Laona High School students and teachers assisting with fish crib construction. - USFWS photo by Stewart Cogswell

Whole tree drops were used to increase habitat and reduce wave action generated by personal watercraft. - USFWS photo by Stewart Cogswell

The Bass Lake restoration partnership team: (L-R); Justine Hasz (WDNR), Stewart Cogswell (USFWS), Tom Morris (USFS), Greg Kornely (WDNR), and Dale Wery (BLLA). - Photo courtesy Huey House

Service employee Stewart Cogswell next to a recently constructed spawning reef. - Photo courtesy Tom Morris

The Green Bay Fisheries Resources Office assisted with restoration efforts on Bass Lake, Oconto County located in northeastern Wisconsin.  Bass Lake is one of the most popular recreation spots in the county, despite being located in a rural area.  Local landowners have witnessed a steady decline in fish numbers backed up by surveys performed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources which have shown a steady decline in fish populations over the past decade. One contributing factor has been low water levels exposing the limited spawning habitat available on the lake.  Other potential factors include an increase in shoreline development and the explosive use of personal watercraft.  

Data from the surveys coupled with increased recreational use led the Bass Lake Landowners Association (BLLA) to take action.  A plan was developed cooperatively by the BLLA, Wisconsin DNR, and the U.S. Forest Service to identify areas to construct an artificial spawning reef, 10 fish cribs and the placement of whole tree drops.  All work was performed during the winter to allow construction to take place on the ice.   The Oconto County Highway department hauled over 200 tons of natural granite stone onto the ice to construct the spawning reef.   Laona High School students assisted the BLLA with construction of 10 fish cribs and the U.S. Forest Service placed over 30 whole trees as near shore habitat.  The Wisconsin DNR will monitor fish populations to determine the effects of the project.  Project funding was provided by the Wisconsin DNR, BLLA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.