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Week of April 19, 2010 |
| National |
| General |
| Indiana |
| Michigan |
| New York |
| Wisconsin |
| Other Breaking News Items |
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National
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Name on airline reservations and picture ID must be identical An important new change is taking place for everyone who travels. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched a program called "Secure Flight," which will require travelers to provide their full name as it appears on the government-issued identification they will be traveling with (i.e. passport, driver's license) when making airline reservations. |
With this change, you will no longer be able to travel under an abbreviated name or nickname (i.e. Scott vs. W. Scott, Liz vs. Elizabeth or Bill vs. William).
This change in airline procedure may affect you and require you to make changes to how your name appears in your travel documents including profiles with your travel agency. |
Regional
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Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for April 16, 2010 Weather Conditions The Great Lakes basin experienced seasonable temperatures and light rain for the majority of the week. Thursday saw summer like temperatures near 80 degrees in some locations ahead of a cold front. Cooler temperatures and a chance of rain exist this weekend as the frontal system continues to push through the basin. Looking forward to the upcoming workweek, dry conditions will return along with temperatures hovering in the mid 60's. Lake Level Conditions Currently, Lake Superior is near its level from one year ago. Lakes Michigan-Huron and St. Clair are 2 and 9 inches, respectively, below their April 2009 level while Lakes Erie and Ontario are 13 and 19 inches, respectively, below their levels of a year ago. Much of the difference between last year's and this year's levels of Lakes Erie and Ontario can be attributed to the significant amount of snow that fell in 2009 versus what has fallen this year. Over the next month, the water levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are both expected to increase by 3 inches. Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are also expected to rise by 2, 3 and 7 inches respectively during the next thirty days. Over the next few months, all of the Great Lakes are expected to be below their levels of a year ago with the exception of Lake Superior which will be near the prior year's level. Forecasted March Outflows/Channel Conditions The outflow from Lake Superior into the St. Mary's River is |
forecasted to be below average. The outflows from both Lake Huron into the St. Clair River as well as the Detroit River are forecasted to be below average. Near average flows are expected for the Niagara River and the St. Lawrence River. Alerts Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels. Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.
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General
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Pure Fishing teams up with Boy Scouts of America Shakespeare, Berkley and Stren Help BSA National Jamboree Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Scouting COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 14, 2010) � Pure Fishing has been named the exclusive fishing tackle provider for the 2010 Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree, celebrating 100 years of the Boy Scout organization.
"This is the beginning of a great relationship between our company and the Boy Scouts," said David Lund, Vice President of Marketing -The Americas. "These fine young citizens will discover more about the joys of fishing and the outdoors. They'll learn about conservation and the responsible stewardship of the environment. The scouts will be better prepared for their future."
Pure Fishing�s program development work with the BSA creates a stronger fishing and conservation presence at the Jamboree. Pure Fishing will operate educational exhibits such as the Berkley PowerBait Fish Tank, a fishing line knot tester, casting technique demonstrations and an Eco Conservation Display. Scouts can earn a one-of-a-kind special issue Fish Hook Lake Patch by catching a fish during the Jamboree.
Scouts will be fishing with tackle from the popular brands of Shakespeare, Berkley and Stren. Tackle includes Shakespeare rod and reel combos, Berkley Gulp! Earthworms and Gulp! Catfish bait and Stren monofilament fishing line.
�The Boy Scouts of America is very pleased and impressed with the amount of support Pure Fishing is bringing to our Jamboree,� said Ben Jelsema, Chairman BSA Fishing Task Force. �Everyone expects 2010 to be the biggest, most dynamic and rewarding fishing venue for the scouts ever.�
�The fishing program at Fish Hook Lake is one of the most |
popular events at the Jamboree,� explained Jelsema. �In our last Jamboree in 2005, we had over 50,000 Scouts participating in the fishing venue where over 18,000 fish were caught averaging 1-1/2 pounds each. Pure Fishing will add to the program and will help ensure each Scout will have fun and exceed their fishing expectation.�
Over 300,000 people from across the globe, including over 40,000 Scouts and BSA staffers, are scheduled to convene at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County, Virginia this July 26. The 10-day event location will temporarily be the third largest city in the state, complete with its own zip code.
