A survey team member displays a Black Buffalo captured during sampling in the Detroit River. - Photo by James Boase

As part of the Service’s Challenge Cost Share Grant Program, biologists from Alpena FRO, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Michigan DNR's Lake Erie Management Unit, Michigan DNR Lake St. Clair Research Station, and USGS Great Lakes Science Center teamed up to conduct the second fishery survey within the recently established Refuge. 

The Refuge boundary includes the Lower Detroit River and Lake Erie.  The last time a similar 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, including the addition of exotic species that have likely displaced or reduced the number and diversity of native species. 

The first survey took place last year in September, focusing on wetland areas located along western Lake Erie.  This year's efforts were to identify wetlands being used as nursery areas during the month of July. 

The primary goal of the project is to provide baseline information about what species, both native and exotic, are using the remaining wetland complexes found within Refuge waters in the lower Detroit River. 

The Refuge provides some of the last remaining natural wetland areas available in the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie. 

Refuge Manager John Hartig and DNR Biologist Joe Robison continue to meet with landowners within the Refuge Boundaries seeking management agreements to protect the remaining wetlands. 

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. 

At a planning meeting in March, researchers and managers identified locations in the lower Detroit River that were considered important nursery habitat and the dates to sample. 

During the September 2005 survey along western Lake Erie, 46 fish species were collected using both electro-fishing and seining.  More importantly, the survey was able to demonstrate that some state listed species and many economically valuable sport fish species (walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and other sun fishes) were using those locations as nursery areas.  

In 2006 sampling took place in July, earlier in the season, with the rationale that many of the species spawn early in the spring and would still be residing in the nursery areas.  With the exception of one location in western Lake Erie all sampling took place in the lower Detroit River.

In addition to the electrofishing and seining, small mesh fyke nets were used in 2006.  Sampling consisted of 14 seine hauls, electrofishing at 24 locations, and 29 fyke net sets. 

Staff caught 11,814 fish, representing 55 species from 15 families.  Two species, the silver lamprey and the state listed silver chub, were found last year, but not this year. 

Ten new species were captured this year: alewife, muskellunge, rainbow trout, striped shiner, horneyhead chub, black buffalo, smallmouth buffalo, silver redhorse, northern hog sucker, and white crappie. 

Again this year, a number of economically important sport species were identified using the limited number of wetland areas as nursery grounds.  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.