The Ashland National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) assisted the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission with several walleye population surveys.  The objective of this project was to estimate spawning populations of adult walleye within Mille Lacs Lake. 

Walleye population estimates are used to set safe harvest levels, on which tribal harvest quotas are based.  This year's assessment activity was assigned to Frank Stone.  During the ten night sampling effort, Stone and his crew (Mitch Soulier and Greg Smart) collected more than 2,000 fish.  The sampling effort is conducted at night because this is when spawning activity and opportunities to collect adult size fish are maximized.

Conserving this nation’s fish and other aquatic resources cannot be successful without the partnership of Tribes; they manage or influence some of the most important aquatic habitats both on and off reservations.  In addition, the Federal government and the Service have distinct and unique obligations toward Tribes based on trust responsibility, treaty provisions, and statutory mandates.  The Fisheries Program plays an important role in providing help and support to Tribes as they exercise their sovereignty in the management of their fish and wildlife resources on more than 55 million acres of Federal Indian trust land and in treaty reserved areas.