# Project Organization Contact Status Amount
0065 Evaluation of Cartilage-Bone Biopsy and Polymerase Chain Reaction Procedures for Nonlethal Detection of Whirling Disease

Whirling Disease (WD) is a serious disease of salmonids caused by the myxosporean parasite Myxobolus cerebralis (Mc). Introduction of WD into the Great Lakes, Wisconsin, and Minnesota would pose a risk to the multibillion-dollar-a-year Great Lakes freshwater salmonid fishery. This study validated a nonlethal test for Mc in salmonids, thereby preventing unnecessary sacrifice of suspect hatchery and feral fish, valuable broodstock, and threatened and endangered species.

Board Decision Year: 2000
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Alpena Fishery Resources Office (Alpena ) Lasee, Becky ([email protected]) Completed $22,267.89
0064 Effects of Egg and Fry Predators on Lake Trout Recruitment in Lake Michigan

The influence of egg and fry predators on the lack of successful reproduction by lake trout in the Great Lakes is poorly understood. Predation, particularly by exotic species, may exceed the potential of spawning reefs to successfully incubate eggs and produce measurable recruitment. Researchers evaluated egg, fry, and predator abundance at spawning reefs in northeastern Lake Michigan, and used egg seeding, alewife exclosures, and laboratory experiments to assess the current effect of predation on recruitment.

Board Decision Year: 2000
Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Bayfield Institute (Burlington, ON, Canada) Fitzsimons, John ([email protected]) Completed $345,421.88
0063 Interactive Role of Transport and Foraging Success in the Determination of Growth Variability for Larval Yellow Perch, Perca Flavescens, in Southern Lake Michigan

The project team investigated consequences of larval yellow perch being transported out of productive near-shore areas of Lake Michigan. The primary concern regarding this transport is availability of optimal food for larval yellow perch in offshore areas. The team examined whether offshore transport inhibits larval growth and whether this growth change increases probability of mortality. This investigation greatly contributed to our understanding of how to best manage the Lake Michigan yellow perch fishery.

Board Decision Year: 2000
North Carolina State University - Office of Contracts and Grants (Raleigh) Rice, James ([email protected]) Completed $104,340.00
0062 Harbor Drive Angler Fishing Access Project

The city constructed a steel frame walkway, which connects to the top of the steel sheet wall. The walkway surface was made of treated wood and includes a steel railing on the east side adjacent to the water. Large rip rap stone was placed on top of the existing rip rap on the west side to adjust the grade to the walkway elevation. The walkway serves as a fishing site with direct access to the water and also provides pedestrian access to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Pier for fishing. The entire project construction was developed to provide for handicapped accessibility.

Board Decision Year: 2000
City of Menominee (Menominee) Furton, Anthony ([email protected]) Completed $159,854.32
0061 Arcadia Kid's Fishing Dock

A barrier-free children’s fishing dock was installed on the shore of Arcadia Lake near Arcadia in 1997. Through this grant, Arcadia extended that dock by 40 feet into the lake to enhance deep water fishing opportunities.

Board Decision Year: 2000
Arcadia Township (Arcadia) McCraner, Janice ([email protected]) Completed $14,950.00
0060 Montague Fishing Bridge

The railroad trestle crossing the White River between the cities of Montague and Whitehall in Muskegon County is now part of the Rails-to-Trails extension under construction. This project created a 244-foot-by-8-foot Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible fishing bridge attached to the downstream side of the trestle.

Board Decision Year: 2000
White Lake Area Sportfishing Association - c/o Hamilton Reef Fishery Services (Montague) Hamilton, Tom ([email protected]) Completed $100,000.00
0059 Great Lakes Fisheries Education Assessment and Summary of Needs

This project assessed fisheries education needs in order to assist the GLFT in targeting education-related funds where they will be most effective.

Board Decision Year: 2000
University of Michigan - School of Natural Resources and Environment (Ann Arbor) Zint, Michaela ([email protected]) Completed $78,505.60
0058 Big Rapids Dam Removal and Riverwalk Construction Project

The city's Muskegon River dam was removed, eliminating an obstruction and reconnecting portions of the Muskegon River. The high gradient portion of the Muskegon River was recovered which based on previous work on the Muskegon River, will directly and positively affect the ecology of the river. Following the removal, the city used its remaining GLFT grant funds to construct a riverwalk around the site, providing angler access, bank stabilization, and interpretative educational signage.

