There's no doubt fish oil -- chock full of omega-3 fatty acids -- is a highly effective weapon you can use to protect your health from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. A new study by scientists at Louisiana State University has discovered how those omega-3 fats work to protect your brain from cognitive decline.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation in their September 8 issue reports Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) -- the most important of the omega-3 fats -- lowers the levels of a protein that creates damaging plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Researchers compared the brains of Alzheimer's victims with those who didn't suffer from that mind-robbing disease, by testing postmortem tissue samples with tandem mass spectrometry that analyzed changes in brain cells.

Not only does the DHA you consume via fish oil protect your body from Alzheimer's by reducing amount of beta amyloids, scientists also discovered the presence of a natural substance made by the brain -- a DHA derivative called neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) -- that prevents cell death. In fact, Alzheimer's patients were found to have 20-25 times less NPD1 in some areas of their brains than those not stricken with the disease.

The ASCI publishes the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), a peer-reviewed biomedical research journal. The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), an Ann Arbor-based Physician Scientist organization, established in 1908, is one of the nation's oldest and most respected medical honor societies.

Read the full text here - Journal of Clinical Investigation September 8, 2005

National

How to help with the Katrina Disaster

The GLSFC and its members and friends join Americans nationwide in offering our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We ask that our members join in offering their support to our fellow citizens affected by the storm as they struggle to cope with the devastation left in its wake.

We also offer our support to those involved in the ongoing search and rescue, and rebuilding operations, and encourage the angling and boating community who are able, to offer whatever assistance they can. Even if you are far away from where tragedy struck, please check with national organizations and local authorities to see if they are in need of volunteers, donations, or other types of humanitarian assistance.

Donors who want to help victims of Hurricane Katrina should specify that on the check made out to the following organizations:

Some of the more well known organizations:

Salvation Army

Disaster Relief

P.O. Box 4857

Jackson, MS 39296-4857

www.salvationarmyusa.org

800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Samaritan's Purse (Headquarters)

P.O. Box 3000

Boone, NC 28607

(828) 262-1980

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

America's Second Harvest

35 E. Wacker Drive, Ste. 2000

Chicago, IL 60601

www.secondharvest.org

800-344-8070

Catholic Charities USA

P.O. Box 25168

Alexandria, VA 22313-9788

www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

800-919-9338

Jewish Federation

Katrina Relief Fund

c/o Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

1 S. Franklin St., Room 625

Chicago, IL 60606

www.juf.org/katrina/

312-444-2854

Southern Baptist Convention

Disaster Relief

P.O. Box 116543

Atlanta, GA 30368-6543

(checks payable to North American Mission Board)

www.sbc.net/

800-462-8657, Ext. 6440

United Methodist Committee on Relief

UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068

New York, NY 10087-9068

www.methodistrelief.org

800-554-8583

Solving the Robust Redhorse Mystery � One Fish at a Time

RALEIGH, N.C� For the biologists who floated the Pee Dee River this spring in search of the mysterious rose-colored fish, the discovery was shocking: eight robust redhorse captured over a three-week period in an area where only four specimens had been found since 2000.

Using non-lethal shocking techniques, biologists from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Progress Energy in late-April and early-May collected four females and four males in a 6-mile stretch of river immediately downstream of Blewett Falls in Anson and Richmond counties.

Of the eight captured two were recaptures from previous years. Biologists fitted five fish with radio transmitters and began tracking the radio-tagged fish to monitor the fishes� movements and to help them understand more about these elusive fish and their preferred habitats.

�The most important thing that the radio-tagged fish can do is lead us to other robust redhorse, especially in the spring during the spawning season, said Ryan Heise, aquatic nongame coordinator for the Wildlife Commission. �We hope to get a better idea of how many robust redhorse are in the Pee Dee River. The radio-tagged fish can also help us learn what areas of the Pee Dee River are important for these fish throughout the year.�

Biologists will continue to monitor tagged robust redhorse every month through 2006.

To maximize their chances for success during this year�s sampling, biologists concentrated their efforts in the Blewett Falls area and broadened the sampling window to ensure they were working under optimal water temperatures and conditions for robust redhorse spawning.

�Robust redhorse seek shallow gravel bars and shoals in the spring and the rest of the year we believe they spend their time in deep, snag-filled pools � habitats that are difficult to access,� Heise said. �Despite our earlier poor success rates, we were optimistic this time around and brought five radio tags, hoping we would use at least a few. We never imagined we would use all five!�

Early monitoring shows that robust redhorse are capable of moving great distances. One fish had moved 12 miles downstream while two others swam 33 miles downstream into South Carolina.

