife Grant proposal.  Frank Stone was again assigned the task to read the draft document and provided comments to the tribe.
 
This project would propose a survey of aquatic plant communities and an assessment of risk of aquatic plant invasions in Nett Lake if a fish passage system is installed at the Nett River dam. This initial survey is essential to complete prior to installation of fish passage through or around the Nett River dam, so as not to allow potentially invasive plant species from being introduced to Nett Lake. Pending the outcome of survey results, a feasibility/design study would then be carried out to identify engineering costs associated with construction of a fish passage structure around Nett River dam.  This structure would allow the currently excluded fish assemblage in Nett River to access Nett Lake and provide an in-lake fish population resembling the historic assemblage once prevalent.
 
Tribal resource programs throughout the United States will receive financial help in 2007 to initiate projects ranging from base line data collection and habitat restoration to the control of invasive plant species.  The TWG (and TLIP) program provide new funding opportunities to tribes for activities that protect and restore habitats that will benefit fish and wildlife species of Tribal significance.  TWG grants also support the efforts of tribal governments to develop or augment the capacity to manage, conserve, or protect fish and wildlife species of concern through the provision of additional funding and technical support.

Inouye Joint Fishery Assessment Steering Committee
Frank Stone participated in an annual meeting of the Joint Fishery Assessment Steering Committee held at the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation.  Representatives from the Wisconsin DNR, the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, and Bureau of Indian Affairs meet to discuss 2006 inland walleye, bass and musky surveys that were in-part funded by the Steering Committee.  Assessment data collected from spring/summer/fall surveys were presented as well as 2007 assignments and projected budget.  Additional discussion concerned the June partners fishing day event scheduled at the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation.
 
The data collected from these surveys (310) reflect the lakes recruitment values and are combined to yield the information needed to help determine the number of adult walleye that can be safely harvested by tribal spearing in 2007.

Ashland FWCO Continues Assistance with Tribal Lake Sturgeon Study
Under a reimbursable agreement with the Grand Portage Tribe of Lake Superior Chippewa and in cooperation with the 1854 Tribal Authority, the Ashland FWCO continued capture and equipment assistance for a lake sturgeon telemetry study in the St. Louis River, Minnesota/Wisconsin.  Historically, the St. Louis River supported a large reproducing population of lake sturgeon.  The population was eliminated by the early 1900’s and is currently in restoration.  The purpose of the study is to use telemetry to identify juvenile and sub-adult lake sturgeon habitat on a seasonal basis.  This information will then be used in support of restoration efforts.  The Ashland FWCO provided a smallcraft trawler and operator/biologist to collect juvenile/sub-adult lake sturgeon for radio tagging in the lower St. Louis River.  In 2006, a total of nine sturgeon were targeted for radio tagging, with five specimens captured by the Ashland trawler, and four captured by anglers.  Tracking during the summer and fall of 2006 indicates that the sturgeon are moving very little, with half of the nine tagged sturgeon occupying water less than 10 feet in depth, and the remainder in water 15-18 feet deep.  The sturgeon in shallower water are displaying more movement than the sturgeon in deeper water.  Approximately, ten additional lake sturgeon will be radio tagged in 2007.

Another Edition of the MTAN Goes to Print
The Ashland FWCO has the unique distinction of providing technical assistance for the development of numerous tribal fish hatchery operations.  One of the ways we contribute to these programs is by publishing a quarterly newsletter.  The Midwest Tribal Aquaculture Network (MTAN) is dedicated to assisting tribal hatchery programs through the sharing of cool/cold water fish culture information.
 
The most recent addition of the MTAN (Volume 59) has just been completed and is now available on the Internet.   This quarter’s newsletter discusses: VHS - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly;  National Fish Hatchery System Addresses VHS, APHIS Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Emergency Order, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in the Great Lakes Region, Questions and Answers About Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, USDA Amends Order on Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Additional Links of Interest Regarding Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Chlorine and Iodophor Disinfectants, plus new updates for Hydrogen Peroxide, Oxytetracycline and Chloramine-T.
 
The MTAN has been assisting tribal fish hatchery programs for the past sixteen years.  The rewards from this kind of technical assistance is in knowing we are providing information that enables hatchery programs to better utilize their resources and provide a healthier product for the fishery.  The MTAN has also helped to educate fish hatchery workers and direct them to other areas so they can better research their specific needs.
 
Previous issues of the MTAN newsletters are now accessible from the Ashland FWCO web page.  Readers can access this information by pointing their web browsers to:  http://midwest.fws.gov/ashland/.

Red Lake Walleye Restoration Effort
The Ashland FWCO is continuing to work with the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, BIA and the University of Minnesota, to restore a naturally spawning population of walleye in Red Lake.  During a December 13th meeting, Mark Brouder and Frank Stone meet with the Red Lake Task Force Committee to discuss the walleye restoration program and performance indicators of this long term restoration effort. 
 
Several topics were discussed at this meeting: 

Historically, the Red Lakes have provided food, recreation, cultural pursuits, and income to many people.  Government leadership, cooperation, and coordination have been paramount throughout the recovery process.  All parties have demonstrated a willingness to provide leadership by example to achieve the community support and involvement required to reach the goals of the Red Lake walleye recovery effort.

Ashland FWCO Assist with National Scoring of the 2007 TWG and TLIP Grants
Frank Stone assisted Regional Tribal Liaison, John Leonard, with the scoring of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (Service) 2007 Tribal Wildlife (TWG) and Tribal Landowner Incentive Program (TLIP) Grants. This was a national scoring process (conducted in Denver, CO) of project proposals submitted by tribes throughout the United States.  A total of 28 proposals were reviewed (19 – TWG and 9 – TLIP) by Frank. 
 
Each Region first had a review team score all proposals submitted to that region. The Regions then forwarded their top ranked proposals to the National Panel. The proposals that were reviewed at the national level included regionally ranked proposals that scored at or above the top 60%.  Although the list of accepted grants has yet to be finalized, tribal resource programs throughout the United States will soon be receiving the financial help they need to initiate projects ranging from base line data collection and habitat restoration to the control of invasive plant species.
 
