Science and technology form the foundation of successful fish and aquatic resource conservation and are used to structure and implement monitoring and evaluation programs that are critical to determine the success of management actions. The Ashland FWCO is committed to following established principles of sound science.
Ojectives:
Use state-of-the-art science and technology to formulate and execute fishery related plans and policies.
Develop and share state-of-the-art science and technology with other Service programs, States, Tribes, partners and our stakeholders.
Coaster Brook Trout PIT tagging Study Underway
Biologists from the Ashland FWCO and Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are working cooperatively to examine tag retention, survival, and growth of fingerling coaster brook trout implanted with a PIT tag. Results of this study will help guide future tagging and stocking efforts of coaster brook trout in support of a long-term experiment to establish a coaster brook trout population in Whittlesey Creek; a coldwater tributary to Lake Superior. Prior to releasing PIT tagged coaster brook trout into Whittlesey Creek, a remote PIT tag sensing station will be installed near the mouth of Whittlesey Creek to allow for the detection of emigration of stocked fish out of the creek and into Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay. Contact Mark Brouder.
Northland College Interns Receiving Valuable Training at Ashland FWCO
The Ashland FWCO has partnered with Northland College, Ashland, WI to provide valuable hands on training for 4 interns this year. The interns are receiving valuable training in aging techniques, including scale and otolith interpretations; predator/prey studies analyzing stomach contents; net mending; computer use including developing databases, and other functions of the office. The four interns, Katie Renschen (pictured above), Tim Werner, Eric Vacha and Sean Luxem have been working 8 – 10 hours per week in the office. Their interest and class levels vary, with Katie being a junior and interested in a job within the fisheries profession, to Tim, a sophomore looking at the natural resources field for employment, to Eric and Sean, both freshmen and checking out various field and office aspects of the fisheries and wildlife programs to decide a future employment goal. Their hard work and enthusiasm in approaching their various assignments have helped the Ashland FWCO finish a number of tasks and everyone is looking forward to the upcoming field season to get out there and start it over again.
Bad River Watershed Association Receives 2008 Volunteer Stream Monitoring Award
The Bad River Watershed Association (BRWA), a major partner with the Ashland FWCO, received the 2008 Volunteer Stream Monitoring Award at the Association’s annual event, “Spring for the Water”. The award, for group effort in the statewide Water Action Volunteer program, is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Extension office.The Bad River Watershed Association was nominated by Fishery Biologist Glenn Miller on behalf of their work within the Bad River Watershed. This watershed includes the Bad, White, Marengo, Potato and Tyler Forks Rivers. The BRWA is involved with many types of monitoring work; including the process of surveying the 1300 road crossings for fish passage issues, water quality tests and invertebrate sampling. There are 18 sites in the watershed that are sampled monthly for water quality testing. The group formed because very little information existed about these parameters in the area. At the Spring for the Water event, the Bad River Watershed Association Executive Director Michelle Wheeler accepted the award from Nancy Larson, Lake Superior Basin Educator with the UW Extension Office. Along with Glenn, Pam Dryer and Frank Stone from the Ashland FWCO were also in attendance. For more information about the BRWA or to sign up for their free quarterly newsletter, contact Michelle at 715-682-2003.
USFWS Contributes to Review of Research at Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale National Park is one of the most remote and unique wilderness areas in the U.S. The park consists of one large island surrounded by about 400 smaller islands; it includes submerged land which extends 4 ½ miles out into the largest fresh water lake in the world. Due to Isle Royale's biological and ecological uniqueness, it was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. The Park is undergoing a comprehensive review of research activities on the island including the historic wolf-moose studies led by Michigan Tech. researchers and coaster brook trout work led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nine highly acclaimed academics from Alaska to North Carolina and points between have been contracted to provide review of existing activities and recommendations for future research at the island.
Henry Quinlan of the USFWS Ashland National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office was among a group of presenters that addressed current and future natural resource activities at Isle Royale. Mr. Quinlan presented information on USFWS work with coaster and stream dwelling brook trout and future plans for lake trout studies at Isle Royale to the panelists and participated in discussion of fish, wildlife and plant monitoring and research at Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale is home to three of about a dozen populations of coaster brook trout remaining in Lake Superior. Data collected by the USFWS such as age and size at maturity has contributed to management actions by the Park and Michigan DNR to help ensure the continued existence of coasters at Isle Royale.