�We initially caught the fish on what we think were spawning areas and these three headed downstream probably to where they reside most of the year,� Heise said. �Two fish haven�t moved much, however it is so early in this research that it is tough to know what the fish are up to. We will learn more as we capture, tag and track more fish.�

While biologists are learning much about the robust redhorse, they still have many questions about its habitat, life history and survival for the future. A large, long-lived member of the redhorse sucker group, the robust redhorse can reach up to 30 inches in length and weigh up to 17 pounds. Its thick, robust body with rose-colored fins and a fleshy lower lip give the fish its descriptive name.

Biologists believe the robust redhorse, first discovered in the Yadkin River in 1870, was once common in the river and may have been present as far upstream as Winston-Salem. However, the species remained a mystery, unknown to biologists until two individuals were captured nearly 100 years later. In 1980, one robust redhorse was captured in the Savannah River in Georgia. In 1985, another robust redhorse was captured in the Pee Dee River in North Carolina. The identification of these redhorses was not clear until more specimens were collected in 1991 in Georgia.

These sightings, while sporadic, delighted biologists because they indicated that wild populations still existed in several rivers in Georgia and North Carolina. However, the continued existence of these remnant populations is tenuous, for the usual suspects for their decline still exist: river impoundments, predation by introduced nonnative species, and significant deterioration of habitat due to sedimentation and water pollution.

It�s not all doom and gloom for the rosy fish, however. Efforts are under way to help direct the recovery of the robust redhorse to � well � robust populations. Leading this effort is the Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee (RRCC), which comprises 13 state and federal natural resource agencies, private and public industries including hydropower interests and conservation groups. The RRCC, established in 1995, is responsible for developing and managing a recovery plan for the imperiled robust redhorse.

Research and management for the robust redhorse in North Carolina are part of the N.C. Wildlife Action Plan, which benefits the health of fish, wildlife and people by conserving wildlife and natural places.

New and Expanded Hunting & Fishing on National Wildlife Refuges

The USFWS announced the addition of hunting and fishing programs on six national wildlife refuges across the nation, as well as the expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities at seven additional refuges.

The new programs will take effect on refuges in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Hampshire, bringing the total number of refuges with hunting programs to more than 300 nationwide. Approximately 270 refuges now have fishing programs, while an additional 37 Wetland Management Districts are open to hunting and fishing.

"The National Wildlife Refuge System was created and is now sustained in large measure by the strong support of hunters and anglers. We are proud to expand hunting and fishing opportunities to fulfill the mission of the Refuge System and ensure that future generations have the ability to hunt and fish on our public lands," said Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

The Service added the following wildlife refuges to the agency's list of units open for hunting or fishing: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Alabama; Stone Lakes NWR in California; Stewart B. McKinney NWR in Connecticut;

Assabet River NWR in Massachusetts; Glacial Ridge NWR in Minnesota; and Silvio O. Conte NWR in New Hampshire.

In addition, the Service expanded recreational hunting and fishing opportunities on seven wildlife refuges: Sacramento River NWR in California; Moosehorn NWR in Maine; Great Meadows NWR and Oxbow NWR in Massachusetts; Squaw Creek NWR in Missouri; Wertheim NWR in New York; and Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-tail Deer in Washington.

In 2004, there were 2.3 million hunting visits to wildlife refuges and 7 million fishing visits. By law, hunting and fishing are two of the six priority wildlife-dependent recreational uses on wildlife refuges. The Refuge System provides opportunities to hunt and fish whenever they are compatible with the purposes for which the individual national wildlife refuge was established.

Wildlife refuges provide unparalleled outdoor activities, including fishing, hunting, environmental education and interpretation, wildlife observation and photography. Many wildlife refuges also offer opportunities for birding tours and other activities. There is at least one wildlife refuge within an hour's drive of most major cities.

U.S. law used to blocked storm barrier

The Sierra Club - Conservationists, Environmentalists or Obstructionists?

A congressional task force says energy production, the construction of affordable homes and hurricane protection for New Orleans have been hampered by a 35-year-old federal law known as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The Washington Times reports the House Task Force on Improving the National Environmental Policy Act, a 22-member task force has held four hearings across the country to assess NEPA's role in accessing affordable energy, building roads and homes, and managing the nation's natural resources. The 1970 law was designed to protect the environment, but has "resulted in thousands of lawsuits," holding up some projects for more than 20 years and killing others, said Jennifer Zuccarelli, a task force spokeswoman.

The task force said �NEPA lawsuits at least twice had prevented system improvements to protect New Orleans from

a hurricane. It said the Sierra Club and other environmental groups in 1996 sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and blocked a project to raise and fortify levees around New Orleans.�

It also cited a Los Angeles Times story that said a Save the Wetlands lawsuit filed in 1977 killed plans approved by Congress to create a "massive hurricane barrier to protect New Orleans." The plan was created after Hurricane Betsy in 1965.

