• European Salmon numbers grow in wake of net ban

• Invasive snail found in Lake Michigan

• Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for August 15, 2008

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European Salmon numbers grow in wake of net ban

The European driftnet ban introduced on January 1^st 2008 in the Baltic Sea has paid off after only six months. European anglers report more salmon have returned to the rivers and anglers have already begun reporting unusually large catches. The upstream migration of salmon took place in the rivers around the Baltic Sea in June and sources report more salmon numbers present than there has been for a number of years.

"The ban has a very positive effect on the return of spawning 

salmon from the Baltic Sea into the rivers. It is likely that weare talking about 100,000 more salmon compared to last year," says Hakan Carlstrand, an expert from the Swedish national sportfishing organization "Sportfiskarna" and a member of the European Anglers Alliance (EAA).

In previous years, around 300,000 salmon have been caught annually � around half of which caught by driftnetting. Swedish rivers could expect to see the return of an additional 50,000 to 100,000 salmon compared to past years numbers if the ban continues to work to its full potential.

Invasive snail found in Lake Michigan

New Zealand mud snail now in four of Great Lakes

Champaign (AP)--A rapidly reproducing, tiny invasive snail recently found in Lake Michigan could hurt the lake's ecosystem, say government research scientists.   The New Zealand mud snail joins a long and growing list of nonnative species moving into the Great Lakes, threatening to disrupt the food chain and change the aquatic environment.

Scientists checking Lake Michigan water samples earlier this summer found a population of the New Zealand mud snail, the Illinois Natural History Survey said. They grow to only a few millimeters � several dozen could sit on the surface of a dime � making them hard to spot.

The snails reproduce asexually and in large numbers, and have no natural predators in North America, Kevin Cummings, a Natural History Survey scientist said recently.  That means they could quickly spread, at high enough densities to out-compete native invertebrates for food and living space, he and other scientists say. 

"It's hard enough to contain a species once it makes its way into nonnative waters," Cummings said. "When each mud snail has the ability to produce large quantities of embryos without a partner, you've really got a problem."

Scientists won't know for some time how well the mud snail will do in Lake Michigan, but it has been in Lake Ontario since the early 1990s and lives in high numbers there and in Lakes Superior and Erie, said Dr. Rochelle Sturtevant, an ecologist with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The snail is native to New Zealand but is now found in several western states and all the Great Lakes except Lake Huron. It is carried in ships' ballast water and, once in lakes and

streams, hitches a ride on boats and even the clothes worn by human waders.

"Where they've gotten into streams in the western part of the country, they've caused a lot of problems," said Sturtevant. "They're taking over space that should have other native species living in it."

Plenty of invasive species have made homes for themselves in the Great Lakes. Zebra and quagga mussels are a threat to the region's $4 billion-a-year fishery, eating up algae that is the lowest link in the lakes' food chain.  And some invasive species make it possible for others to follow, Sturtevant said. The round goby, an aggressive fish native to Eurasia, now thrives in the Great Lakes because it eats zebra mussels.

Those are just a handful of what Sturtevant says are now at least 186 invasive species in the lakes.

The U.S. Geological Survey adds the tiny snail has been documented in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Lake Superior. Now researchers have reported the species in Lake Michigan, and the waters flowing from Lake Ontario.

However, Hugh MacIsaac, a researcher at the University of Windsor's Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, said he remains unconvinced the New Zealand mud snail will wreak havoc. "It is concerning to see yet another addition to the Great Lakes," said MacIsaac. "But I cannot see how these snails can be anywhere as invasive in the Great Lakes as they are in streams.  "These snails are felt most in shallows."

Conservation groups are particularly critical of the role oceangoing ships play in introducing species like mussels to the lakes.  Ships that aren't loaded down with cargo fill their ballast tanks with water for better stability when they're on the ocean, then empty the tanks when they arrive in port. That ballast water often contains any number of species, from microscopic organisms to mussels and fish.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced a plan earlier this summer that would require ships to dump ballast water at least 200 miles from shore. But the plan, including a permit required to dump ballast water, includes an exemption for loaded ships. The angling community is particularly critical of the EPA's plan.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for August 15, 2008

Weather Conditions

Typical summer like weather occurred in the Great Lakes basin this week.   Lots of morning sunshine lead to scattered afternoon thunderstorms in many locations.  More scattered showers are expected Thursday.  To date in August, the Great Lakes basin as whole has seen 87% of its average precipitation.  High pressure will build in for the weekend leading to very nice weather.  Temperatures will top out near 80, under abundant sun.

 Lake Level Conditions

Currently, all of the Great Lakes are above their levels of a year ago.  Lake Superior is 17 inches above last year's level, while the remaining Great Lakes range from 6 to 15 inches above their levels of a year ago.  Lake Superior is forecasted to remain steady over the next 30 days, while Lake Michigan-Huron is predicted to decline an inch.  Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are in their periods of seasonal decline and are forecasted to fall 5 to 8 inches during the next month.  All of the Great Lakes, with the exception of Lake Erie, are expected to remain above their water levels of a year ago over the next few months.  Lake Erie is projected to be near last year's level starting in September.

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions

In July, outflow through the St. Mary's River was slightly below

average, and outflows through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers were also below average. The Niagara River's outflow was slightly above average, while outflow from the St. Lawrence River was also above average.

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.

IDNR Announces Acquisition of 151 Acres of Forest Habitat in East-Central Illinois

Parcel near Allerton Park in Piatt County expands habitat protection and outdoor recreation opportunities

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. � The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced the acquisition of a 151-acre natural habitat area  near Allerton Park in Piatt County in east-central Illinois, providing enhanced wildlife conservation, waterway protection, and outdoor  recreation opportunities.