Board Decision Year: 2000
University of Michigan - Division of Research Development & Admin (Ann Arbor) Plautz, Cindy ([email protected]) Completed $350,000.00
0057 Hydroacoustic Equipment Purchase

Funds for this project were used to purchase hydroacoustic sampling gear that will be used by multiple agencies to enhance their ability to conduct prey fish surveys in Lake Michigan and provide critical abundance information to Great Lakes fisheries managers.

Board Decision Year: 1999
U.S. Geological Survey - Great Lakes Science Center (Ann Arbor) Craig, Jaquie ([email protected]) Completed $100,000.00
0055 Molecular Genetic Assessment of Stocking Success and Sources of Natural Lake Trout Recruitment in the Great Lakes

This research provided a means of evaluating the success of rehabilitation programs by elucidating the proportional contribution of various hatchery stocks to adult recruitment onto spawing reefs and to natural reproduction. Researchers identified the reproductive success of reintroduced lake trout from different hatchery strains. Identification of the relative contribution of each of several introduced hatchery strains allowed researchers to match putative donor strains to specific reef habitats based on differences in strain fitness, thus eliminating redundant and wasteful production.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Michigan State University - Office of Contract & Grant Administration (East Lansing) Scribner, Kim ([email protected]) Completed $215,975.00
0054 4th International Sturgeon Symposium

The 4th International Symposium on Sturgeon was one of a series of symposia designed to facilitate worldwide information exchange, research stimulation, and professional networking in relation to sturgeon. Previous symposia in this specific series were held in Piacenza, Italy, in 1997; Moscow, Russia, in 1993; and Bordeaux, France, in 1989.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Michigan State University - Office of Contract & Grant Administration (East Lansing) Binkowski, Fred ([email protected]) Completed $25,000.00
0053 Lake Sturgeon Genetics Standardization Workshop

Funding for this project was used to coordinate and host a 1-2 day workshop on standardizing genetic identification of various lake sturgeon populations in December 1999 in Chicago.

Board Decision Year: 1999
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office (Amherst) Lowie, Chris ([email protected]) Completed $6,800.00
0052 Characterization of the Humoral and Cellular Immune Response of Salmonids to Renibacterium Salmoninarum (BKD Phase II)

This project completed laboratory testing and began field evaluation of nonlethal and environmental sampling methods for detecting the agent of bacterial kidney disease (BKD) in Great Lakes salmonid fishes and water, respectively. Nonlethal detection methods that enable monitoring of performance and survival of fish after testing, and methods for monitoring the pathogen in the environment, enhanced evaluation of the impacts of this important pathogen on Great Lakes salmonids.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Western Fisheries Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey - Fish Health Section (Seattle) Elliott, Diane ([email protected]) Completed $332,105.46
0051 Studies on the Detection, Transmission, and Development of Renibacterium Salmoninarum Infection in Great Lakes Salmonid Fishes (BKD Phase I)

Laboratory research compared diagnostic methods for bacterial kidney disease and investigated the effects of hatchery practices on the transmission of the pathogen and the development of the disease.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Western Fisheries Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey - Fish Health Section (Seattle) Elliott, Diane ([email protected]) Completed $267,050.00
0050 Effect of Diporeia Declines on Fish Diet, Growth, and Food Web Dynamics in Southeast Lake Michigan

This project related the potential differences in fish diet and food web dynamics between St. Joseph and Little Sable Pointe to recent declines in Diporeia (an invertebrate food source).

Board Decision Year: 1999
University of Michigan - Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystem Research (Ann Arbor) Brandt, Stephen ([email protected]) Completed $276,868.00
0049 Mechanisms Affecting Recruitment of Yellow Perch in Lake Michigan

The primary goal of this study was to research the factors controlling the recruitment of yellow perch in Lake Michigan.

Board Decision Year: 1999
University of Illinois - Grants and Contracts Office (Champaign) Dettmers, John ([email protected]) Completed $334,356.80
0048 Salmonid Spawning Stock Abundance, Recruitment, and Exploitation in the Muskegon River

The grant's specific objectives included evaluating the feasibility of using fixed-location riverine hydroacoustic technology to measure smolt abundance, quantifying smolt behavior during migration, and estimating abundance of out-migrating smolts.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Michigan State University - Office of Contract & Grant Administration (East Lansing) Mason, Ph.D., Doran M. ([email protected]) Completed $298,785.18
0047 Energy Dynamics of Lake Michigan Chinook Salmon

Lake Michigan fishery managers seek reliable indicators of nutritional stress in Chinook salmon populations. Project managers collected wild-ranging Chinook salmon from Lake Michigan and measured various indicators of fish nutritional state in spring and fall over a three-year period. The goal of this study was to determine which indicators provide the best measure of stress and estimate the number of fish needed to provide an adequately precise estimate of stress on the population. The study also enhanced knowledge of the causes of stress in Great Lakes Chinook salmon.