The TWG and TLIP programs will provide new funding opportunities to Tribes for activities that protect and restore habitats that will benefit fish and wildlife species of Tribal significance.  These grant programs also support the efforts of tribal governments to develop or augment the capacity to manage, conserve, or protect fish and wildlife species of concern through the provision of additional funding and technical support.

Pond Fertilization Workshop
Frank Stone attended a half day workshop in Wausau regarding the “What-When and How” of pond fertilization for northern climates. 
 
The Ashland FWCO has the unique distinction of providing technical assistance for the development of numerous tribal fish hatchery operations.  One of the ways we contribute to these programs is by publishing a quarterly newsletter.  The Midwest Tribal Aquaculture Network (MTAN) is dedicated to assisting tribal hatchery programs through the sharing of cool/cold water fish culture information.  Productivity of fish ponds is increased by using fertilizers to boost the microscopic plants and zooplankton.  The techniques and information gained from this workshop will be featured in a future issue of the MTAN.
 
The MTAN has been assisting tribal fish hatchery programs for the past sixteen years.  The rewards from this kind of technical assistance is in knowing we are providing information that enables hatchery programs to better utilize their resources and provide a healthier product for the fishery.  The MTAN has also helped to educate fish hatchery workers and direct them to other areas so they can better research their specific needs. 

Ashland FWCO Assists the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission with Spring Walleye Surveys
The Ashland FWCO assisted the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission this spring with several walleye population surveys.  The objective of this project was to estimate spawning populations of adult walleye and to collect fish for mercury testing from several lakes in northern Wisconsin. 
 
Walleye population estimates are used to set safe harvest levels, on which tribal harvest quotas are based.  This year's assessment activity was assigned to Frank Stone who conducted electrofishing surveys on three lakes, collecting over 4,000 fish during an eight night period.  The sampling effort is conducted at night because this is when spawning activity and opportunities to collect adult size fish are maximized.  Normally 1-3 nights of collection are needed on each lake to obtain sufficient data.

Another Edition of the MTAN Goes to Print
The Ashland FWCO has the unique distinction of providing technical assistance for the development of numerous tribal fish hatchery operations.  One of the ways we contribute to these programs is by publishing a quarterly newsletter.  The Midwest Tribal Aquaculture Network (MTAN) is dedicated to assisting tribal hatchery programs through the sharing of cool/cold water fish culture information.
 
The most recent addition of the MTAN (Volume 60) has just been completed and is now available on the Internet.   This quarter’s newsletter discusses: Aquaculture Field Day and Vendor Fair, Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility - Walleye for the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Fisheries Program, Partitioned Aquaculture Systems (PAS) and Calculating Pond Surface Area.
 
The MTAN has been assisting tribal fish hatchery programs for the past sixteen years.  The rewards from this kind of technical assistance is in knowing we are providing information that enables hatchery programs to better utilize their resources and provide a healthier product for the fishery.  The MTAN has also helped to educate fish hatchery workers and direct them to other areas so they can better research their specific needs.
 
Previous issues of the MTAN newsletters are now accessible from the Ashland FWCO web page.  Readers can access this information by pointing their web browsers to:  http://midwest.fws.gov/ashland/.

Kids Fishing Day Activities A Big Success Thanks To the Folks at the Genoa NFH
Frank Stone had scheduled a day of boat electrofishing to help transfer largemouth bass for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC).  In previous years, this fish transfer (to Lighthouse Pond) had been a big success during the KBIC annual Kids Fishing Day.  However, due to the concern of transferring fish pathogens, the fish relocation was cancelled.  The Ashland FWCO then called on the kind folks from the Genoa NFH to save the day.  Two hundred catchable size rainbow trout (disease certified) were soon transported to Keweenaw Bay for three different fishing activities that took place over a three week period.

Aquaculture Field Day Workshop
Frank Stone attended a one day aquaculture field day and vendor fair sponsored by the Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility in Red Cliff Wisconsin.  The Ashland FWCO has the unique distinction of providing technical assistance for the development of numerous tribal fish hatchery operations.  One of the ways we contribute to these programs is by publishing a quarterly newsletter.  The Midwest Tribal Aquaculture Network (MTAN) is dedicated to assisting tribal hatcheries through the sharing of cool/cold water fish culture information. 

Productivity in aquaculture can often be increased by incorporating techniques learned from others.  The information gained from this workshop will be featured in future issues of the MTAN.  The MTAN has been assisting tribal fish hatchery programs for the past sixteen years.  The rewards from this kind of technical assistance is in knowing we are providing information that enables hatchery programs to better utilize their resources and provide a healthier product for the fishery.  The MTAN has also helped to educate fish hatchery workers and direct them to other areas so they can better research their specific needs.

2008 Tribal Wildlife Grant Program
The Ashland FWCO recently mailed an announcement to all our tribal contacts alerting them to the opening of the 2008 Tribal Wildlife Grant Program (TWG).  Our intent was to insure that tribal resource managers and biologist were alerted of this resource funding opportunity and to remind them to contact the Ashland FWCO for any technical assistance they may require. 
 
The TWG funds will be available for grants that will benefit fish and wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Although matching funds will be considered as an indicator of tribal commitment to a project, they are not required. The maximum award under this program is $200,000.

Fall Walleye Surveys with the Great Lakes Indian Fish Wildlife Commission
Frank Stone completed a six week project assisting the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in determining recruitment levels of juvenal walleye.  The objectives of these surveys were to estimate relative abundance of young-of-the-year walleye in several lakes of northern Wisconsin and Michigan.  The data from these surveys will be used in conjunction with spring population estimates, to set walleye safe harvest levels for the 2008 tribal spearing season.  During the length of the project, Frank conducted fishery surveys on a total of 23 lakes.
 

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Ashland FWCO SOLEC Participation 2006
The 7th biennial State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) was held this year in Milwaukee Wisconsin from November 1st through the 3rd and was sponsored by the Federal Governments of the United States and Canada.  This year’s SOLEC presented a comprehensive assessment of the state of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem based on the assessments provided from 60 indicators.  The assessments were presented in 9 indicator groups including: biotic communities, contaminants, human health, coastal zones, land-use land-cover, aquatic habitats, invasive species, resource utilization and climate change.

