The lake sturgeon is listed as threatened in Michigan, of special concern in Minnesota and Wisconsin. - Photo courtesy of the John G. Shedd Aquarium

The Michigan monkey-flower is listed as endangered Federally and by the state of Michigan. - Photo by Susan Crispin

The bald eagle is listed as threated both federally and by the state of Michigan. - FWS photo

Sea Lamprey Management Program staff consulted with personnel of the Ecological Service Field Offices in the Twin Cities, Green Bay, East Lansing, Reynoldsburg, and Cortland  to complete Section 7 reviews on proposed granular Bayluscide assessments in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

The group agreed to assess populations of larval sea lampreys with conservation measures to protect and avoid disturbance to six federal and state-listed endangered, threatened, candidate, and special concern species in Minnesota, Wisconsin,  Michigan, Ohio, and New York during 2006. 

The federal and state-listed species included the bald eagle, dwarf lake iris, eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Houghton’s goldenrod, Michigan monkey-flower, and Pitcher’s thistle.

Nine additional state-listed endangered, threatened, and special concern species were described during the assessment state-permitting process, including the Blanding's turtle, channel darter, common loon, lake sturgeon, osprey, pugnose shiner, red-shouldered hawk, sauger, and wood turtle.

Based on the federal reviews and state permits received, protocols were implemented to minimize the effects of the assessments on 15 rare organisms in 26 of 57 streams scheduled for assessments.  The protocols included a list of stream treatments, known locations, maps, procedures to protect and avoid disturbance, and fact sheets for each rare species with an image, description, and preferred habitat.

The sea lamprey program continues to work closely with partners to control populations of sea lampreys in tributaries of the Great Lakes to protect the fishery and related economic activities in the basin, at an estimated benefit of $4-6 billion a year to the region. 

The Service delivers a program of integrated sea lamprey control in the U.S. waters of the Great Lakes as a contracted agent of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. 

For more information, contact John Weisser at 906-226-1213