Service Biologists Heather Rawlings and Andrea Ania have been involved in the development of the Sturgeon River watershed group.  The Sturgeon River is a high quality sub-watershed of the larger Cheboygan River basin and currently supports a cold water fishery. 

The Headwaters Land Conservancy initiated formation of this watershed group in September and identified partners interested in protecting this high quality system before it becomes degraded.  Rawlings and Ania participated in watershed tours in October and November focused on identifying problematic road-stream crossings, stream bank erosion sites, and land use practices that are negatively impacting the watershed. 

In December, Rawlings and Ania met with the Otsego County Road Commission and Restoration Project Manager, Patrick Ertel, of Huron Pines RC&D to visit a problematic road-stream crossing on the West Branch of the Sturgeon. 

The current bridge has crumbling abutments and the bridge surface previously disintegrated under the weight of a county road commission truck.  The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is providing partial funding for this project and, when complete, will demonstrate the Service’s commitment to improving and protecting this watershed. 

Service participation in the Sturgeon River watershed group and coordination with partners to accomplish watershed rehabilitation projects is consistent with the Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Management priority of the Service’s Fisheries Program Vision for the Future.