An orangespotted sunfish collected near Woodtick Point, Mich., in Western Lake Erie, during the fishery survey. - Photo courtesy Jim Francis, Michigan DNR

As part of the Service's Challenge Cost Share Grant Program (CCS) biologists from the Alpena Fishery Resources Office and the Michigan DNR Lake Erie Management Unit teamed up to conduct the first fishery survey within the recently established Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.  The Refuge boundary includes Michigan waters of the Lower Detroit River and  Lake Erie.  The last time a fishery survey was conducted in that area of the Great Lakes was back in the early 1980's.  Since that time many changes have taken place, specifically the addition of exotic species that have likely displaced or reduced the numbers and diversity of native species. 

Our goal with this pilot project was to provide baseline information about what species, both native and exotic, are found within the Refuge.  The Refuge provides some of the last remaining natural wetland areas available in the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie.  Those nursery areas are critical to the early life stages of many species of sport fish as well as some state listed species.  Historical records from past surveys had identified more than 30 species of fish using those wetland habitats for either spawning or nursery areas.

During the early planning stages (February 2005) members from Michigan DNR (Gary Towns, Joe Robison, and Jim Francis) and the Service (John Hartig and Jim Boase) identified eight areas located along the western shoreline of Lake Erie that still had relatively large expanses of intact soft shorelines and were identified as important for fish and wildlife.  Unfortunately only five areas could be sampled in 2005 but plans are to finish the remaining three areas in Lake Erie and then add additional locations located in the Detroit River in 2006. 

During the week of September 12, using both electro-fishing and seining a total of 46 different fish species were collected in the near-shore habitats of Lake Erie.  More importantly, young-of-the-year age groups of the major sport fish species like walleye, large mouth bass, small mouth bass, northern pike, and sunfishes were collected.  One state listed species, the silver chub was collect as well.  This effort is a critical first step in identifying the current status of fish species within the newly created Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and will aid the refuge with establishing its Comprehensive Conservation Plan.