Fish Returning to Restored Habitat in Great Lakes Faster than Expected

When NOAA started building rock reefs in Michigan’s St. Clair River, they were hoping that the restored habitat would help bring fish to the area. What they didn’t expect were such immediate results—they’ve already seen sturgeon swimming by the reef. And now researchers have found eggs: evidence the sturgeon are spawning on the reef.

Inland Waterways Navigation Regulations for Detroit River

The Coast Guard redefines the geographical points, which demarcate an area of the Detroit River in which certain vessels are restricted to speeds not greater than 12 statute miles per hour.

This rule will be effective November 14, 2012.

New Search for Asian Carp as Samples Found Close to Lake Michigan

Another search for Asian carp will take place in Chicago-area waters next week (October 16-19) following more discoveries of their genetic material close to Lake Michigan.

Great Lakes Beach Association Conference

The 12th Annual Great Lakes Beach Association Conference will be held October 16-18, 2012, on Mackinac Island, Michigan. For those unable to travel to the conference, you may tune in via webinar. Following are web links to register for the conference sessions. 

Dam Removal Project Held Up By Federal Permit Process

Two Cuyahoga River low-head dams set for removal this year may still be around in 2013 if city officials don’t soon receive a federal permit that was applied for in mid-March. The concrete dams – located near the Sheraton Suites and Samira restaurant – cannot be taken out without a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has jurisdiction over navigable waterways. The dams are being removed to restore Cuyahoga Falls’ segment of the river so that it meets Ohio Water Quality Standards for aquatic life and habitat, and removing the dams is the path to meeting that goal.

Captain Building New Business Around Bow Hunting For Carp

A Captain on the Illinois River has decided to hunt Asian Carp not with a rod-n-reel, but with a Bow and Arrow! He relies on the Carp's tendency to leap out of the water when they feel the vibrations from motorboats. Once the fish are out of the water the customers open fire. YouTube video show there are plenty of targets and at some point you'll hit one! 

This is one way a Captain has decided to to make lemonade out of the lemons of invasive species. It is illegal to throw the carp back in the water so he eats them, feeds them to animals or uses them as fertilizer in his garden.

 

 

Water Samples Test Positive for Asian Carp in Maumee Bay and River

Water samples collected this summer from the Maumee Bay and River have tested positive for Asian carp environmental DNA, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Monday. The search for Asian carp in Lake Erie has been conducted by the Ohio and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although no live Asian carp have been found during the recent tests in those bodies of water, which are part of or feed into Lake Erie, the continuing presence of positive test results is perplexing. Test results in those areas also were positive for Asian carp environmental DNA in 2011.

Interactive Lake Monitoring Tool

Data on rain, snowfall, ice cover and evaporation will soon be incorporated into a new online tool that shows Great Lakes water level fluctuations over the past 150 years.

Chinook Salmon Thriving in Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan's chinook salmon are doing so well that Michigan has decided to sharply reduce its stocking of the popular game fish, the state announced Monday (9-25-12). The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said it will cut its annual chinook stocking in the lake by about two-thirds, from 1.67 million to 560,000, starting in 2013.

EPA Awards Grant to Reduce Releases of Mercury in Great Lakes Basin

The U.S. Environmental Agency announced a $197,022 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant to the Product Stewardship Institute to reduce releases of mercury in the Great Lakes basin. This is one of three GLRI grants focused on pollution prevention that EPA is announcing during National Pollution Prevention Week.