The jamboree program reflects the skills of Scouting�physical fitness, environmental conservation, our national heritage and the true spirit of Scouting. Amid the thousands of colorful tents that will house participants and provide program and support services, there is an infrastructure that provides a safe and secure environment at Fort A.P. Hill. Everything from bus systems, telephone and internet, to first-aid stations and a hospital, police and fire departments, post offices, food warehouses, a daily newspaper, and retail stores (trading posts and concession stands) provide all the support and program services needed for an outstanding event.
Scouts will enjoy many different experiences such as fishing, fly fishing, rappelling, scuba, kayaking, rafting and sailing. Additional activities include trap shooting, archery, bikeathlons, buckskin games, confidence courses, conservation trail and more. Daily activities include an incredible merit badge midway, arts and sciences, a re-creation of Baden-Powell�s original Scout camp on Brownsea Island, an American Indian village, regional entertainment stages and other activities. The arena shows are a highlight for all participants.
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Apprentice Hunting License Sales Soar to Nearly 400,000 NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Plant a sapling and, in time, it will bear much fruit. That's the way to look at Families Afield, a program launched in 2004 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and National Wild Turkey Federation to reduce states' regulatory barriers to youth hunting.
Now firmly rooted in 29 states that have passed legislation lowering barriers to youth hunting, the program is producing bushels of new, young hunters. Families Afield's latest report shows that from 2005 through 2009 more than 388,000 apprentice hunting licenses have been sold, based on 24 states reporting their license sales numbers. As the tree grows, the yield becomes greater: An increase of 100,000 apprentice hunting licenses occurred in 2009 alone.
States with the most apprentice hunting license sales are Pennsylvania, 102,663; Michigan, 59,929; and Ohio, 51,416. |
(See map for other state totals.) Families Afield is based on a few simple premises: that parents not politics, should decide at what age a child is mature enough to try hunting, and that when introducing a youngster to hunting, earlier is better.
The need for Families Afield became apparent when a study revealed that hunting regulations in many states did not allow youth to hunt with an adult mentor until sometimes 12 years old or later. The age restriction plus stringent coursework and certification requirements were deterrents to getting started, making it a whole lot easier for children to channel their enthusiasms into video games and organized youth sports.
These barriers were reducing the number of youngsters participating in hunting. Researchers found that for every 100 hunters lost, only 69 were taking their place. If that "hunter replacement ratio" couldn't be improved, hunting itself could be compromised, along with its critical ties to wildlife conservation and America's economy.
Families Afield's answer was to allow licensed adult mentors to introduce youngsters to hunting at younger ages, instilling the passion for hunting in children early -- and safely -- thereby bonding families together and increasing attendance in hunter education classes.
For more info about Families Afield and about your state's hunting regulations, go to www.familiesafield.org |
Indiana
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Register Soon for Kid�s Ind. Fishing Derbies Children ages 2 to 14 are invited to participate in one of the fishing derbies at the three Upper Wabash Reservoirs June 5 during the statewide Free Fishing Weekend. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. with fishing from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The award ceremonies follow.
Children should register in advance to participate in one of these free events.
�Each participating child goes home with a prize. There are grand prizes for the largest fish caught and prizes for each of three age categories. Each child can win only one of these large prize packages, and all will receive other prizes for participating,� said Marvin McNew, director of Upper Wabash
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Interpretive Services.
Children will be divided into age categories 2 to 5, 6 to 10, and 11 to 14 year olds. Prizes include fishing tackle, tackle boxes, fishing rods and reels, and many others. Current sponsors include Bozarth Recreational Resort, Wal-Mart, Bud�s Fish� N Hole, Riverside Sporting Goods, Yohe Realty, and Huntington Metro Kiwanis.
Call (260) 468-2127 to register for the derby of choice. Salamonie�s Derby will be near the beach in the Lost Bridge West Recreation Area; Mississinewa�s will be at the boat ramp in the Miami Recreation Area; and J. Edward Roush�s Derby will be at the pond in the Little Turtle Recreation Area. |
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Muskie study planned for Upper Long Lake COLUMBIA CITY � Fisheries biologists with the Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a major study of the muskie stocking program this summer at Upper Long Lake in southwestern Noble County.