Board Decision Year: 2000
Michigan State University - Office of Contract & Grant Administration (East Lansing) Jones, Michael L. ([email protected]) Completed $238,625.09
0046 Feasibility Study of Public Access and Shore-Fishing Potential Along the Upper Detroit River Shoreline

This study assessed the potential fishing access sites in southeast Michigan along the Detroit River.

Board Decision Year: 1999
National Wildlife Federation - Great Lakes Regional Office (Ann Arbor) Buchsbaum, Andy ([email protected]) Completed $23,640.00
0045 Success of Current Strategies to Recolonize Lake Trout Spawning Reefs in Northern Lake Michigan

This project evaluated the success of existing lake trout stocking strategies which started in 1985 because of the lakewide plan to rehabilitate Lake Michigan approved by the Lake Michigan (approved by the Lake Michigan Committee). Since 1985, the majority (more than 76 percent) of lake trout stocked have been transported and released directly above 24 specific spawning reefs,compared to less than 27 percent in 1965-84. Recolonization of historically productive spawning reefs will likely play a major role in lake trout finally achieving sustained natural reproduction in Lake Michigan. This project measured the distribution of spawning lake trout on 31 reefs throughout northern Lake Michigan over three years to evaluate the success of current stocking stategies. Distribution information was used to assess the performance of lake trout strains stocked for restoration and the movement of lake trout in the study area.

Board Decision Year: 1999
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Green Bay Fishery Resources Office (New Franken) Holey, Mark ([email protected]) Completed $157,360.00
0044 Construction of a Barrier-Free Fishing Platform at the Rogers City Boat Harbor

This project provided enhanced angler access to Lake Huron fish populations as part of recreational improvements (including a new breakwall) at the city’s boat harbor.

Board Decision Year: 1999
City of Rogers City (Rogers City) Fairbanks, Robert ([email protected]) Completed $150,000.00
0043 Investigations into the Causes of Thiamine Deficiency in Great Lakes Salmonids and the Effects of Low Thiamine on Swim-Up Fry Behavior (EMS)

Early mortality syndrome (EMS) of Great Lakes salmonid species is a result of a deficiency in the vitamin thiamine. The goal of this research was twofold: 1) to provide fishery management agencies with information for management of forage fish, such as alewife, to minimize thiamine-related loss of lake trout, coho, and Chinook salmon; and 2) to determine if neurological and other abnormalities in thiamine-deficient fry contribute to the observed recruitment failure in Lake Michigan lake trout populations.

Board Decision Year: 2000
U.S. Geological Survey - Biological Resources Division (Wellsboro) Honeyfield, Dale ([email protected]) Completed $465,000.00
0042 Investigating Solutions to Early Mortality Syndrome in Lake Michigan: More Effective Hatchery Treatment and Pathway Definition

Managing for sustainable salmon and trout fisheries in Lake Michigan is threatened by the occurrence of early mortality syndrome (EMS), a syndrome that reduces egg survival. This three-year project identified the most effective thiamine treatment methodology to maintain Lake Michigan hatchery production. A screening technique was developed to measure egg thiamine levels that will provide a tool to decide which eggs require treatment was developed. Once the cause and pathway of EMS is identified, fishery agencies will have the information to help manage the Lake Michigan fish community. Methodology and analytical techniques from this project can be transferred to investigate recent recruitment problems in other Great Lakes species.

Board Decision Year: 1998
U.S. Geological Survey - Biological Resources Division (Wellsboro) Honeyfield, Dale ([email protected]) Completed $452,000.00
0041 Angler Access Improvement on Pere Marquette Lake

The City of Ludington angler access improvement project is located in downtown Ludington and was completed in the fall of 2000. This project provided enhanced opportunities for shore fishing of Great Lakes species as part of the new downtown harbor redevelopment project on Pere Marquette Lake, adjacent to Lake Michigan. The improvements meet the needs of residents and visitors to the area by maximizing access for families, seniors, and disabled persons. Improvements include restroom facilities, picnic tables, a fishing boardwalk, parking, and shelters.

