Service fisheries biologist Ted Eggebraaten secures brush bundles as part of the Upper Middle Inlet stream restoration project in Marinette County, Wisconsin. - FWS photo by Stewart Cogswell

Service fisheries biologist Stewart Cogswell assists landowners with tree planting as part of the Upper Middle Inlet stream restoration project in Marinette County, Wisconsin. - FWS photo by Gary Van Vreede

Landowner Paul Schroeder prepares to place woody structure as part of the Upper Middle Inlet stream restoration project in Marinette County, Wisconsin. - FWS photo by Stewart Cogswell

The Upper Middle Inlet is a coldwater trout stream located in Marinette County, Wisconsin. A one mile section of the stream flows through private property managed by a group of local sportsman.  Along a half mile stretch of this stream the surrounding woodlands were clear cut, ditched and grazed for over 40 years.

These practices have turned this once productive trout habitat into a shallow, slow moving stream with a high sand bedload, greatly reducing its habitat value.  U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Green Bay Field Office Fisheries Biologist Stewart Cogswell and Private Lands Biologist Gary Van Vreede are working together with the Marinette County Land and Water Conservation Department, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the land owners to restore the habitat value of the stream. 

Before project implementation, various parameters were measured over two seasons including temperature, flow regimes, and channel morphology.  Fishery assessments were also performed to determine the relative abundance of fish species within the stream.  The restoration of an 800 foot section of the stream was recently completed.  The project involved channel manipulation along with the placement of brush bundles, root-wads, logs and large boulders to improve stream morphology and enhance trout habitat.  

Riparian areas adjacent to the stream were planted with a diverse mixture of native tree saplings to provide shade and stabilize banks.  The property owners were instrumental in the completion of the project contributing over 300 hours of labor, including the use and operation of several pieces of heavy equipment.  

Funding assistance for the project was provided by the Services Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.  Plans are to continue working on the stream until the entire half mile stretch has been restored.  Monitoring will continue throughout the project to document habitat improvements and fish response.