Since 1996, the local lake association and the Webster Lake Musky Club have periodically stocked muskie fingerlings in the 86-acre natural lake to provide muskie fishing opportunities and increase predation on small bluegills. When stocked, the muskie fingerlings average 10 inches long and are purchased from a commercial hatchery in Wisconsin. They are normally stocked at the rate of five fingerlings per surface acre (430 total) with the expectation that one out of five will survive to adult size.
Although the muskie stockings are funded privately by the two organizations with approval from the DFW, both are requesting assistance from the DFW to evaluate the program�s success.
�Some lake residents question whether muskie stockings are providing any benefit,� said Jed Pearson, DFW fisheries biologist. �They want to know how many muskies are in the lake, how many muskies are being caught by anglers, and whether they are affecting other fish in the lake.�
Although Pearson says the DFW does not help pay for the cost of stockings, they can provide technical assistance in |
evaluating them. �We will first take a look at the lake�s largemouth bass population in April and May and compare the bass population present now with what was present when the muskie stockings began,� Pearson said.
In mid-May and throughout summer, DFW personnel will be stationed at the lake to count and interview anglers. Data they gather will be used to determine how many fish are caught, size of fish caught, and the level of interest in muskie fishing.
DFW biologists will also conduct a complete fish population survey in mid-June using a shocker-boat, nets and traps that will provide detailed information on the overall species composition of the lake, the abundance of forage fish for muskies to eat, and the size of bluegills.
�Upper Long Lake has a long history of producing excessive numbers of small, slow-growing bluegills,� Pearson said. �One of the original goals of stocking muskies was to reduce the number of small bluegills in hopes that others would grow larger. The survey will allow us to compare bluegill size now to the size of bluegills in the past.�
Once the surveys are complete, the DFW will issue a report of the findings next winter. At that point, plans are to conduct a meeting of interested lake residents and anglers to determine the future direction of the muskie stocking program. |
Michigan
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�Becoming an Outdoors-Woman� Program Set for June 4-6 in the UP Women seeking the opportunity to improve their outdoor skills are invited to register for the 13th annual �Becoming an Outdoors-Woman� (BOW) program, June 4-6 in Big Bay, 30 miles north of Marquette. The program will be held at Bay Cliff Health Camp, a universally accessible facility, located in a picturesque wooded setting overlooking Lake Superior.
Sponsored by the Michigan DNR, this program offers instruction in more than two dozen kinds of outdoor activities, including canoeing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, fly-tying, archery, boating, birding, rock climbing and shooting sports. According to Sharon Pitz, the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman U.P. program coordinator, BOW instructors will provide basic and advanced instruction that�s uniquely tailored to each participant's individual ability - a key reason the participants achieve so much in a short time.
�The best part, for me, is to see all the smiles on our guests� faces when they have accomplished personal goals or faced |
down fears in their lives and just want to keep learning even more,� Pitz said. �After a program, most women will comment on how much they�ve learned, how tired they are - but it�s a �good tired� - and that they just can�t wait to try out their new skills and come back with friends to learn even more.�
The $175 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies (except as noted in the registration materials). Participants will be housed in a dorm-style facility with numerous amenities, including a pool, sauna, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails and easy access to Lake Superior.
Early registration is recommended. Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow. For more information, contact Sharon Pitz at the DNRE office in Marquette at 906-228-6561 or e-mail [email protected].
For more information on all of these programs and more, call 517-241-2225, email [email protected], or visit www.michigan.gov/bow. |
New York
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New York Anglers Warned to Be Aware of Lake Sturgeon Restrictions With spring underway, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminds anglers to be aware of spawning lake sturgeon in tributaries of the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes and Oneida Lake. Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), which are especially active at this time, are a threatened species in New York - meaning there is no open season for the fish and possession is prohibited.