Ted Koehler from the Ashland FWCO attended this year’s conference in order to assist with the Binational Program’s Lake Superior Work Group Habitat and Wildlife Committee’s Lake Superior Breakout Session.  This session presented work on the Lake Superior Work Group’s Ecosystem Goals which are now developed in draft form.  The Lake Superior Work Group’s Ecosystem Goals are a list of goals to restore and protect the ecosystem of the Lake Superior basin, and if implemented would achieve the groups desired state of the ecosystem.  Selected goals were presented and feedback from the participants was collected to better define the goals as well as explore paths for their implementation.  This information will be used to develop final ecosystem goals which will be used by the Lake Superior Work Group to implement objectives of the Lake Superior Lakewide Management Plan.

Lake Superior Agencies Cooperate to Assess Lake Herring
Last month, when the gales of November weren’t howling, scientists probed the waters of western Lake Superior to conduct fall assessment of lake herring.  Four agencies; USGS, Minnesota DNR, Wisconsin DNR and USFWS, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth contributed staff, equipment, and expertise to conduct the hydro-acoustic and mid-water trawl surveys.  The objective of the effort involving USFWS is to collect acoustic data to measure large (>250 mm) cisco densities in 4 coastal statistical units.  Hydro-acoustic gear was deployed off the Ashland FWCO vessel, Northern Shoveler, and pre-established transects in Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior were followed.  All work was done at night and navigation was conducted by instrumentation.  The vessel worked in tandem with the USGS R/V Kiyi, which will allow a comparison of two different transducers and provide information on the influence of the KIYI on suspended cisco.

Lake Superior Agencies Cooperate to Assess Cisco
The gales of November held off for a few weeks while scientists probed the waters of western Lake Superior to conduct fall assessment of cisco (Coregonus artedi) – formerly known as lake herring.  Four agencies; USGS, Minnesota DNR, Wisconsin DNR and USFWS Ashland FWCO, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth contributed staff, equipment, and expertise to conduct hydro-acoustic and mid-water trawl spawning congregation surveys for cisco, the key prey fish in the Great Lakes.  The objective of the effort in which Ashland FWCO contributed was to collect acoustic data to measure large (>250 mm) cisco densities in 4 coastal statistical units.  Hydro-acoustic gear was deployed off the Ashland FWCO vessel, Northern Shoveler.  Pre-established transects in Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior were followed.  All work was done at night and navigation was conducted by instrumentation.  The vessel worked in tandem with the USGS R/V Kiyi, which allowed comparison of two different transducers and provide information on whether night operation of the R/V Kiyi influences the distribution off suspended cisco below the vessel where hydro-acoustic gear is deployed.

Binational Program Lake Superior Work Group 2007 Spring Meeting
The Binational Program’s Lake Superior Work Group (LSWG) and Committees met in Thunder Bay, Ontario, April 17th through the 19th.  Henry Quinlan and Ted Koehler from the Ashland FWCO were in attendance.  Lake Superior basin-wide natural resource coordination took place in the areas of aquatics, chemical, habitat, wildlife, sustainability and communications.  Work plans for 2007-2008 were discussed and updated.  Updates and discussion took place on recent work on the status of Areas of Concern, U.S. Great Lakes Regional Collaboration and binational cooperative monitoring.  Preparations were made for upcoming meetings with the Task Force, Forum and the State of Lake Superior Conference 2007. 

The federal governments of Canada and the United States as well as the Province of Ontario, and the States of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin formed the Binational Program to restore and protect Lake Superior.  The program works to support a diverse, healthy, and sustainable natural community in the Lake Superior basin.  The Binational Program plays a key role in the integration of land use planning efforts across jurisdictions such as the Lake Nipigon Basin Signature Site in Ontario, and the Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.

Ashland FWCO & Northland College Cooperate on Ruffe Aging Study
The Ashland FWCO provided 200 frozen ruffe specimens in a cooperative research project currently in progress with Northland College.  Under the guidance of Dr. Derek Ogle, (Department of Mathematics).  Northland College senior, James Junker, is studying aging methodology on the invasive fish, Eurasian ruffe, for his required senior project.  Dr. Ogle studied thousands of ruffe while interning for the USFWS, Lake Superior Biological Station.  A growth ring called an annulus is produced each year on the scales, spines, and otoliths (inner ear) of fish, and the age of a fish is estimated by counting the number of annuli present.  Jim is assessing aging techniques utilizing the scales, spines, and otoliths of ruffe in order to determine the most accurate and efficient method for aging ruffe.  In ruffe, the annuli are most easily identified in spines, but preparing spines to obtain a cross-section can be labor intensive.  Jim is currently experimenting with various techniques that are more efficient for extracting the cross-section of a ruffe spine.  As requested by the Ashland FWCO, Jim is also recording other data from the ruffe specimens including length, weight, sex, and maturity.

Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Publishes Lake Superior Wetland Restoration Article by Ted Koehler of the Ashland FWCO
Wisconsin Waterfowl magazine recently published an article by Ted Koehler of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland FWCO.  “Waterfowl Habitat Restoration in Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin” appears in the summer/fall issue of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Associations (WWA) bi-yearly publication.  The magazine is sent to all WWA members as well as sold in retail outlets.  It is primarily circulated in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest, but many WWA members reside around the country and enjoy reading about waterfowl related happenings in Wisconsin.

Waterfowl Habitat Restoration in Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin focuses on various aspects of waterfowl habitat restoration in northern Wisconsin. The article touches on restoration practices which the Ashland FWCO is involved in from coastal wetland restoration to wild rice marsh restoration.  An interview with life long resident of the shores of Chequamegon Bay, Nick Rousky, is also included.  Nick relates first hand accounts of waterfowl populations and hunting history of one of the most important areas on the Great Lakes for waterfowl, fish and other wildlife.

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Trout Brook Fish Passage Barrier Removal
Over a two day period in July the crew from the Ashland County Wisconsin Highway Department modified a double box culvert which was a barrier to fish on State Highway 13.  The project took place where Highway 13 crosses Trout Brook Creek and has opened 2 ½ miles of stream to fish passage above the former barrier.  Trout Brook is an important stream for brook trout in the Bad River watershed and is a popular fishing destination for the local population.  Restoring passage at this site has linked valuable spawning habitat for brook trout and other aquatic life. 
  
