Download 2012-13_new_study

T-10-T-4, Michigan
Study 237027
Name of Study:
New Study: 2012-13
Cisco (lake herring) assessment and rehabilitation in Michigan
A. Problem/Need: Part 365, Endangered Species Protection, of the Michigan Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Act (PA 451 of 1994) outlines provisions for the identification and
protection of fish, plant life, and wildlife that are in danger of extinction or likely to become
endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Part 365 requires the department to
conduct investigations in order to develop information relating to population, distribution, habitat
needs, limiting factors, and other biological and ecological data necessary to determine
appropriate management actions necessary to maintain sustainable populations.
Lake herring, or cisco, are widely distributed in northern North America from the Great Lakes
and upper Mississippi drainage north to Labrador and west to the Mackenzie River drainage in
the Northwest Territories (Scott and Crossman 1999). Latta (1995) reports lake herring are, or
were, present in at least 152 lakes in 41 counties in Michigan, ranging from the Indiana border to
Keweenaw County in the Upper Peninsula. This is likely an underestimate as not all lakes have
been surveyed. The primary distribution of cisco in southern Michigan is in the band of glacial
formed kettle lakes between Oakland and Cass counties. Another large group of inland lakes with
populations of lake herring are found in counties that are adjacent to the Great Lakes (Table 1). In
these systems, lake herring serve as an important food item for native lake trout, walleye,
northern pike, and muskellunge (Scott and Crossman 1998).
Historically, cisco Coregonus artedi were the most prolific prey fish in the Great Lakes basin,
serving as a vital energy link between top native predators and plankton resources as well as
supporting the largest freshwater commercial fishery in North America. The collapse of cisco
populations in the Great Lakes has been attributed to overfishing, habitat destruction, and
invasive species. Cisco populations have recovered in Lake Superior and are increasing in
abundance in Lake Huron, but remain severely restricted in the other Great Lakes. Despite nearly
a century of research on cisco, our understanding of this species is still in its infancy.
The lake herring is currently identified as a threatened species pursuant to the Michigan Natural
Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451. Although there has been some
question regarding this designation for inland populations (Latta 1995), a March 2005 review of
the status of lake herring by the MDNR Fish Technical Advisory Committee concluded the
species remains vulnerable to a variety of pressures (including habitat loss, climate change, and
introductions of non-indigenous species such as rainbow smelt or alewife) and the threatened
designation was appropriate for inland and Great Lakes populations (L. Hay-Chmielewski
(MDNR) Fisheries Division, personal communication).
In general, we have very little information about most Michigan species of concern (including
cisco); for example, their distribution, habitat needs, local and regional abundance, and what is
needed to protect them. The Fisheries Division has not completed recovery plans for most of
these fish species (with the exception of lake sturgeon). Fisheries Division needs to complete a
review of our species of concern including where they currently exist and their abundance. This
need is recognized in the recently developed Fisheries Division strategic plan, and would be
important in providing recommendations to managers and communicating with the public. This
information would be applied in evaluating stocking recommendations (for both SGCN and other
species), manual removals and transfers, commercial harvest of other species, applications of
chemicals and permits, and habitat manipulations.
T-10-T-4, Study 237027 – 2
B. Purpose and Objectives: The specific objectives of this project are:
(1) to review the status of cisco stocks in Michigan Great Lakes and inland waters,
(2) to support ongoing assessments of Great Lakes cisco stocks,
(3) and to support development of state and regional cisco restoration plans.
C. Expected Results and Benefits: This work will address priorities identified in Fish Community
Objectives for all of the Great Lakes, as well as two basin-wide priorities outlined in the Fisheries
Research Priorities of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission: identifying impediments to
rehabilitating indigenous species, and identifying how invasive species affect indigenous species.
This work is also supports research needs identified at the 2003 and 2006 Lake Herring
Workshops sponsored by Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act funding.