The property was acquired from the University of Illinois Foundation for $750,000 through the state�s Natural Areas Acquisition Fund.

"This acquisition means continued protection for an

outstanding habitat area of flood plain hardwood timber and a

significant stretch of the  Sangamon River at Allerton Park that is unique in central Illinois,� said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood.  �It means hawks, songbirds, deer,  turkey, and a number of important reptiles and aquatic species identified in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan will continue to benefit from long  term habitat protection.�

The acquisition in Piatt County is the latest in a series of land acquisitions by the IDNR throughout Illinois during the past two years that have  added nearly 7,000 acres of natural areas and other open space for habitat protection, as well as hiking, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and  other recreation and education opportunities.

Squirrel season offers hunters preparation for fall hunting

Season Begins September 1 and runs through January 31

COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohio's squirrel season will open on September 1, providing hunters with an opportunity to take as many as six squirrels each day, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

A long-time tradition for many hunters, Ohio's squirrel season will offer ample hunting opportunities for fox and gray squirrels across the state.  It is a great time to get out in the woods and scout for the upcoming deer and fall wild turkey hunting seasons or take a youth hunting.  Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily. 

The season closes January 31. Squirrel season will be closed during the one-week statewide deer gun season that begins December 1 and runs through December 7, deer gun

weekend, December 20 and 21, and on the following areas during the Early Muzzleloader Deer Season, October 20-25: Salt Fork State Wildlife Area, Shawnee State Forest, and Wildcat Hollow.

The abundance of nut crops is a good indicator of squirrel numbers the following  year.  Squirrels have higher survival and reproduction after years with an ample supply of acorns and hickory nuts.  Statewide nut production ratings for fall 2007 were again above average and the squirrel hunting outlook for the 2008-09 season is good.

Hunters who wish to participate in the new squirrel hunting diary program, designed to track trends in nut crops and squirrel populations across the Buckeye State, should contact the Waterloo Wildlife Research Station 360 East State St., Athens OH 45701, for more information.

Lake Wilma closed

Harrisburg, PA, 8/13/08�The Lake Wilma portion of the Consol Energy land enrolled in the Pennsylvania Game Commission Farm Game  program was closed to the public yesterday until further notice. Lake Wilma (also known as Blacksville Lake) is a 19-acre lake located in Wayne  Township, Greene County.

According to Consol Energy, its request to have oversight of structure safety and integrity transferred from the Mine Safety and Health  Administration (MSHA) to Pennsylvania Dam Safety has not yet been addressed. MSHA is enforcing its authority and has requested that Lake  Wilma be posted as "no trespassing." The exemption it has proposed would require anyone who is fishing, walking on the dam, or

picnicking  to be hazard trained for this site and have appropriate safety gear (hard hat, safety glasses, boots, gloves, reflective vests, and life jackets).

Consol is unable to comply with the MSHA mandate to hazard train and provide safety equipment for the general recreational public and is  forced to close the area to public access. Anglers and boaters should avoid entrance into the Lake Wilma area. Beginning today, the property  will be closed and patrolled by security.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission plans to discontinue any fish stocking at the lake until this matter is resolved.

Register now for fall hunter education course

MADISON � Wisconsin hunters planning for the late-year seasons should register now for required hunter education certificate courses to avoid being sidelined due to lack of planning.

�Nearly all of the volunteer hunter education instructors are hunters themselves and enjoy hunting in the fall,� says Conservation Warden Tim Lawhern, who also serves as the state�s hunting education administrator. �The hunter education program offers about 1,200 courses every year, but very few of them are offered from October through December.�

Every year Lawhern fields calls two weeks before the gun-deer season with hunter-hopefuls looking to fulfill the mandatory hunter education course. �More than 99 % of our courses have already been offered well before the gun-deer season,� he

says.

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must have completed a hunter education course and show the certificate to purchase any hunting license in Wisconsin.

To find a course, visit the DNR Web page � www.dnr.wi.gov.  Look under the heading of Recreational Safety Course � Upcoming Classes. If unsuccessful, check back as courses are added to the listing as instructors alert the DNR.

�In Wisconsin, we�ve reduced hunting accidents by 90 % since the program began,� Lawhern says. �Hunting is safe -- and getting safer -- because of the volunteer instructors who teach hunter education and the number of our hunters who have now graduated from our courses. Sign up now while courses are being offered in your area.

Leamington commercial fisher fined $2320

A Lake Erie commercial fishing boat captain has been fined $2,320 for breaking a number of fishing violations.  Emilio Mauricio, 48, of Leamington, captain of the commercial fishing vessel "MI-MARK", pleaded guilty and was fined $2,320 for four fishing violations. These included failing to submit an accurate and complete daily catch report to the Ministry of Natural Resources, fishing outside of his permitted fishing grounds and allowing approximately 200 lbs. of yellow perch to spoil and become unsuitable for human consumption.

Court was told that on August 21, 2007, conservation officers investigated an alleged incident of inaccurate information being reported on a daily catch report involving the commercial fishing vessel "MI-MARK" while it was fishing out of the port of

Erieau, on Lake Erie.  Further investigation also determined that the fishing vessel was fishing in Chatham-Kent waters and not Elgin County waters as reported by the captain, and that fish were permitted to spoil.

Justice of the Peace Babcock heard the federal charges in the Ontario Court of Justice in Chatham on July 17, 2008 and Justice of the Peace Hurst heard the provincial charges in the Ontario Court of Justice in Chatham on August 13, 2008.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).