Alpena and Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices teamed up to discuss the National Fish Passage Program (NFPP). 

Susan Wells (Lake Huron Basin) from the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) invited Stewart Cogswell (Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Lake Michigan Basin) and Rick Westerhof (Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Lake Michigan Basin) from the Green Bay FWCO to participate in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) joint Lake Huron and Lake Michigan Basin Team meeting and the Michigan Trout Unlimited (TU) quarterly meeting in June. 

Wells gave a presentation on the NFPP and the potential new funding in the President’s budget (6 million dollars) associated with the Open Rivers Initiative (ORI) in 2008.  The ORI emphasizes small dam removal and other types of barriers blocking fish passage that include rock ramps, stream grade control structures, low water crossings, fish ladders and perched culverts.  

The ORI funds can be used for engineering, project design, inventorying barriers and monitoring and evaluation of projects.  The DNR and Trout Unlimited were very pleased to hear about the additional funding.  Both groups were excited about the possibility of developing future projects for small dam removal and then monitoring and evaluating the projects to see the benefits for the aquatic resources. 

Developing and implementing projects via the NFFP relies on partnerships with state, tribal, federal, and local government and non-profit agencies.  As a result of these partnerships, aquatic resources throughout Michigan and the country will benefit by reconnecting habitats that have been fragmented by artificial barriers. 

As with all successful programs (NFFP, Coastal Program, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, etc.), coordination externally and internally is very important.  With Alpena and Green Bay offices working together, along with the East Lansing Field offices and the Marquette and Ludington Sea Lamprey offices, the Fish and Wildlife Service can make a huge difference in the state Michigan as our message, process and implementation of these successful programs is clear and consistent across watersheds.