The NEPA panel, comprising 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats who are members of the House Resources Committee, was charged in April with making recommendations for improving NEPA. The task force will submit a report to the full committee by year's end.

Read the full article here:

http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20050912-095826-7458r

Grant Program designed to fund removing old dams

NOAA funding Could Provide Major Fishery Benefits

BASS/ESPN Outdoors and the American Sportfishing Association will lead a coalition to support a new grant program called the Open Rivers Initiative, which is designed to provide funding to communities for removal of obsolete and derelict stream barriers such as dams.

The Commerce Department�s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the exciting new initiative Aug. 31 at the White House Conference on

Cooperative Conservation in St. Louis, Mo.

There are currently more than 2 million small dams and other barriers blocking fish passage in the United States. Removing obsolete low head dams and other blockages has thus far opened hundreds of miles of vitally important habitat to fish that rely on migrating through rivers to spawn. Dam removal also has boosted local economies by dramatically improving recreational fishing opportunities. By coming forth with a new funding source to remove more dams and barriers, NOAA has responded to one of the more important fisheries management problems in the United States.

Regional

Great Lakes States Sue for Ballast Water Regulations

LANSING, Michigan (ENS) - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced that he and five other Great Lakes attorneys general have filed a brief in federal court proposing several remedies to better regulate ballast water discharges under the Clean Water Act.

When large oceangoing vessels enter the Great Lakes and load their cargo, they discharge ballast water carried from other ports. This water may contain aquatic nuisance species, such as the zebra mussel, sea lamprey, Ruffe and goby, which reproduce rapidly in the absence of natural predators and harm their new environment. In March 2005, a federal court ruled that the USEPA must regulate these discharges

"In this brief, there are proposed permit structures, regulations, and prompt, timely deadlines to comply with the court's order to better regulate the discharge of ballast water into our Great Lakes," said Cox. "The Great Lakes are Michigan's most valuable natural resource, and I will continue to fight for the state and region's ability to safeguard these waters."

In March of 2005, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco declared that the EPA must begin regulating ballast water discharges. In their brief, the attorneys general of Michigan, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania ask the court to order the EPA to promptly repeal the rule that exempts Aquatic Nuisance Species from regulation under the Clean Water Act. The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council was a signator in the petition that was originally filed in 1999.

The states are asking the court to establish interim regulatory controls by April 1, 2006, which marks the start of the next

shipping season on the Great Lakes. They are seeking final regulatory controls in place by October 1, 2007 that include strict standards for vessel ballast water discharges.

This filing is the latest action taken by Michigan and other states to curtail what Cox calls "the economic, social and ecological havoc caused by the introduction of aquatic invasive species through ballast water discharges."

In July, the six Great Lakes states sent a letter to the U.S. Senate opposing Senate Bill 363, the "Ballast Water Management Act of 2005," which would place sole responsibility for regulating ballast water discharges on the U.S. Coast Guard, rather than the EPA.

According to the July 20 letter, "the bill unacceptably: removes the EPA's regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act to control pollutant discharges in ballast water; preempts states' ability to enact laws necessary to protect themselves from these harmful pollutants; and perpetuates an ineffectual regulatory regime and fails to replace it with any timely, environmentally protective standards."

Complementing the federal court action, Cox also backed passage of state legislation, Public Act 33 of 2005, which requires the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to regulate ballast water discharges into the Great Lakes starting January 1, 2007. The law also requires the department to pursue formation of a cooperative coalition among the Great Lakes states.

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that controlling zebra mussels and sea lampreys - two of the most harmful aquatic nuisance species - costs $45 million each year.

Chinese Mitten Crab in the St. Lawrence River

Ann Arbor, Mich. � Yet another exotic species has been reported in the lower reaches of the St. Lawrence River. In September 2004, a female Chinese mitten crab measuring 46 mm was captured in a fish trap near Qu�bec City, Canada. This is the first report of this species in a river on the eastern seaboard of North America.

"The presence of the Chinese mitten crab in the lower part of the St. Lawrence River represents a real risk for establishment and invasion because the specimen was caught relatively close to the estuarine brackish waters needed for reproduction and larval development," states Yves de Lafontaine, a researcher at the St. Lawrence Centre, Environment Canada in Montreal, Qc. "The Chinese mitten crab is listed among the 100 most invasive and undesirable species in the world."

Specimens of Chinese mitten crab have been reported

infrequently from the Great Lakes, but the probability of establishment was considered impossible due to the absence of salt water for reproduction. The discovery of the species in the St. Lawrence River indicates that mechanisms that aid aquatic species introduction in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River basin remain active. Methods to effectively control species invasion via maritime shipping are urgently needed.