Last year, DEC received numerous reports of lake sturgeon caught by anglers in the Upper Niagara River near Buffalo Harbor. Anglers who unintentionally hook a sturgeon should follow these practices to ensure that the fish are returned to the water unharmed:
► Avoid bringing the fish into the boat if possible
► Use pliers to remove the hook; sturgeon are almost always hooked in the mouth
► Always support the fish horizontally, do not hold sturgeon in a vertical position by their head, gills, or tails -- even for taking photographs
► Never touch their eyes or gills |
► Minimize their time out of the water.
Anglers should use caution when handling the fish as they have sharp scaly plates called scutes on their backs. Gloves or a damp towel should used to avoid injury.
Anglers are more likely to encounter sturgeon during the spring when the fish gather to spawn on clean gravel shoals and in stream rapids.
Lake sturgeon were once abundant in New York, but commercial fishing, dam building and habitat loss decimated populations. DEC's protection and stocking efforts have helped the species begin to recover. Since 1996, lake sturgeon have been periodically stocked by DEC into Black Lake, Cayuga Lake, the Genesee River, Oneida Lake, the Oswegatchie River, Raquette River, St. Lawrence River, and St. Regis River. They can also be fou
Sturgeon are often tagged as part of ongoing research efforts by state and federal agencies. If a tagged sturgeon is found, reporting instructions are on the tag or one can contact a regional DEC office for assistance.
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Wisconsin
Spring Fish & Wildlife Rule Hearing ResultsMADISON � There were 4,360 people who attended the 2010 Spring Fisheries and Wildlife Rules Hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings that were held in every county statewide on Monday, April 12. The hearings allowed citizens to comment and provide their input on proposed fish and wildlife rule changes, Conservation Congress advisory questions, and to submit resolutions for rule changes they would like to see in the future.
Statewide hearing results and the questions are available on the Spring Rules Hearings page of the DNR Web site. The results will be presented to the state Natural Resources Board in May.
Hearing results, along with written comments on proposed rules, and DNR recommendations are used to advise the state Natural Resources Board. This year�s results will be reviewed at the board�s May 26 meeting in Lake Geneva. |
Votes are non-binding and are presented to the Natural Resources Board to reflect public sentiment on proposed DNR rule changes.
DNR fish and wildlife managers will spend the next several weeks analyzing the vote tallies and developing recommendations they will present to the board in May.
The hearings are held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings. DNR related proposals are presented to attendees by DNR staff. Following DNR business, the meeting is reconvened as a Conservation Congress meeting and congress advisory questions are presented and county congress delegates elected. The congress is an advisory body to the Natural Resources Board. During the congress� portion of the hearing, citizens may introduce resolutions for consideration and vote by those attending the hearings. |
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(Click on title or URL to read full article) Carp Fighters need their day in court Illinois researchers recently tossed out a harrowing number -- $4.7 billion -- to demonstrate the economic impact if the Chicago area locks were closed to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Of course, what they didn't say was that their number is computed over 20 years and that roughly half would
In the 1970s, the government funded Asian carp research in our neck of the woods. Carp came to Illinois from Arkansas by the truckload to clean up manure and sewage. An Illinois ecologist says none of the fish escaped. Not everyone is so sure
New limits on
smelting to limit movement of VHS
Fishing for truth:
Did government agencies help create the Asian carp crisis?
Port authority says bye, bye birdies Hundreds of double-crested cormorants will have to find a new nesting place when the Hamilton Port Authority turns an artificial island into an underwater shoal next fall. Plans are to make the 30-by-35-metre Farr Island disappear by spreading out the crushed rock�
VHS fish disease found in lake herring from Apostle Islands area VHS fish disease has been confirmed in lake herring collected in the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. This most recent finding came from lake herring collected by a commercial fisherman working cooperatively with the Northern Aquaculture Facility in Bayfield and USGS in Ann Arbor, MI.
Wind turbines in
Lake Ontario?
Evanston looks at
putting wind farm in lake
Illinois business
leaders: don't close canal locks out of the Great Lakes. |
The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the GLSFC, its officers or staff.
Reproduction of any material by paid-up members of the GLSFC is encouraged but appropriate credit must be given.
Reproduction by others without written permission is prohibited.
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