Through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Region 3 Fish Passage Program, funding was provided to install concrete baffles in the southernmost culvert.  This has created pools of slower water which provide resting areas to fish migrating upstream through the 130 foot long culvert.  The outlet of the culvert consists of a concrete apron which was perched approximately six inches above the water level.  To correct this problem the height of the riffle directly below the culvert was raised by one foot to provide a minimum of six inches of water so aquatic life can access the culvert at all times.

Hopkins Wetland Restoration Project
The Hopkins Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (PFWP) wetland restoration project has been completed.  It consisted of 2 wetland restoration sites totaling 3 wetland acres.  Also included in the project was the enhancement of 10 acres of upland grass waterfowl nesting cover through a deferred haying/grazing agreement.  The restoration took place on former agricultural land in Douglas County Wisconsin. The wetland and grassland complex will provide ideal resting and nesting conditions for many species of migratory songbirds and waterfowl.

Species benefiting from the habitat restoration and protection project include migratory waterfowl such as wood duck and American black duck, as well as migratory songbirds such as wood thrush and yellow warbler.  Gray wolves are common in the area and one large adult was seen during construction.  The Ashland Bayfield Douglas Iron - Land Conservation District provided assistance on the project and Ritola Incorporated of Mason, Wisconsin was hired for the heavy equipment work.  Ducks Unlimited was also a partner on the project.  A Habitat Development Agreement was signed to protect the restored area for a period of 10 years.

Spring Creek Fish Ladder Project
For decades a large culvert railroad crossing has blocked fish passage for native brook trout on Spring Creek in Douglas County, Wisconsin.  The private landowner on the downstream side of the culvert recognized this problem and contacted the county Land Conservation Department (LCD).  Agency partners including the LCD, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland FWCO worked together to find a solution to the problem.  The railroad had no plans to replace the culvert due to the logistics and enormous cost associated with replacing the intact and stable culvert.  The solution was the creation of a series of step pools which created a ladder which the fish could climb in order to enter the culvert.  The upper step of the ladder was also designed to raise the depth of water inside the culvert to allow fish passage through the pipe.

The design consisted of six structures or “steps” which were constructed of rock and light gage sheet pile.  Large boulders were the final component of the steps and were used to stabilize the riffles and create resting areas on the top and downstream slopes of each structure.  The step immediately below the culvert was designed to provide scour protection for the culvert outflow.  These structures created a series of pools and riffles which now provide access for brook trout and other aquatic species to access the reaches of Spring Creek above the railroad crossing. 

Brook trout are an important recreational fishing species in Spring Creek.  This project will provide additional fish access to neighboring habitat in order to improve populations in these areas.  During construction brook trout were already identified moving through the step pools.  The landowner of the project site spends many hours observing the stream and other wildlife habitat on the property.  He reports fish are consistently present, moving through the fish ladder and utilizing the created habitat.  Early estimates indicate the vast majority of the fish will survive the journey up the ladder and through the culvert but a few may end up in the frying pan.

 
Cunningham Wetland Restoration Project
The Cunningham wetland restoration project was completed during the summer of 2006.  It consisted of 1 wetland restoration site totaling 2.1 acres.  Also included in the project was the enhancement of 2.3 acres of upland grass waterfowl nesting cover through a deferred haying/grazing agreement.  The restoration took place on former agricultural land in Ashland County Wisconsin.  A Habitat Development Agreement was signed to protect the restored area for a period of 10 years.

Species benefiting from the habitat restoration and protection project include migratory waterfowl such as wood duck and American black duck, as well as migratory songbirds such as wood thrush and yellow warbler.  Prior to and during construction of this year’s project, a female American black duck and brood were observed multiple times on a wetland site on the same property which was restored two years prior.  The landowner, Ashland Bayfield Douglas Iron - Land Conservation Department and the Ashland FWCO, were all partners on this project.  Funding from the Service was provided through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Graveyard Creek Channel Restoration
The Graveyard Creek Channel Restoration Project was accomplished by restoring, enhancing and protecting instream fish and wildlife habitat and riparian areas on Graveyard Creek. Historic logging and associated beaver activity due to the unnatural abundance of young forest altered the channel of Graveyard Creek causing and excessively braided condition which degraded the habitat for native brook trout.  The habitat restoration and enhancement was performed by incorporating and installing brush bundles and other instream fish habitat structures into the stream channel stabilization.  This will restore the stream to its historic channel and reduce erosion into Graveyard Creek and Lake Superior.  This project benefited brook trout and other aquatic species on Graveyard Creek which is a located on the Bad River Indian Reservation in Ashland County, Wisconsin and is a tributary of Lake Superior.  The Bad River Tribe, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Ashland FWCO Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, partnered on the project.

Lake Superior Basin Herptile Monitoring Program
The first year of field work on the Lake Superior Basin Herptile Monitoring Program has now been completed. Steve Hecnar from Lakehead University in Ontario, and Gary Casper lead the project which developed and is field testing a basin-wide amphibian and reptile monitoring program and data repository process.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland FWCO has been involved in this process through its role on the Binational Program’s Lake Superior Work Group.

Representative sampling sites in both the Canadian and United States portions of the Lake Superior basin were selected and are being sampled for two field seasons.  Components of the project include sampling site selection, intensive surveys, database development and statistical analyses.  Results will be applicable throughout the Lake Superior basin for use in amphibian and reptile habitat protection and restoration. 

Reptiles and amphibians were identified as critical groups of species to be monitored by the State of the Lake Ecosystem Conference and the Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) 2000, and many are in decline worldwide.  Lake Superior is at the northern edge of the natural range of many herptile species and thus changes in their abundance in the basin may be indicative of pending environmental changes elsewhere.  They may also be particularly useful for monitoring in the Areas of Concern to document progress in remediation and restoration.  The work presently being conducted will make great strides in achieving goals outlined within the LaMP and benefit herptile species and their habitat throughout the Lake Superior basin.

