Proposed permanent sea lamprey trap site on the Cheboygan River. - FWS photo

A Cooperative Agreement has been signed between the Fish and Wildlife Service and Michigan Department of Natural Resources to construct a permanent sea lamprey trap at the Cheboygan River Lock and Dam Complex. 

The Michigan DNR has plans to repair the spillway of the dam and staff from the Marquette Biological Station have teamed with them to combine the two projects.  By cooperating, the trap will be constructed for less, due to the savings associated with only having to mobilize equipment and drain the site once. 

The FWS has trapped lampreys in the Cheboygan River since 1977.  The benefits of this operation include removal of spawning sea lampreys from the reproducing population, data to assess adult sea lamprey populations in the Cheboygan River and Lake Huron, and acquiring adult male lampreys for the sterile male release technique.  These activities support sea lamprey management as well as lake trout restoration efforts in the Great Lakes. 

The Cheboygan River was the largest producer of male sea lampreys for the sterile male release technique during 1991-1997.  Since 1998, however, fluctuating water levels have affected the sea lamprey catch in the existing location.  Attempts since then to increase the catch have included trapping at the spillway fish ladder, moving the primary trap to a new site closer to the spillway, and trapping with an experimental fish-wheel.  None of these methods have proved sufficiently effective, so the spillway has been identified as the ideal location to place a new, permanent sea lamprey trap. At this site, the trap can be operated at all water levels and water from the fish ladder will provide attractant flow to guide lampreys into the trap.