Crews perform instream restoration work on the Red River - Photo by Stewart Cogswell

Fishery Biologist, Ted Eggebraaten, assists with restoration work on the Red River. - Photo by Stewart Cogswell

An aerial photo of the Red River restoration project area. - Photo by Brian Lubinski

The Green Bay Fishery Resources Office partnered with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community to restore 750 meters (2460 ft) of stream on the Red River.  This is the first phase of a multi-phase project to restore more than a mile of stream that was damaged by historical logging operations. 

Currently, the river in this section is wide and shallow, which reduces habitat, promotes higher water temperatures and reduces sediment transport. 

The method used to restore the river was reconstructing the channel using natural channel design, stream modification methods.  Additionally, root wads, tree drops and boulders were used to provide instream habitat. 

The benefits will be a narrower and deeper channel, insteam habitat for fish and other aquatic species, which will provide a more natural hydrologic channel for the river.  Native brook trout will benefit from this project by creating deep pools for cover and riffle areas for spawning substrate. 

Tribal managers support this project to address brook trout restoration, which is a culturally significant species.