Date post: | 14-Jan-2015 |
Category: |
Technology |
Upload: | healthy-lakes-healthy-lives |
View: | 301 times |
Download: | 2 times |
DESIGNING SYMBIOTIC FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATIONS AND ENHANCEMENTS
Incorporating pike spawning marshes into wetland enhancement design to benefit waterfowl and Northern Pike
Mike Mushinski – Brown County Land and Water Conservation Brian Glenzinski – Ducks Unlimited
Green Bay West Shores
• 70% of wetlands along or adjacent to Green Bay’s west shore have been lost
The reluctant evolution of a Fisheries Biologist
Typical Wetland Enhancement Design
Impoundments with water control structures, managed primarily for waterfowl
Sensiba Unit: 1959 Impoundment
• Started - 2007 • First projects installed – 2008 • 36 contracts to date • Monitoring YOY started 2011
West Shore Northern Pike Habitat Restoration Project
Pike Spawning Requirements
• Small ephemeral streams and wetlands
• Vegetation • Shallow water
( < 10 inches)
Pike Spawning Projects - Mercier
Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012
Project Goals & Accomplishments
Goals • 25 Acres – Buffers • 38 Acres – Wetland
Creation/Restorations • 6 Culvert Impediments replaced • 5 Miles of new stream accessibility • Increase top predator (pike) #’s in Bay • Reduce Green Bay’s impaired uses
for “degraded fish and wildlife populations
Accomplished • 50.9 Acres – Buffers • 33.4 Acres – Wetland Creation/Restorations • 6 Culvert Impediments replaced • 17 Miles of new stream accessibility
Ecological Services
• 2-3 inch fish = $0.52 AFS • 53,901 YOY captured in 2003
at Barkhausen = $28,028 • Habitat restoration pays for
itself quickly
YOY Assessments
Monitoring Results 2011 2012
YOY 2000 300 Traps 21 23 Note: Heavy snow during fry incubation period in 2011 and drought conditions in 2012 resulted in low spawning success Areas of Concern
• Lower Lake Levels • Drought • Flashy nature of spawning wetlands
Sensiba Unit – Green Bay West Shores
• 1,210 acres
• Lake MI Coastal wetlands
• Wisconsin DNR Ownership
• Partnership restoration
Sensiba Wildlife Area
• 1,210 acres • Lake MI Coastal wetlands • Wisconsin DNR Ownership
L.H. Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve
Partnership: Ducks Unlimited Brown County Green Bay Packers USFWS Coastal Program
• Borrow Area • Water Routing • Water Levels
Benefits of cross discipline collaboration
• Cost effective fish access • Separation provides optimal waterfowl
habitat • Water level control provides optimal
hydrology during peak spawning periods • Ephemeral Pike marshes can provide
additional waterfowl habitat during fall migration with increase water level management
• Increased Ecological Services • Increased partner and public support • Improved Green Bay Fishery
Brian Glenzinski Ducks Unlimited Regional Biologist 4511 Helgesen Drive Madison, WI 53718 (608) 221-1206x12 [email protected]
North American Wetlands Conservation Act Wisconsin Initiatives