Introduction:

            Construction and operation of the outlet from Devils Lake connects a closed basin in North Dakota to the Hudson Bay drainage through the Sheyenne River then Red River. The outlet could potentially transfer parasites and pathogens from Devils Lake into the Hudson Bay drainage to the detriment of fish populations in that basin, especially to commercial and sport fish populations in the Red River and Lake Winnipeg.

Lake Winnipeg has a sustainable $30 million commercial fishery for walleye, sauger, and lake whitefish that is Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. In addition to this recorded catch, fishers sell some of their catch directly to the public, and there is a substantial First Nations fishery for local consumption. The Red River supports a significant sport fishery in both the United States and Canada.

In response to the potential threat to downstream aquatic ecosystems in Canada and the United States from the Devils Lake outlet, the International Joint Commission requested that the International Red River Board prepare a proposal that provides:

Phase I: 2006 Summer Field Sampling. The Service proposes to survey key locations in Devil’s lake for aquatic animal pathogens. In addition, sampling sites were chosen for the Sheyenne and Red Rivers using reference sites from previous studies. Under the guidance of the National Wild Fish Health Survey, the project will attempt to sample a statistically valid number from each fish species found in the lake and river systems. This sampling schematic will provide an additional tool to facilitate scientifically defensible management decisions regarding the Devil’s Lake Basin.

Phase II: of the proposal will include a seasonal sampling approach. The occurrence and prevalence of certain fish pathogens may be variably affected by several life history characteristics and elements of environment, especially those causing increased stress.

An annual monitoring program should consider sample collections at two or more times during the year. It may be particularly important and interesting to examine fish during or immediately following spawning activities.

Pathogen Survey Objectives:

1-     Determine the presence, if any, and estimate the prevalence of specific fish pathogens                                                                                                                    and parasites in resident fish from Devil’s Lake, Sheyenne and Red Rivers.

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

3-     Provide survey results for viewing on the World Wide Web via the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wild Fish Health Survey database and graphical interface.

Devil’s Lake:

            Based on information provided by North Dakota Game and Fish Department, nine species of fish were known to occur in Devil’s lake and proposed for collection. Species include: Black bullhead, Northern pike, Black crappie, fathead minnow, White sucker, White bass, Walleye, Yellow perch, Brook stickleback.

Red River:

            Black bullhead, Northern pike, Black crappie, White sucker, Walleye, Yellow perch, Common carp, Channel catfish, Drum, Mooneye, Short head Red horse.

Sheyenne River:

            Black bullhead, Northern pike, Black crappie, White sucker, Walleye, Yellow perch, Common carp, Green sunfish, Smallmouth bass, Tadpole Mad tom.

Analysis of pathogen prevalence:

Samples were assayed for specific fish pathogens according to protocols and procedures for the National Wild Health Survey and the AFS-FHS/FWS Blue Book.

List of primary fish pathogens for the National Wild Fish Health Survey:

Virus:  Channel Catfish Virus, CCV disease

            Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus, IHN

            Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus, IPN

            Largemouth Bass Virus, LMBV disease

            Oncorhynchus masou Virus, OMV disease

            Viral hemorrhagic septicemia Virus, VHS

Bacteria:  Aeomonas salmonicida, furunculosis and ulcer disease

               Renibacterium salmoninarum, bacterial kidney disease

               Yersinia ruckeri, enteric redmouth disease

               Edwardsiella ictaluri, entericsepticemia of catfish

               Edwardsiella tarda, edwardsiellsis

Parasite:  Myxobolus cerebralis, whirling disease

Two sampling trips were completed this Fall, one during the week of September 25-30, and the other during the week of October 10-14, 2006. U.S. Partners included Service Fish Health Laboratories, Bozeman FHC, MT; La Crosse FHC, WI; Dexter FHC, NM; Dworshak FHC, ID; Spirit Lake First Nation; North Dakota Game & Fish; IJC and International Red River Board (U. S. Representatives).

Results are being processed and the results reported by March, 2006.