Congressman John Conyers Jr., Karen Boase and Fishery Biologist James Boase enjoy the Second Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Alliance Benefit Dinner. - Courtesty photo by Mark Houston, DTE Energy

 On April 28, the Second Annual Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Alliance Benefit Dinner was held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse in Monroe Michigan. 

The Alliance is a non-profit group of organizations that build the capacity of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deliver its mission for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

The benefit was attended by more than 400 people and included a strolling dinner and drinks as guests bid on silent and live auction items.  Highlight of the evening were the presentations and speeches given by Congressman John D. Dingell, Congressman John Conyers, Member of Canadian Parliament Jeff Watson, Canadian Consul General Robert Noble, Sister Mary Fran the leader of Mary Motherhouse, Refuge Manager John Hartig, and speeches by a number of other local dignitaries.  The amount of funds raised in 2006 and in 2007 has totaled more than $200,000. 

Fishery Biologist James Boase form the Alpena FRO was an invited guest because of his fisheries work within the Refuge and related work on the Detroit River over the past five years.  Since Boase began working with the Service in 2002 he has worked with Refuge Manager John Hartig to identify fishery assessment needs within Refuge. 

The refuge stretches along 48 miles of the Detroit River and western Lake Erie shoreline.  This area of the Great Lakes forms a unique link between the upper Great Lakes and lower Great Lakes.  Within the Refuge boundaries are a unique group of islands, coastal wetland, shoal and upland habitats.  As part of the Service’s Challenge Cost Share Grant Program and the Science Support Program, biologists from Alpena FRO, DRIWR, Michigan DNR Lake Erie Management Unit, Michigan DNR Lake St. Clair Research Station, and USGS Great Lakes Science Center have been working to identify important near shore nursery areas and fish spawning areas in the Detroit River and western Lake Erie.