Muskeg Creek PFWP Brook Trout Access Project
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland FWCO was involved through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program on the fish passage barrier removal on Muskeg Creek in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. 

Muskeg Creek is a tributary to the Iron River which flows into Lake Superior and after which the Service’s Iron River National Fish Hatchery is named.  During low water, a concrete box culvert at Muskeg Creek and Eastview Road created a fish passage barrier.  Working with the town of Oulu, the problem structure was removed and replaced with a bridge in order to provide a safer crossing for the public as well as provide a natural bottom for fish passage.  This project improved fish access to over 11 miles of stream and benefits native brook trout and other aquatic life.

 
Ox Creek Brook Trout Habitat Restoration
Over the past two year’s habitat restoration partners in northern Wisconsin have worked with three separate landowners to restore brook trout habitat on Ox Creek.  The first reach of stream consisting of one private landowner was completed in 2005.  The second and third reaches included two separate landowners and were completed in 2006.  Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, County Land Conservation Department and the landowner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland FWCO participated in the project through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.  Over the course of the project anchored wood structures were installed at selected locations in the stream to restore large woody cover as well as create scour holes to expose spawning gravel.
Ox Creek is a spring fed tributary to the wild and scenic St. Croix River and designated as Class II trout water.  It supports a population of native brook trout which are expected to benefit from the restored habitat.  The restoration will also benefit wading birds as well as herptiles such as turtles with additional loafing sites.  Mammals such as mink will benefit as well through the creation of additional structural habitat in the stream within which they will live and hunt.

To restore habitat for brook trout and other aquatic life in Ox Creek, red pine logs were strategically placed to mimic natural conditions which once existed in the stream.  They were drilled and wooden posts driven through both ends, then water jetted and pounded into the substrate to hold them in place.  Through both seasons of field work a crew from the Gordon Correction Center performed the majority of the labor and did an excellent job.  In this case, not only will the public benefit from the restored habitat, but also by the crew from the correctional facility gaining new experience and insight which will help them better integrate into society in the future.   The resulting habitat benefits from the entire project include approximately 1400 feet of brook trout habitat restored, and miles of habitat beyond enhanced through reduced sediment and an improved fishery.

Marengo River Brook Trout Habitat Protection Project
A 50 foot high and 200 foot long eroding bank on the Marengo River in Bayfield County Wisconsin had been causing sediment problems to this highly important brook trout water for many years.  A literal wall of exposed and collapsing earth was present at the site.  Historic land use practices in the area had previously cleared the existing banks of stable vegetation which protected the site from large scale erosion.  The private land owners, Julie and Jeff Vaillencourt, were concerned about the negative impacts to the fishery and the steady encroachment of the river bend into the adjoining field.  To fix the problem they worked cooperatively with the Ashland Bayfield Douglas and Iron Land Conservation Department, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland FWCO.  Working through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program the Ashland FWCO provided financial and technical assistance.

Recognizing that rivers are a dynamic resource and since no high priority infrastructure was in place that would require extreme hardening of the banks, the partners worked together to find a solution to the problem that would most benefit the environment and state and federal trust resources, while providing the long term stability the landowner desired.  Multiple conventional restoration practices were put in place as well as cutting edge technology using submerged vanes.  Before the project, the near vertical bank allowed the river to slam into its side with great force.  To solve this problem a local contractor was hired to excavate the river bank to produce a more gradual slope.  This action will dissipate the energy of the water on a larger and more stable surface.  To complete this part of the construction process, the exposed soil was seeded and is protected with erosion blankets.

With the help of the University of Wisconsin Engineering Department, submerged vane technology was used to help stabilize the toe of the slope.  Submerged vanes are rectangular plastic sheets placed in an eroding streambed.  They cause the water flow to be redirected which results in deposition of sediment at the toe of the eroding bank.  Vanes stabilize the stream without affecting the sediment load and velocity of other parts of the stream, which sometimes happens with bank “hardening” practices.  In this case the vanes were an effective way to help solve the problem of the power of the water undermining the outside banks of the bend in the river.
Construction finished in the fall of 2006 and the site is presently being monitored to make sure no problems occur.  Riparian forest tree species will be planted at the site in the spring to further protect the river banks and reduce sediment, as well as provide additional habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.  The reduction in sediment from this site which once plagued brook trout spawning habitat, will have a positive impact for many miles downstream.  With the completion of the Vaillencourt project, another piece of the puzzle is in place for overall large scale fish and wildlife habitat restoration and protection in the Great Lakes basin. 

Northland College American Fisheries Society Student Sub-unit and Ashland FWCO Team Up to Help Register Lake Sturgeon from Lake Winnebago Spear Harvest
The morning of Friday, February 9th found Ashland FWCO Fishery Biologist Glenn Miller and students Melissa Kjelvik and Lance Uselman, along with Northland Collage (NC) graduate and past president of the Student Sub-unit, Lindsey Lesmeister heading to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to attend the annual meeting held for registration station personnel for the Lake Winnebago spear harvest season.  Any lake sturgeon harvested from Lake Winnebago are required to be registered at any of the 7 registration stations found along Lake Winnebago’s shoreline.  A total of 481 tags were sold for the 2007 upper lakes season which, along with Lake Winnebago, started on February 10, 2007.

Harvest of these magnificent fish is regulated by harvest caps which are set by population estimates conducted annually.  A Lake Winnebago harvest cap of 556 juvenile females, 556 adult females and 1000 males was set for 2007. The mandatory registration gathers important biological data.  Each sturgeon is weighed, measured to the nearest ½ inch, has the first ray of the pectoral fin removed for ageing, sex determination by looking the gonad of the fish and the first ten sturgeon registered have their stomachs removed for diet analysis.  Also, any black egg females, (a stage of egg development that would have had the sturgeon spawning that spring), have their individual ovaries removed.  These eggs were then taken back to the WDNR lab to determine the egg fecundity.  A large female of 154 pounds had her eggs collected, and the combined weight of both ovaries was 54 pounds! 