Board Decision Year: 1999
City of Ludington (Ludington) Beutell, Mary ([email protected]) Completed $191,572.46
0040 Village of Elberta Angler Access Improvement

This project provided shore-fishing opportunities for Great Lakes species entering Betsie Lake as part of a larger recreational project involving creative re-use of the former car/railroad ferry site.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Village of Elberta (Elberta) Bower, Sharon ([email protected]) Completed $171,717.00
0039 Identify and Plan for the Improvement of Access Sites

This project identified potential projects to enhance public and tribal fishing access in northern Lake Huron, northern Lake Michigan, and eastern Lake Superior.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (Sault Ste. Marie) TenEyck, Jane ([email protected]) Completed $24,771.14
0038 Big South Branch Pere Marquette River Habitat Improvements

This project implemented erosion control and habitat improvement measures on the Big South Branch of the Pere Marquette River. Baseline data were taken prior to improvements for benchmarking and evaluation purposes. Sampling occurred (following improvement measures) to determine the effect of the habitat improvements on natural salmonid reproduction.

Board Decision Year: 1998
Pere Marquette Watershed Council Inc (Baldwin) Schwikert, Richard ([email protected]) Completed $749,999.40
0037 Sutton's Landing Improvements

The Pere Marquette Charter Township angler access improvement project at Sutton's Landing was a pilot project (1998) of the Great Lakes Fishery Trust. This two-year project improved the Sutton's Landing Park, which served 7,500 fishermen per year prior to improvements. The boat launch provides access to Pere Marquette Lake, the Pere Marquette River, and Lake Michigan.

Board Decision Year: 1998
Pere Marquette Charter Township - Parks Commission (Ludington) Kelley, Joanne ([email protected]) Completed $209,375.00
0036 Project Fish!

This project promoted better understanding of Great Lakes fisheries and factors required to sustain this natural resource through providing materials, training, and support for teachers and volunteer mentors who work with youth in schools, sport fishing clubs, and locally sponsored sport fishing events. This project indirectly provided better access to resource users, and promoted active stewardship of Great Lakes fisheries among youth and families. It accomplished these goals through exciting interactive learning materials, long-term learning experiences with mentors and clubs, and Family Fun Fishing Festivals.

Board Decision Year: 1998
Michigan State University - Office of Contract & Grant Administration (East Lansing) Dann, Shari L. ([email protected]) Completed $210,620.00
0035 Fish for All

This project produced two education resources relating to Lake Michigan fisheries: a traveling exhibit and an exhibit catalog. These education resources enabled the public to contextualize present-day fisheries policies.

Board Decision Year: 1998
Western Michigan University - History (Kalamazoo) Chiarappa, Michael J. ([email protected]) Completed $194,921.16
0034 The Feasibility of Biocide Application in Controlling the Release of Non-Indigenous Species from Ballast Water

This project sought to investigate further the use of gluteraldehide to treat both no-ballast-on-board (NOBOB) and ballast-on board (BOB) shipping vessels. The main focus of this study was to access the logistics, efficacy, and environmental acceptability of treating vessels claiming NOBOB. A secondary goal was to evaluate the treatment of BOB vessels.

Board Decision Year: 1998
University of Michigan - Division of Research Development & Admin (Ann Arbor) Parsons, Michael ([email protected]) Completed $255,407.48
0033 Building a Prototype Fishway for Lake Sturgeon

This project resulted in the building and testing of a prototype fish passage for lake sturgeon. Primary components included continued telemetry studies at White Rapids Dam to determine the best location for a fishway passage; tests with juvenile lake sturgeon to determine the best fishway design; and tests with other warm-water fish to determine the effectiveness for other species.

Board Decision Year: 1998
University of Massachussetts - Department of Forestry & Wildlife (Amherst) Kynard, Boyd ([email protected]) Completed $133,452.00
0030 Big Sable River Access Improvements at Ludington State Park

This project improved angler access by connecting an existing parking area to the south pier. The improvements include the handicappe-accessible walkway and paved parking for approximately 12 vehicles.

Board Decision Year: 2001
Michigan Department of Natural Resources - Parks and Recreation Bureau (Lansing) Peterson, Paul ([email protected]) Completed $378,453.50
0003 Development of a Statewide Great Lakes Ecological Information System at Michigan's State Fish Hatcheries

This project developed integrated and comprehensive Great Lakes ecological information/interpretive centers at state fish hatcheries.

Board Decision Year: 1999
Michigan State University - Office of Contract & Grant Administration (East Lansing) Alvarez, Juan ([email protected]) Completed $3,344,696.00