Weekly News Archives

                         or

       New Product  Archives

Salmon Stocking Survey Results

The results are now available and are being considered along with biological data and other factors as state fishery managers move toward a decision on future stocking policy. 

Survey results for the four options presented at the April 14 public meeting were as follows:

• OPTION 1: 50% reduction in Chinook salmon stocking for 2013.

  • Average Rating:  FAIR (1.97)

  • Ranking: 69% WORST, 11% BEST

• OPTION 2: 50% reduction in Chinook salmon stocking for 2013; automatically adjust stocking in future based on feedback policy.

  • Average Rating: between FAIR and NEUTRAL (2.61)

  • Ranking: 2% WORST, 20% BEST

• OPTION 3: 30% reduction in Chinook salmon stocking and 10% reduction in Coho salmon, steelhead, and brown trout stocking for 2013; automatically adjust stocking in future based on feedback policy.

  • Average Rating: NEUTRAL (2.96)

  • Ranking: 8% WORST, 15% BEST

• OPTION 4: 30% reduction in Chinook salmon stocking and 10% reduction in Coho salmon, steelhead, brown trout, and lake trout stocking for 2013; automatically adjust stocking in future based on feedback policy.

  • Average Rating: between NEUTRAL and GOOD (3.28)

  • Ranking: 20% WORST, 54% BEST

  •  

A majority (55%) of people who took the survey did not feel the four options could be improved upon, but 15% proposed greater reductions in stocking and 18% proposed lesser reductions in stocking.  With five species being considered and a wide range of opinions expressed there was not a clear-cut consensus among stakeholders regarding the perfect option. 

However, 97% of respondents agreed that Chinook salmon stocking should be reduced to some extent.  For full details see the fact sheet at:

www.miseagrant.umich.edu/downloads/fisheries/stocking

/12-716-Salmon-Stocking-Survey.pdf

Great Lakes Water Levels for June15, 2012 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Temperatures across the Great Lakes basin started the week above seasonal averages and then fell over the first few days of the week. Heavy showers fell on the Lake Ontario basin Tuesday, while the rest of the region has been fairly dry the last couple of days. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be moving into the Great Lakes basin from the west in the next few days. Western areas of the basin will likely see precipitation Thursday through Saturday, and many areas could see isolated thunderstorms on Sunday or Monday. Look for warmer temperatures and high humidity as we move into the weekend which will likely last into next week.

LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS

Lake Superior's water level is 1 inch higher than last year's level, while Lake Michigan-Huron is 6 inches lower than its level of a year ago. Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 9, 13, and 17 inches, respectively, lower than their levels of a year ago. Over the next month, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are forecasted to rise 2 inches and 1 inch, respectively, from their current levels. The water level of Lake St. Clair is expected to fall 3 inches while the levels of Lakes Erie and Ontario are each expected to decline 2 inches over the next thirty days. See our Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

FORECASTED MONTHLY OUTFLOWS/CHANNEL CONDITIONS

Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Marys River is projected to be below average for the month of June. Lake Huron's outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow from

Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River are expected to be

below average throughout the month of June. Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara River is forecasted to be near average and the outflow of Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River is predicted to be below average in June.

ALERTS

The water level of Lake Superior is below chart datum and is forecasted to remain below chart datum until July. 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.

Cabalas Heroes Celebration Sale

June 27-29

Cabalas is offering their employee discount to active military, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters and EMS

personnel on June 27-29. The offer is good at all 35 Cabalas outlets in the U.S.  For more info go to:  http://www.cabelas.com/  or call 800-237-4444

New regs for lake trout and splake on Lake Huron

The Michigan DNR announced new lake trout and splake regulations in the northern portion of Lake Huron, specifically for Management Units MH-1 and MH-2 (see descriptions below). The changes were implemented June 14, 2012, and include:

• A daily possession limit of three (3) lake trout or splake

• A minimum size limit for lake trout and splake of 15 inches

• A possession season from May 1 through Sept. 30

Additionally, the revised regulations set the lake-wide minimum size limit for lake trout and splake at 15 inches throughout Lake Huron.

These regulation changes affect the following Lake Huron fishing ports: 

• MH-1 Ports: Cedarville, Cheboygan, DeTour, Hammond Bay, Mackinaw City, Rogers City and St. Ignace

• MH-2 Ports: Alpena, Black River, Presque Isle and Rockport

These regulations will remain in effect until March 31, 2017, or until Fisheries Order FO-200 is amended or

rescinded, whichever comes first. While these regulations may be reviewed and amended annually, a review of these regulations will occur no later than Aug. 1, 2016.

MH-1 and MH-2 Legal Descriptions

MH-1 is bounded on the west by the Mackinac Bridge, on the north by an east-west line from the village of DeTour in Chippewa County at Latitude 46�00'N to the west shore of Drummond Island and an east-west line from the east shore of Drummond Island at Latitude 46�00'N to the international boundary, and on the east and south by a line beginning where Longitude 083�30'W intersects the international boundary near Drummond Island in Chippewa County and extending southward along said longitude to Latitude 45�30'N, then extending westward along said latitude to Longitude 083�40'W, then extending southward along said longitude to shore about 3.5 miles southeast of Adams Point in Presque Isle County.

MH-2 is bounded on the north by MH-1, on the east by the international boundary, and on the south by an east-west line extending from the shore about 1 mile north of Black River in Alcona County at Latitude 44�50'N and extending eastward along said latitude to the international boundary.