 
Brilla Wildlife Habitat / Fish Creek Watershed Restoration
In May of 2005 approximately 5,000 trees were planted on the Brilla Wildlife Habitat / Fish Creek Watershed Restoration.  This restored an additional 15 acres of a nearly 200 acre restoration site on the Brilla Dairy Farm located in Mason, Wisconsin.  White pine, red pine, white spruce and red oak were planted to restore forested conditions in the Fish Creek Watershed.  Fish Creek supports native brook trout and large runs of migratory fish from Lake Superior.  Studies have shown that deforestation in the area has contributed to the degradation of habitat in Fish Creek and other streams.  In the past, the shading effect of the forest allowed for a gradual spring runoff period and lower peak flows.  Now with the sun beating down on a much more open landscape the spring melt occurs very quickly, eroding banks and sending large amounts of sediment into critical fish spawning areas.  As outlined in Best Management Practices developed for the area, reforestation is critical to restoring the health of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior tributaries.

Funding and technical assistance were provided by the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ashland FWCO. Other partners included the landowner, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, and the County Land Conservation Department.  A tree planter was rented from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the landowner, Dick Brilla and his son Andy, donated equipment, fuel and many hours of labor to get the trees in the ground.

The watershed restoration project will benefit migratory birds such as the golden-winged warbler, Canada warbler, olive sided flycatcher and wood thrush. The project will also help provide much needed travel corridors for other area wildlife including listed species such as Canada lynx and migratory game birds such as American Woodcock.  A Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Habitat development agreement was signed.  In 2004 the location of the farm where this year’s project occurred, was protected from any development under the FSA’s Debt for Nature program and a conservation management plan for a minimum of 50 years.

Woodcock Singing-Ground Survey for 2007
The American woodcock is a popular game bird throughout eastern North America.  The management objective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to increase populations of woodcock to levels consistent with the demands of hunters and non-consumptive users. Therefore, reliable annual population estimates are essential for woodcock management

As part of the North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey, Ted Koehler and Gary Czypinski surveyed singing ground routes in Ashland and Bayfield counties in northern Wisconsin.  The annual survey provides an index to the relative size of the woodcock breeding population and is the most important source of data used to guide the United States and Canadian woodcock programs.  Male woodcock give vocal calls described as “peents” and perform aerial displays called “flight songs” shortly after sunset as part of their courtship behavior.  The number of peenting males were recorded and the results entered into the national database.

Mourning Dove Call-Count Survey – for 2007
As part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s nationwide Mourning Dove Call-Count Survey, Ted Koehler surveyed Wisconsin Route #0060 in Ashland County.  The Mourning Dove Call-Count survey was designed specifically for the species and provides an annual index to population size.  The total number of doves heard on each route is used to determine trends in populations and provides the basis for determining an index to population size during the breeding season.  The resulting information on status and trends is used by wildlife administrators in setting annual hunting regulations.

The mourning dove is one of the most widely distributed and abundant migratory bird species in North America.  As part of their courtship behavior, Mourning dove calling reaches a peak at sunrise and then diminishes gradually.  The survey is conducted along a twenty mile route, and all doves seen along the route as well as heard at stopping intervals were recorded.  The results were then entered into the national Mourning Dove Call-Count database.

Ashland FWCO Completes Re-Vegetation Project for Wildlife Corridor
The Ashland FWCO has completed a project in which two corridors of conifers and hardwoods were planted in field openings to connect two wood lots and enhance wetland restoration projects on the property.  The project will provide native forest cover for migratory birds such as common yellowthroat, yellow warbler and American woodcock.  The project will also help restore forested conditions in the Fish Creek Watershed.  Fish Creek supports native brook trout and large runs of migratory fish from Lake Superior. 

The Kindt property in the town of Moquah, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, obtained a Challenge Cost Share grant through the Ashland FWCO for establishing the corridors and to also establish several food plots for passerine birds and wildlife found on the property. 
Approximately 2,900 trees, including red and white pine, black and white spruce, balsam fir, tamarack, white cedar, northern red oak, red and sugar maple, along with crabapples, mountain ash and common and American elderberry were planted on approximately 8 acres of open field edges.  Along with providing cover and food for the wildlife found on the property, it will also provide nesting cover for grassland bird species as a protected no-mow area has been established around and between the corridors.  These corridors will further enhance the work done on the property several years ago to restore emergent marsh wetlands.  These wetlands have provided migration and breeding habitat for many species of migratory waterfowl.  All of these projects include a 10 year Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Habitat Development Agreement.

Ashland FWCO Participates in Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival
The Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival was held May 18th through the 20th, 2007.  The three day event hosted by the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center in Ashland, Wisconsin, consisted of birding and nature programs on the south shore of Lake Superior.  Spring migration of many types of birds was in full swing during the festivities and the hundreds of participants and staff observed 178 individual bird species during the festival.

The Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge played a major role in organizing the event, and the Ashland FWCO helped with leading birding and nature excursions.  Ted Koehler organized and led three tours called the Coastal and Inland Wetland Walk.  The program focused on migratory waterfowl and began with a “Ducks on a Stick” presentation, where participants could literally handle and identify taxidermy mounted ducks.  The Ducks on a Stick were provided by Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge and were a big hit at the festival plus two additional presentations given at Ashland Primary School.  The Chequamegon Bay region is among the top birding destinations in the Midwest, with an amazing variety of high-quality habitats ranging from pine barrens and upland forests to coastal wetlands.  More than 300 species of birds call the area home permanently or during their migrations.  Extraordinary natural beauty and abundant public land make Wisconsin’s south shore of Lake Superior an ideal location for bird-watching and other wildlife viewing. 

Ashland FWCO Assists with Bald Eagle Monitoring and Banding in the Apostle Islands
For the second year in a row the R/V Chub proved to be the best working platform for personnel from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ashland FWCO and the National Park Services Great Lakes Monitoring Network (GLMN) to get around in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (AINL).  Piloted by FWCO Fishery Biologist Glenn Miller, the crew consisting of GLMN Project Leader Bill Route and tree climber Jim Spickler were able to band three eaglets on two of the islands.  One of the trees climbed in the AINL did not contain eaglets, but showed signs of adult eagles using the nest.  The GLMN is leading a project which is monitoring bald eagles at multiple parks in the upper Midwest. FWCO Assistant Project Leader Frank Stone videotaped the procedure at one of the nest to be used in a future production about what happens during a “typical” day at the Ashland FWCO.
 