Contacts:

For more information about the study, contact Yves de Lafontaine, Environment Canada, St. Lawrence Centre, 105 McGill St., Montr�al, Qc, H2Y 2E7; [email protected] ; (514) 496-5025.

For information about the Journal of Great Lakes Research, contact Marlene Evans, Editor, National Water Research Institute, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5, Canada; [email protected] ; (608) 692-1076.

Great Lakes Research Conference MAY 22-26, 2006

The International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) will hold its 49th Annual Conference on Great Lakes

Research, to be held May 22-26, 2006, at the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. The conference theme is "Great Lakes in a Changing Environment."

Diked Wetlands a Haven For Invasive Species

Ann Arbor, Mich. � The once-common practice of building dikes to stabilize Great Lakes coastal wetlands leads to an unexpected consequence: increased vulnerability to exotic plant species.

When dikes are built, usually for the benefit of waterfowl, natural disturbances like flooding, wave action, and drought are inhibited. This creates a more stable environment that is great for cattails, a familiar plant of inland wetlands. Unfortunately, unwanted species like purple loosestrife and reed canary grass also thrive.

"Wind, waves, and changes in water level are important parts of the coastal environment," states Brad Herrick, a researcher with the Environmental Science and Policy program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Herrick, co-author Amy Wolf, and colleagues compared vegetation and "seed banks" in pairs of diked vs. undiked wetlands in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron during 2003. The

diked wetlands were consistently richer in nutrients and "muck," coinciding with declines in certain coastal plant species. "Native species of Great Lakes wetlands are adapted to change," says Herrick, "and it is important that the natural dynamics be preserved along at least some stretches of the coast."

Great Lakes coastal wetlands provide critical breeding habitat for fish, migratory birds, frogs, and other species that benefit millions of people directly or indirectly.

Contacts:

For more information about the study, contact Bradley Herrick, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Madison, WI 53706; [email protected] ; (217) 244-2139.

Lake Michigan Infested With Fleas

Ann Arbor, Mich. � Lake Michigan is infested with tiny fish hook fleas (Cercogagis pengoi) and it appears that these animals are here to stay. These predatory water fleas continue to thrive in Lake Michigan four years after their initial invasion.

"Biological invasions are a major cause of lost biodiversity, creating a need to understand the dynamics of both the native and invasive species as new organisms becomes established," states Allison Witt, a researcher at the University of Illinois.

Witt and colleagues have investigated the population dynamics of fish hook fleas during the first four years since establishment in southwestern Lake Michigan. They observed a shift in the seasonal abundance of the water fleas, with the peak population occurring earlier in the water column each year.

Between 1999 and 2002, the average density of water fleas has doubled. These researchers also found a significant decline in native species that are known to be prey of the predatory fleas. However, fish hook fleas are only one of the many invasive species present in Lake Michigan making it difficult to determine the exact impact of this newly established invader.

Contacts:

For more information about the study, contact Carla E. C�ceres, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 515 Morrill Hall, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801; [email protected] ; (217) 244-2139.

Woman Wins $20,000 Grand Prize On Birthday

For Roberta Redick of New Castle, Pennsylvania, August 28, 2005 will long be remembered as the birthday of all birthdays. It was on that day she caught the biggest fish of her life, a 32 pound nine ounce king salmon, to win the 10th Annual Lake Ontario Counties Fall Trout and Salmon Derby � and claim the $20,000 Grand Prize.

The 33-year-old homemaker was fishing with her husband, Harold, Jr. and a friend, Brian Hronyetz of Apollo, PA aboard their 19-1/2 foot Monarch boat named �Feel the Steel.� They were trolling off the mouth of the Salmon River, 80 feet down

over 105 feet of water using a white Pro Chip flasher and a white Grand Slam Bucktail Fly � all behind a dipsy diver set on 2-1/2, 180 feet back with wire line. �It took me about 15 minutes to bring the fish in,� said Redick at the Awards Ceremony in Rochester on Labor Day. There�s no doubt that this birthday present will be tough to beat.

This year�s derby was a resounding success all the way around. More than 5,000 anglers participated in the 10th annual LOC event and salmon fishing was good all along the lake. Dates for 2006 are: Spring Derby, May 5-14; Fall Derby, August 18-September 4.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for September 16, 2005

Lake Level Conditions:

Lake Superior is currently 4 inches lower than last year, while the remaining lakes are 7 to 13 inches below the levels of a year ago. Dry conditions this spring and summer are the main reason that water levels on the Great Lakes are below last year�s levels. Looking ahead, Lake Superior is expected to fall 1 inch over the next month. Lake Michigan-Huron should fall 3 inches while the remaining lakes are expected to fall 4 inches over the next month, as the lakes continue their seasonal declines. Levels over the next few months on all the Great Lakes are expected to remain lower than 2004. Evaporation rates during the fall may be higher than average due to warmer surface water temperatures.

