Friends Group President Bob MacCord, and his wife, Liz, celebrate Earth Day at Michigan's Oden State Fish Hatchery. - Courtesy photo by Maureen Jacobson-Oden SFH

President of the Jordan River National Friends Group Bob MacCord and his wife, Liz, were on hand at the Michigan Department of Natural Resource’s Oden State Fish Hatchery to celebrate Earth Day. 

Rick Westerhof, Project Leader from Jordan River National Fish Hatchery was there too. 

Together they applied hundreds of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Trout” tattoos for the willing visitors.  Bob, Liz and Rick spent the day telling the story of Lake trout restoration, sea lamprey control, and the importance of friends organizations to USFWS Region 3 Hatcheries. 

The highlight of the day was a bald eagle attempting to catch excess broodstock from the display pond.  Unfortunately, the eagle was unsuccessful as the fish are quite large. 

The Fish and Wildlife Service was well represented with Barry Matthews, volunteer from the Ludington Sea Lamprey Office there with live sea lampreys.  Maureen Jacobs, coordinator of the Michigan Fisheries visitor center, provided a front and center location for the Jordan NFH display.  Jordan River NFH staff has built a strong relationship with Maureen and the Oden SFH staff; another success for the Service.