Floating conference room at Isle Royale

Isle Royale brook trout in stream

Isle Royale National Park is one of the most remote and unique wilderness areas in the U.S.  The park consists of one large island surrounded by about 400 smaller islands; it includes submerged land which extends 4 1/2 miles out into the largest fresh water lake in the world. Due to Isle Royale's biological and ecological uniqueness, it was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980.

The Park is undergoing a comprehensive review of research activities on the island including the historic wolf-moose studies led by Michigan Tech. researchers and coaster brook trout work led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.   Nine highly acclaimed academics from Alaska to North Carolina and points between have been contracted to provide review of existing activities and recommendations for future research at the island.

Henry Quinlan of the USFWS Ashland National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office was among a group of presenters that addressed current and future natural resource activities at Isle Royale.  Mr. Quinlan presented information on USFWS work with coaster and stream dwelling brook trout and future plans for lake trout studies at Isle Royale to the panelists and participated in discussion of fish, wildlife and plant monitoring and research at Isle Royale National Park.

Isle Royale is home to three of about a dozen populations of coaster brook trout remaining in Lake Superior.  Data collected by the USFWS such as age and size at maturity has contributed to management actions by the Park and Michigan DNR to help ensure the continued existence of coasters at Isle Royale.