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions:

The Lake Superior outflow through the St. Marys River into Lake Huron is projected to be near average during the month of September. Flows in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers are anticipated to be below average during September. Flows in the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River are expected to be near average in September.

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.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels Data Summary
	Superior	Mich-Huron	St. Clair	Erie	Ontario
Expected water level for Sept 16 in ft	601.6	577.8	573.7	571.1	245.0
Chart datum, in ft	601.1	577.5	572.3	569.2	243.3
Diff from chart datum, in inches	+6	+3	+17	+23	+20
Diff from last month, in inches	-1	-2	-4	-3	-5
Diff from last year in inches	-4	-7	-8	-8	-13

Canada

Canada Officials Delay Gun Regulations�Again

The Canada Firearms Centre has put off several gun regulations that were supposed to take effect this month. Among the measures delayed until next year, is a provision to have police forces across the country register all their weapons�including seized guns�with the federal agency.

New rules governing gun shows have been deferred until Nov. 2006, while regulations that would force gun manufacturers to identify all firearms with internationally recognized markings won't go into effect until the end of 2007.

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan Stocking conference Sept 24

The long anticipated Lake Michigan Stocking Conference has been scheduled for Sept 24 in Kenosha. WI.

The Lake Michigan management agencies are considering reduced stocking to meet ecosystem objectives, and would like to know the opinions of the interested public. This conference will provide a scientific review of the status of predator and prey communities, and present options for future stocking designed to meet prescribed objectives. Presentations will be offered by each of the four Lake Michigan States.

Selected topics will address management goals and objectives, the health and status of Chinook salmon and their prey, an analysis of the risks involved with any decisions and a suite of potential options for stocking - including no change. The Lake Michigan Management Agencies are attempting to balance predator and prey numbers. Facilitated break-out sessions will occur in the afternoon to gain input from the public.

Growth rates of Chinook salmon have declined over the past several years and forage abundance is down. Regional fisheries scientists say community dynamics in Lake Huron have shifted drastically and could impact Lake Michigan�s balance.

Hosted by the Wisconsin DNR, and sponsored by the four

Lake Michigan states, the conference will be held at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside, in the Student Union Cinema, 900 Wood Rd, Kenosha, WI 53141, 8:30-3 PM Central Time. Pre-registration, is required, and cost is $10 covering lunch and breaks.

The draft agenda plan is for agencies to present information in the morning with breakout sessions right after lunch, and a wrap-up session winding down the meeting. Those who cannot attend will be able to send in written comments through the Web page or mail through Sept. 30.

Suggested lodging: Baymont Inn; 7540 118th Avenue; Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158. www.baymontinns.com 262-857-7911 (Reserve by Sept 9, ask for Salmon Conference. Room rate is $58/night plus tax)

For more information: contact Phil Moy, UW Sea Grant, at 920-683-4697 or [email protected] . For directions, see www.seagrant.wisc.edu/Fisheries/ and click on "Salmon Stocking Conference"

The registration form is posted at http://www.great-lakes.org/fall05LkMichSC-Annoucement.html. Register by Sept 19.

Your input into the decision making process is important!

Lake Michigan Infested With Fleas

Contacts:

Illinois

Wingshooting Clinics for Beginners and Hunters

The Illinois DNR and a variety of participating sponsors are hosting a series of wingshooting clinics for beginners and hunters.

Upcoming Youth/Women's clinics (and contact phone numbers) include:

Oct. 1-2 - Kincaid (Christian County) - 217/782-2457

Oct. 29-30 - Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area - 618/773-4340 Upcoming Hunter's clinics are:

Sept. 10-11 - Amboy (Lee County) - 815/857-2320

Sept. 17-18 - Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA (Cass County) - 217/452-7741

Oct. 8-9 - Randolph County State Recreation Area - 618/826-2706

Check the IDNR web site for the complete schedule of wingshooting clinics.

ICF Youth Scholarship Program Nominations due Oct 31

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is accepting nominations for the annual Youth Conservation Scholarship program. Ten high school juniors or seniors - one female and one male from each of the five IDNR regions in Illinois - will be selected. Students who have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources conservation are eligible. Each student selected will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Applicants must be Illinois residents, a member of the high school class of 2006 or 2007, and must be nominated by a natural resource constituency group, community leader, school administrator, teacher or adult mentor. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31. Those selected will be presented with the scholarships at the annual Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet at The Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline on March 4, 2006. The scholarship program is supported through funds raised at the banquet. For more information, call 217/785-2003.