Active bald eagle nest had been previously located during aerial surveys performed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Once the nest trees were pinpointed on the ground, the ascent into the towering white pines began and the eaglets secured.  They were then lowered to the biologists below where an assortment of data was collected and blood drawn to monitor contaminant levels in the young birds.  Eagles are considered bio-sentinels at the top of the food chain.  The chicks primarily eat fish caught by their parents from the Lake Superior waters surrounding the islands.  Monitoring contaminant levels in the young eagles will give an indication to the overall levels such as mercury and pesticides in the fishery and the ecosystem.  After the work-up was completed the eaglets were then banded and hoisted back into the nest, once again overlooking the amazing sights that are the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Kleinsteiber Wetland Restoration Project
The Kleinsteiber Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program wetland restoration project was completed in June of 2007.  It consisted of one wetland restoration site totaling two wetland acres.  Also included in the project was the enhancement of two acres of upland grass waterfowl nesting cover through a deferred haying/grazing agreement.  The restoration took place on former agricultural land in Ashland County Wisconsin. The wetland and grassland complex will provide resting and nesting habitat for many species of migratory songbirds and waterfowl.
Species benefiting from the habitat restoration and protection project include migratory waterfowl such as wood ducks and mallards, as well as migratory songbirds such as bobolinks and yellow warblers.  Partners in the project included the Ashland Bayfield Douglas Iron - Land Conservation department and the landowner.  The landowner provided heavy equipment and operational time to the project.  A Habitat Development Agreement was signed to protect the restored area for a period of 10 years.

 
Piping Plovers once again utilizing the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
The Ashland FWCO is helping out this summer to monitor the federally listed endangered Piping Plover.  The AFRO is partnering with the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (AINL), National Park Services Great Lake Monitoring Network, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and private landowners to protect and monitor Piping Plovers found in the AINL.  Fishery Biologist Glenn Miller provided boat transportation to Long Island several times over the monitoring season.
 
Once a nest is found along the shoreline, an area around the nest is protected by signs and flagging surrounding the nest, and a wire enclosure is placed around the nest.  The wire enclosure is large enough to allow the adult plovers to go through, but will keep larger avian and mammal predators out.  A Plover Guard is also hired for the nesting season and is stationed at the area for the weekend to alert any boaters trying to land their craft in this area that it is a protected area.  After the plover chicks have hatched they are rounded up before they can fly and banded.   2007 was an exceptionally good year, with 4 confirmed nests on Long Island, part of AINL, and another suspected nest found there, along with an adult and two chicks spotted on Outer Island.  These numbers allowed for a total of 10 adults and 13 chicks seen in the AINL.  
 
One of the highlights of the season was a trip to Long Island with Julie Van Stappen, Branch Chief of Natural Resources for AINL and Sumner Matteson, Avian Ecologist, Bureau of Endangered Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Accompanying the crew were 4 visitors, Clara Margaret and her father Rick Flood, and Jesse Tysinger and his father Walt.  The two young budding biologists had raised funds, (over $500.00 dollars), to contribute to helping in the monitoring of the Piping Plovers.  This special trip was made to allow the two youngsters the opportunity to see the Plovers in their natural habitat and view the newly hatched chicks.  They had the opportunity to see two adults and three chicks that day, and to help gather several eggs that did not hatch, which were collected and sent out for analysis.  Having the chance to talk with Clara Margaret and Jesse about their fundraising efforts and getting the chance to see the Plovers up close and personal made the work very worthwhile.  Both Clara Margaret and Jesse were very enthusiastic about next years’ effort to help the Piping Plovers again. 

Little Whittlesey Creek Fish Friendly Culvert Replacement
Over a two day period in August, partners from the Chequamegon Bay area of northern Wisconsin worked to replace a culvert which was a barrier to fish within the boundary of Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), with one that is now passable for fish and other aquatic life.  Little Whittlesey Creek is an important stream for brook trout because the cold water spring fed tributary offers good habitat where smaller fish can grow in the absence of large predator fish.  The Whittlesey Creek system is the backbone of the Whittlesey Creek NWR and historic home to anadromous coaster brook trout. 

Ashland FWCO and Whittlesey Creek NWR staff led the project with assistance from the Bayfield County Land Conservation Department, Town of Barksdale and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program – Fish Habitat Restoration provided a major portion of the funding for the project, with Bayfield County provided the remaining funds and surveying assistance.  The Ashland FWCO with help from the Whittlesey Creek NWR coordinated the PFWP responsibilities, is providing pre and post project fish passage assessment, and supervised construction to ensure fish passage.  The Town of Barksdale Wisconsin owns and maintains Wickstrom Road and contributed to the replacement of the culvert by providing material as well as construction and site stabilization assistance.  A Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Habitat Development Agreement was signed with the Town of Barksdale to protect the habitat improvements for a period of 10 years.

In order to assess the effectiveness of the Little Whittlesey Creek fish friendly culvert replacement a mark and recapture assessment is being conducted.  Staff from the Ashland FWCO and Whittlesey Creek NWR completed the initial marking run using backpack electrofishing equipment prior to the installation of the culvert.  Brook trout and coho salmon were collected and given an upper caudle fin clip, measured and released.  A second electrofishing run will be completed later in the fall of 2007 to assess fish passage through the former barrier.  Without the combined forces of the partners involved in the project and the exceptional local support for fish and wildlife restoration in the community, projects like the fish friendly culvert replacement on Wickstrom Road would be much more difficult.  Because of the partners and their hard work, the resulting culvert is now a habitat link for brook trout and other aquatic species instead of the barrier it once was.

 
Whitetail Waters Wetland Project Completed
Construction has finished on the Whitetail Waters Wetland Project.  This Partners for Fish and Wildlife project consists of six wetland restoration sites with a total of 12.5 wetland acres.  The uplands around the wetland restoration sites are in a deferred haying and grazing agreement to enhance ground nesting bird habitat.  The project will provide nesting and brood rearing sites for waterfowl species such as mallards, wood ducks and blue-winged teal as well as songbirds such as eastern meadowlarks and bobolinks.  The restored wetlands and protected uplands will also provide rest and refueling areas for many species of waterfowl, shorebirds and neotropical migrant songbirds during their annual migrations.  This project will enhance wildlife habitat on the Whitetail Waters property and surrounding countryside.  A Wetland Development Agreement was signed to protect the project site for a period of 10 years.

