Eight fish health biologists from the Bozeman and LaCrosee Fish Health Centers worked cooperatively with the Missouri River FWMAO, the State of North Dakota, and the Spirit Lake Nation to collect 313 fish at several sites from Devils Lake from July 26-30, 2005. Seven species of fish were tested for specific fish pathogens according to procedures of the National Wild Fish Health Survey (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2004).

Number of fish samples: Northern Pike- 57, Fathead Minnows- 60, White Bass- 60, Walleye 60, Black Crappie- 32, White Sucker- 12 and Yellow Perch- 32 from two sites Minnewauken Flats and Six Mile Bay on Devils Lake.

Devils Lake is for the most part a closed basin with no perennial outlet and levels are affected primarily by rainfall, runoff, and evapotranspiration. Water levels in the lake have fluctuated for thousands of years. The lake was at its lowest level during the 1940's and has been on the rise since then with significant increases during the last decade. Devils Lake would spill naturally into the Sheyenne River at a elevation above 1,459 ft above mean sea-level. Because the lake has been (closed) for many years, there is concern for the effects it may have on the Sheyenne and Red rivers in the event of overflow. Likewise, there is considerable controversy associated with construction of an outlet including water quality, biota transfer, social and economic, erosion, induced flooding, effectiveness, and reduced probability of natural spill, among others.

Pathogen Survey objectives:

1) Determine the presence, if any, and estimate the prevalence of specific fish pathogens and parasites in resident fish from Devils Lake.

2) Provide fish health specialists, fisheries managers, and other decision makers with a comprehensive pathogen survey report that may be used in performing risk analysis associated with biota transfer from an outlet on Devils Lake.

3) Provide survey results for viewing on the world wide web via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wild Fish Health Survey database and graphical interface.

Informational highlights are from a report generated for the Devils Lake Project, Principal Investigator Crystal Hudson, Bozeman Fish Health Center with permission.

Contact Rick Nelson, La Crosse Fish Health Center.