Special pass available for Illinois resident armed forces

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is offering an Armed Forces Special Pass to military members who live in Illinois and who have served abroad, including guard or reserve members called to active duty. The special pass provides camping, fishing and hunting fee exemptions for qualified military members. Guard and reserve members can apply if it�s within two years of their return from abroad or release from mobilization.

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich signed legislation authorizing the IDNR to provide the fee exemptions, acknowledging the contributions of Illinois residents who are returning from service abroad or who were mobilized by the President as an active duty member of the United State Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces Special Pass provides qualifying military members, and guard and reserve members who were mobilized, to camp at IDNR campgrounds (camper responsible for utility, rent-a-tent and cabin fees) free of charge. The pass also offers a combined Sportsman�s License and Habitat Stamp for hunting and fishing, and an archery or firearm deer permit if requested and available.

Military members are eligible for free sport fishing, hunting and camping for one year for each year (and portion of one year) served.

To receive an Armed Forces Special Pass from the IDNR, qualifying military members must appear in person at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources headquarters, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, within two years of their return from abroad or release from mobilization, provide verification of dates of service, and provide a photo ID.

Anglers await fall Trout Season

As part of its fisheries management program, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will stock three lakes with rainbow trout to create better fishing opportunities within the forest preserves. Lakes to be stocked include Silver Lake in Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville (about 4,400 fish), Deep Quarry Lake in West Branch Forest Preserve in Bartlett (about 1,800 fish) and Grove Lake in Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve in Wood Dale (about 300 fish). Stocking will take place between Saturday, Oct. 1 and Friday, Oct. 14. These three lakes will be closed to all fishing during this time, allowing the trout to acclimate to their new environment.

The fall trout season begins on Saturday, Oct. 15. Preserves will be open normal hours, one hour after sunrise to one hour

after sunset. Anglers ages 16 and over are required to have a valid Illinois fishing license and Inland Trout stamp in their possession. Although the Forest Preserve District encourages catch and release fishing, the daily creel limit is five trout. There is no length limit. Popular trout-fishing bait ranges from night crawlers and artificial lures to canned corn.

For more information about fishing locations and rules and regulations in DuPage County forest preserves, contact the Office of Visitor Services weekdays at (630) 933-7248 for a free copy of the "Fishing in DuPage County" guide. You can also get up-to-date information from the Outdoor Report by calling (630) 871-6422 or by accessing the District's Web site at www.dupageforest.com .

Michigan

DNR Sets 2^nd Meeting for Lake Trout Regs in Grand Traverse Bay Sept 20

The Department of Natural Resources will host a second public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20, to discuss lake trout regulations for Grand Traverse Bay, DNR fisheries officials said. The meeting is a follow-up to an Aug. 29 meeting, where attendees suggested alternative regulation options, which fisheries staff are now prepared to comment on and provide new information.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the East Bay Township Hall located at 1965 Three Mile Road, just south of

Traverse City.

The meeting will review regulation options, discuss the risks with each option, and provide information on the current status of the fishery. All interested anglers are encouraged to attend, provide comments and be a part of the fishery management of Grand Traverse Bay.

The township facility is handicap accessible, but those needing special accommodations for the meeting should contact Tom Rozich at 231-775-9727 ext. 6070 prior to the meeting.

Fishing Regs Approved for Perch and Sylvania Wilderness Area

Current fishing regulations for yellow perch in Lake Michigan and for all species in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the Ottawa National Forest in Gogebic County will remain in place for the 2006 fishing season. DNR Director Rebecca Humphries signed the fisheries orders at the recent Natural Resources Commission meeting in Houghton.

Under the order for yellow perch in Lake Michigan, the current possession limit of 35 fish will remain in place.

The Sylvania Wilderness Area, a popular destination for outdoors enthusiasts, has restrictive regulations that have aided in providing a quality fishery throughout the area, Humphries said. The order she signed extends those regulations, which include the following:

* Lake trout must be at least 30 inches.

* Walleye must be at least 20 inches.

* Northern pike must be at least 30 inches.

* All other species have no size limit unless otherwise regulated.

* Anglers may possess not more than one northern pike,

walleye or lake trout.

* Anglers may possess 10 singly or in any combination of all other species unless otherwise regulated.

* Largemouth or smallmouth bass must be immediately returned to the water without injury.

* Possession of any bass, regardless of where it was taken, is prohibited on the special provision lakes of the Sylvania area.

* Only hook and line fishing is permitted in the Sylvania Wilderness Area.

* Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used for fishing.