Results of this project will be useful to Fisheries Division management biologists who regularly
review and comment on proposed habitat altering activities that require permits from regulatory
agencies. During these reviews, Fisheries Division staff identify known populations of listed
species and make recommendations to MDEQ, USEPA, and the USACE to restrict or deny
activities (e.g., dredging, construction, herbicide treatments) that may harm these populations.
Management decisions that are directly under the purview of Fisheries Division staff would also
benefit from this information, as stocking of other species, manual removals and transfers,
commercial harvest of other species, and habitat manipulations all have the potential to influence
recovery and sustainability of cisco populations.
The proposed work will ultimately lead to development and publication of Great Lake-specific
and state cisco restoration plans.
D. Procedure:
Job 1. Review status of cisco stocks in Michigan Great Lakes waters.-Efforts are underway to
review the status of cisco in each of the Great Lakes, under the auspices of the Lake
Committees (GLFC) – see, for example, Lake Michigan Planktivore Task Group.
Job 2. Review status of cisco populations in Michigan inland waters.-Project will build on
previous Michigan efforts to document status of inland cisco populations and to develop
restoration options and priorities (Latta 1995, Claramunt et al. in preparation).
Job 3. Provide support for ongoing assessment of remnant cisco stocks in the Great Lakes.Assessments of remnant spawning populations of cisco are currently ongoing in lakes
Superior, Huron, and Michigan, albeit on a very limited scale. This job would provide
support for these efforts.
Job 4. Develop regional and Michigan-specific cisco rehabilitation plans.
Job 5. Write annual performance report.
Job 6. Write final report.
E. Geographical Location: Fisheries Division research stations on Lake Michigan (Charlevoix),
Lake Huron (Alpena), and Lake Superior (Marquette). Review of inland status will be
coordinated with management unit offices, primarily SLMMU (Plainwell).
T-10-T-4, Study 237027 – 3
F. Schedule/Budget1:
Proposed work
2012-13
2013-14
Job 1 Review Great Lakes cisco stocks
$2,541.00
$10,164.00
Job 2 Review inland cisco populations
$1,045.50
$4,182.00
Job 3 Assess Great Lakes populations
$3,015.75
$12,063.00
Job 4 Develop rehabilitation plans
$1,318.50
$5,274.00
Job 5 Write annual performance report
$4,219.00
NA
Job 6 Write final report
NA
$4,219.00
Subtotal:
$12,139.80
$35,902.00
Travel:
$1,074.75
$4,299.00
Total:
$13,214.50
$40,201.00
1
NA = not scheduled
G. Personnel: Principal investigator; Randall Claramunt (CFRS, Charlevoix). Co-PIs include James
Johnson (AFRS, Alpena), Shawn Sitar (MFRS, Marquette), and Scott Hanshue (SLMMU,
Plainwell). Technical staff at research stations and management unit offices will assist with status
review and Great Lakes assessments.
H. Relationship with other federal grants: Fisheries management planning (F-94) and stocking
decisions (F-62) may be influenced by findings from the proposed project.
I. Potential for interaction with federally listed threatened and endangered species: Some
aspects of the work described will be office based in Allegan, Alpena, Charlevoix, and Marquette
Counties. There should be no species or critical habitat effects resulting from this aspect of the
proposed project.
Field sampling will take place in near- and off-shore waters of lakes Superior, Huron, and
Michigan. The proposed project does not specifically target habitats currently known to be
inhabited by federal species listed as threatened, endangered, or as a candidate. In addition, no
federally listed species are directly sampled. Thus we expect no take of any federally listed species.
Literature Cited
Claramunt, R. M., S. Hanshue, and T. Kalish. Coregonid management objectives for Michigan inland
water bodies. In preparation.
Latta, W. C. 1995. Distribution and abundance of the lake herring (Coregonus artedi) in Michigan.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Research Report 2014, Ann Arbor.
Scott, W. B., and E. J. Crossman. 1998. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of
Canada, Ottawa.