Aquatic Native Species and Habitat Restoration: Post-construction Evaluation of the Detroit River, Fort Wayne Fish Spawning Reef
In coordination with the 2019 Lake Erie Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) assessment activities, scientists from the USGS, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF), and Michigan Sea Grant, partnered in several fish spawning habitat restoration projects in the Detroit River, Michigan. Assessment of restored habitats in the Detroit River near Historic Fort Wayne Area of Concern (AOC) was done to evaluate the viability of the restoration to determine if habitat areas could be removed from Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) status.
Viability evaluation (biological and physical metrics) comprised of two field crews covering a temporal scope to include immediate pre- and post- reef construction in the summer 2018, egg sampling during fall 2018 and spring 2019, and larval drift sampling during fall 2019. Biological metrics on and around the Fort Wayne Reef were monitored from small research vessels, including sampling fish eggs deposited on the reef and larval fish drifting from the reef. Lake whitefish eggs were collected during the fall and multiple species’ eggs were collected in spring 2019, including lake sturgeon. Lake sturgeon larvae were collected immediately downstream of the Fort Wayne Reef in spring 2019.
Physical characteristics of the reef (velocity, side-scan sonar, sedimentation) were monitored to assess reef placement and maturation. Crews also collected samples near restored islands in the lower Detroit River, as well as throughout the river, rivermouth, and nearby areas of Lake Erie. Methods developed and implemented for this work may be used for developing long-term monitoring protocols for the Detroit River.
Contributions:
- This project was funded under the Areas of Concern Focus Area and collected data that helps determine the progress of the restoration effort to remediate the loss of lithophilic spawning habitat in the Detroit River. This project is a required project to de-list BUI 14 (Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat) in the Detroit River.
Partners
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI DNR)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF)
- Michigan Sea Grant
In coordination with the 2019 Lake Erie Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) assessment activities, scientists from the USGS, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF), and Michigan Sea Grant, partnered in several fish spawning habitat restoration projects in the Detroit River, Michigan. Assessment of restored habitats in the Detroit River near Historic Fort Wayne Area of Concern (AOC) was done to evaluate the viability of the restoration to determine if habitat areas could be removed from Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) status.
Viability evaluation (biological and physical metrics) comprised of two field crews covering a temporal scope to include immediate pre- and post- reef construction in the summer 2018, egg sampling during fall 2018 and spring 2019, and larval drift sampling during fall 2019. Biological metrics on and around the Fort Wayne Reef were monitored from small research vessels, including sampling fish eggs deposited on the reef and larval fish drifting from the reef. Lake whitefish eggs were collected during the fall and multiple species’ eggs were collected in spring 2019, including lake sturgeon. Lake sturgeon larvae were collected immediately downstream of the Fort Wayne Reef in spring 2019.
Physical characteristics of the reef (velocity, side-scan sonar, sedimentation) were monitored to assess reef placement and maturation. Crews also collected samples near restored islands in the lower Detroit River, as well as throughout the river, rivermouth, and nearby areas of Lake Erie. Methods developed and implemented for this work may be used for developing long-term monitoring protocols for the Detroit River.
Contributions:
- This project was funded under the Areas of Concern Focus Area and collected data that helps determine the progress of the restoration effort to remediate the loss of lithophilic spawning habitat in the Detroit River. This project is a required project to de-list BUI 14 (Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat) in the Detroit River.
Partners
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI DNR)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF)
- Michigan Sea Grant