* Live bait, dead or preserved bait, organic or processed food or scented material may not be possessed at any time on the waters or shore of special provision lakes in the Sylvania Wilderness Area.

The order lists the special provision lakes of Sylvania as: Banks, East Bear, West Bear, Clark, Corey, Cub, Deer Island, Dorothy, Elsie, Fisher, Florence, Germain, Glimmerglass, Golden Silence, Hay, Helen, High, Honey, Katherine, Kerr, Jay, Johnston Springs, Liluis, Lois, Loon, Louise, Marsh, Moss, Mountain, Snap Jack, Trapper and Whitefish.

Minnesota

Start planning 2006 fishing tournaments

The Minnesota DNR has started accepting applications for 2006 fishing tournaments. Applications received by Oct. 28 will be given preference under rules adopted to redistribute tournament traffic on busy lakes.

The DNR limits the size and frequency of tournaments on lakes smaller than 55,000 acres. Any open-water tournament that has more than 30 participants or an entry fee more than $25 requires a DNR permit. Permits for ice fishing contests are required for contests exceeding 150 participants. Permits are free. In 2005, DNR issued nearly 600 permits statewide for both open water and ice fishing contests.

The number of tournaments allowed each month is based on lake size. For example, on lakes smaller than 2,000 acres, two tournaments per month are allowed, limited to 50 boats or 100 participants. Lakes from 15,000 to 55,000 acres can have

five contests per month, three of which may exceed 100 participants. There are no limits for lakes larger than 55,000 acres.

If the number of applications exceeds monthly limits, the DNR uses a lottery to allocate available permits. Applications received from Sept. 1 through Oct. 28 will be eligible for any necessary lottery drawing. Tournaments with a history established prior to 2001 for a particular lake and time period will have preference. Applications received after Oct. 28 will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis through the 2006 tournament season.

For more info, call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 from the Twin Cities or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367) in greater Minnesota. Summary and a tournament application are also available on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Commercials fined nearly $10,000; 16 charges against eight individuals

Conservation officers with the Minnesota DNR recently discovered a commercial fish farm or �aquaculture� operation that went to extra, illegal lengths to serve its customers. As the investigation unfolded, the officers found the case anything but common or simple. It would cross several state lines.

Commercial fish farms are state-licensed facilities used to raise for sale aquatic life, including fish, in artificial ponds, vats, tanks and other indoor or outdoor facilities. Regulations prohibit fish taken from area lakes from being used for aquaculture purposes. Fish farms are subject to inspection by state conservation officers.

Complaints were received in early June that owners of the Spruce Creek Fish Farm near Alexandria had allegedly been catching large numbers of game fish, placing them in holding tanks at the facility, using them for brood stock at ponds in Douglas County and exporting some to Wisconsin locations for commercial purposes.

State Conservation Officer Mike Shelden of Alexandria interviewed Nathan J. Broers, 33, Parkers Prairie, an employee at Spruce Creek Fish Farm. Broers admitted that he, owners Kenneth W. Gurley, 63, Abrams, Wis., Charles E. Cass, 66, Pewaukee, Wis., and their friend, Edward G. Jones, 72, Lady Lake, Fla., caught between 75-100 largemouth bass on lakes Miltona, Vermont and Irene in west-central Minnesota June 3-5.

The four pled guilty and were fined $6,500 under Minnesota�s

tough gross overlimit law. Restitution for the fish was $1,500. Broers, Gurley and Cass were also charged with illegally transporting game fish and taking fish for aquaculture purposes. The group is negotiating with the state to buy back two boats, motors and trailers seized in the investigation.

The officers discovered that one illegal had no aquaculture license.

Further investigation of Spruce Creek Fish Farm resulted in a series of mostly petty misdemeanor charges with fines totaling $1,540. Cook was charged with unlicensed sale of fish and fined $270. Michael E. Grelson, 54, Sartell, fish farm consultant and former owner, was charged with illegal stocking of aquatic life ($170), illegal transportation of fish from Wisconsin to Minnesota ($170) and illegally taking fish for aquaculture purposes ($270). Raymond H. Gehrig, 68, Spruce Creek Fish Farm co-owner, Janesville, Wis., was charged with illegal transportation of fish from Wisconsin to Minnesota ($170) and unlawfully importing minnows from North Dakota to Minnesota ($270). Cody B. Carlson, 23, Henning, a fish farm employee, was charged with illegally taking fish for aquaculture purposes ($270).

DNR officers say the investigation has sparked interest from natural resources officials in Wisconsin, North Dakota and Missouri. Wisconsin DNR has issued a civil forfeiture citation to Spruce Creek Fish Farm for the importation and stocking of fish into Wisconsin without a permit. A court date has been set for October. An accompanying order directs the fish farm, in any future contacts with the public, to notify the public that importation permits are required and can be issued by the appropriate governmental agency in Wisconsin.

