Representatives from several Menominee Tribal offices, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Service's La Crosse FRO, Genoa NFH, Green Bay FRO, and Green Bay ESO met on the Menominee Reservations to continue cooperative efforts to restore and manage lake sturgeon on the Reservation. 

The team reviewed last years efforts and discussed plans for the upcoming year.  The presence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in Lake Winnebago was a big topic for discussion as it will impact managment actions into the near future. 

The group agreed to temporarily suspend all management actions that might contribute to the spread of this disease.  This will likely mean that efforts to restore lake sturgeon in the Wolf River through transfer of adults will not take place this year. 

In addition, Tribal representatives outlined the emergency rules that they have put in place to prevent spread of disease into Reservation waters through actions by the public.  

Planning for the 2008 sturgeon ceremony will need to begin early so that Wisconsin DNR can still provide fish for this culturally significant event and not risk spreading VHS into the Wolf River upstream of Lake Winnebago.  

Management efforts on Legend Lake will proceed as in the past, but VHS samples will be collected during the fall assessment.  The team proposed opening Legend Lake to hook and line for sturgeon year round. 

The Tribe will work to move this forward to their Legislature.  Ideas were discussed to increase interest and awareness of the lake sturgeon population and opportunities for harvest.