Coastal Program – Great Lakes 2007 Accomplishments
The East Lansing Ecological Services Field Office and the Ashland FWCO jointly administer the Coastal Program – Great Lakes (CPGL).  In 2007 a total of 27 projects were funded by the CPGL.  As a result, approximately 6561 acres of coastal fish and wildlife habitat will be enhanced, restored or protected.  Miles of stream and riparian area  enhanced, restored or protected total 5.5 and 2 fish passage barriers will be removed, opening 8.5 miles of stream.  Projects will affect all 5 Great Lakes, Detroit River, St. Mary’s River and Lake St. Clair. The kinds of projects funded included planning and research (8), restoration (18), and outreach and education (1). 

These cooperative projects work to conserve U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service trust fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats in coastal lands and waters.  Interjurisdictional fish such as coaster brook trout and lake sturgeon will benefit from multiple research and restoration projects.  Declining migratory waterfowl species such as lesser scaup and American black ducks will reap the rewards of multiple coastal wetland restoration projects.  Federally listed plant species such as dwarf lake iris and Michigan monkey-flower will be able to take root in additional locations because of invasive species removal and habitat restoration projects.  As the CPGL moves into 2008, we look forward to once again work with our ever growing list of partners on many new Great Lakes coastal projects.

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New Project Leader for the Ashland FWCO
We are very pleased to announce the selection of Mark Brouder as the new Project Leader for the Ashland FWCO.  Mark joins us from Region 2 where he has worked as the Assistant Project Leader for the Arizona Fishery Resources Office for the past 2 1/2 years.  During that time he helped develop cooperative conservation efforts throughout the Southwest with state, local and private agencies to improve protection efforts for natural resources.  His work focused on restoring federally threatened Apache trout, and the federally endangered humpback chub, bonytail chub, and razorback sucker.

Mark also has a long history of working with many Native American Tribes and with private landowners throughout Arizona to improve fish populations and aquatic habitats.   Prior to working with the Service at the Arizona FWCO, Mark held various Fishery Biologist positions for the State of Arizona where he studied the effects of the Glen Canyon Dam on endangered humpback chub in the Colorado River.  Most recently, Mark has served on the "Science Advisory Team" for the National Fish Habitat Partnership.  Mark brings a lot of technical and management expertise, along with many demonstrated leadership skills, to the Project Leaders position in Ashland.

Mark grew up in Chicago, Illinois and holds a Master's Degree in Fisheries from Murray State University in Western Kentucky and Bachelor of Science Degree in Fisheries from Southern Illinois University.  He is an avid outdoorsman and is looking forward, along with his wife Brenda and their two+ year old daughter, Emma, to spending many a fine day enjoying the bountiful fish and wildlife resources in Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.   Mark will join our great staff on February 19 and will be a great asset to Region 3, and especially our efforts in the Great Lakes Basin, and we are excited to have him join our team.


James Boase Serves as Acting Project Leader for Ashland FWCO during January and February
Since Project Leader Mark Dryer’s retirement back in June 2006, the Ashland field office has had a number of individuals step up to fill the vacancy until newly hired Project Leader Mark Brouder arrives in late February 2007.  For most of the period the vacancy has been filled internally by Henry Quinlan and Ted Koehler, two biologists on staff here at Ashland.  Three biologists from other offices have stepped up to fill the role as well starting with Wyatt Doyal from Columbia FWCO, then Aaron Wolt from the Alpena FWCO, and finally James Boase, also from Alpena FWCO.

Boase filled in for the last four weeks before Brouder’s arrival and was sent to Ashland to “assist in a smooth transition with the arrival of the new Project Leader.”  Most work during the period was to assist with a number of staffing changes and the day to day demands of an FWCO Project Leader.  Administrative Technician Joan Bratley retired during the period and a portion of the transition was to help acclimatize the Ashland staff to the new demands they would face without Joan’s assistance, a situation the Alpena FWCO faced two years ago.
 
Having an opportunity to temporarily fill these types of leadership vacancies allows for important interactions between the regional office and those individuals that are prospective upcoming leaders.  Perhaps as important is that theses longer term interactions also allow for the exchange of information and ideas which ultimately helps not only each respective office but also the Service to function more efficiently.

Northland College Students Learn About Careers with the Fish & Wildlife Service
Katie Goodwin from the Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Gary Czypinski from the Ashland FWCO participated in an annual Career Day event sponsored by Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin.  Northland College specializes in environmental education, and Career Day is a good opportunity for science and natural resource students to network with professionals from a variety of environmental fields in positions that the students would like to explore.  Participants included federal, state, tribal, and private agencies from around the area specializing in natural resource management and conservation.  The focus of questions from students centered around 2007 temporary summer employment, permanent employment, and what the Service is doing to conserve and protect our natural resources.  Students were briefed on general information regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the type of work performed by the  Service, where to look for federal environmental jobs, tips for obtaining a federal job, and summer opportunities with the Whittlesey Creek NWR and Ashland FWCO.

Ashland FWCO Fishery Biologist Glenn Miller Upgrades Merchant Marine Officer License
A upgrade to a Master of Steam or Motor Vessels of not more than 100 gross registered tons (domestic tonnage) upon the Great Lakes and Inland Waters, and also authorized to engage in commercial assistance towing, has been obtained by Ashland FWCO fishery biologist Glenn Miller.  Glenn first received his 50 gross registered tonnage license, along with the towing endorsement in April of 2002.  This type of license is required to renew every five years.  With the time and type of effort obtained while working for the Ashland FWCO on various projects on Lake Superior, utilizing the R/V Chub and Northern Shoveler, Glenn was able to obtain the upgrade to 100 gross registered domestic tonnage.  Who knows what the April of 2012 will bring for the next possible upgrade.

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