New York

Sheehan nominated to be Commissioner of DEC

Currently Serving as Acting Commissioner of State's Environmental Agency

Governor George E. Pataki today announced that he has nominated Denise M. Sheehan to be Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Ms. Sheehan has served as DEC's Acting Commissioner since February 3, 2005.

Prior to being named DEC's Acting Commissioner, Ms. Sheehan held the position of DEC's Executive Deputy Commissioner since January 2002. In this position, she managed the day-to-day operations of DEC and provided policy direction to the agency's executive staff.

Sheehan previously served as DEC's Assistant Commissioner of Administration, where she was responsible for managing and overseeing the agency's administrative functions, including fiscal and personnel, environmental permits, operations, information systems, and public affairs

and education.

Sheehan joined DEC in 1998 as a special assistant in the Bond Act Office, where she helped coordinate the implementation of the $1.75 billion Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. Prior to joining DEC, Ms. Sheehan worked for nearly 11 years at the New York State Division of the Budget, where she oversaw the budgets of the State's environmental, recreational, and energy

agencies.

Ms. Sheehan holds a Bachelor of Science in economics and political science from the State University of New York at Oneonta, and a Master of Public Administration from the University at Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs. She lives in the Town of Niskayuna, Schenectady County, with her husband, Michael Miller.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

Pennsylvania

Dredging Scheduled for Mouth of Walnut Creek

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will conduct dredging operations at Walnut Creek, Erie County, beginning the afternoon of Monday, September 19. The dredging operation will remove the build-up of rocks and sand that has

formed at the mouth of the creek where it flows into Lake Erie. The work will clear the channel for boaters using the PFBC�s Walnut Creek Access Area and should be completed no later than the end of the week.

Sea Lamprey Control Planned for Raccoon Creek

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel will apply lampricides to sections of Raccoon Creek in Erie County to kill sea lamprey larvae burrowed in the stream bottom. Work will be

conducted during September 21-25 in accordance with State

of Pennsylvania permits. Application tentatively will begin on Friday September 23 from Elmwood Road. The treatment will be complete in about 48 hours. The application dates are tentative and may be changed based upon local weather or stream conditions near the time of treatment.

PFBC Quarterly Meeting to be Held in Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold its fall quarterly meeting September 26-27 at the Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Boulevard & Walnut Street in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia and surrounding counties account for 12% of all fishing license sales and 13% of boat registrations in the Commonwealth. The upcoming meeting offers an excellent opportunity for the area�s many anglers and boaters to interact with the Commission, including providing public input on items of local and statewide interest. Commission committees will meet beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, September 26. Consideration of the formal agenda will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 27. All committee meetings and the review of the agenda are open to the public and attendance is encouraged.

Among the items to be considered at the meeting are a number of re-designations of waters managed under special trout fishing regulations. A 13.5-mile section of the Little Juniata River, Blair and Huntingdon counties and an 8.5-mile section of the Clarion River, Elk County, currently regulated under the All-Tackle Trophy Trout Program are proposed to be moved into the recently created All Tackle Catch and Release

Program. Under the new program, designated waters will be open year-round, but no harvest of trout will be permitted at any time. If approved, the new designation would go into effect January 1, 2006.

A one-mile section of Bermudian Creek, Adams County, is proposed for removal from the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) program. The landowner whose private property provides access to much of the stretch has notified the Commission he intends to post his land against trespass in response to poor angler behavior and littering. Also proposed for de-listing from the DHALO program is a 1.2-mile section of Schrader Creek, Bradford County. Evaluation of the stretch has shown that trout do not hold in the section, most likely as a result of low pH.

Also on the agenda are final regulations for persons operating charter boat or fishing guide operations on Commonwealth waters, approval of projects to be funded with State Wildlife Grants, the removal of a general prohibition on the operation of watercraft in a manner other than a counterclockwise flow of traffic and other matters.

The complete agenda and schedule for the meeting can be found on the Commission�s web site at www.fish.state.pa.us .

Wisconsin

Fischer Creek fish kill

MANITOWOC � The Wisconsin DNR is investigating a fish kill that left hundreds of fish dead in Fischer Creek between Interstate 43 and the mouth of the waterway at Lake Michigan.

The dead fish ranged from 4 to 30� in length and included

rainbow and brook trout. Dead fish were collected and held for evidence and water samples were sent to the state lab of hygiene. A complaint was filed to the DNR after a witness noticed the dead fish in the water at Fischer Creek Park.

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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Start planning 2006 fishing tournaments

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Start planning 2006 fishing tournaments

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