Focus on the FishAmerica Foundation

FishAmerica Helps to Improve Fish Passage in the Midwest

Two projects open more than 20 miles of habitat for coaster and eastern brook trout

Two projects recently completed in the Midwest opened approximately 20 miles of valuable coldwater spawning and rearing habitat for coaster and eastern brook trout.

In the United States, more than two million barriers block fish from accessing more than 600,000 miles of rivers and streams. These barriers are often culverts that are undersized or incorrectly positioned. By converting them to bridges or arch culverts, the natural streambed is restored, allowing for passage of various species of sportfish, including trout.

The FishAmerica Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program in Region 3, awarded $34,000 to two projects to improve fish passage in the Great Lakes region.

The former Whittlesey Creek culvert created a significant barrier to coaster brook trout.

The new culvert opened more than 11 miles of unrestricted passage to coaster brook trout along the north fork of Whittlesey Creek.

Improved Fish Passage in Wisconsin

Consistent base flow, stable temperatures and high water quality make Whittlesey Creek and its tributaries important spawning and nursery sites for migratory trout and salmon in the Lake Superior basin.

The Bayfield County Land & Water Conservation Department and its partners received $30,000 to improve fish passage along the north fork of Whittlesey Creek in Bayfield County, Wis.

The previous culvert along the north fork of Whittlesey Creek was undersized, rusted and partially collapsed, creating a one-foot drop inside the culvert and blocking passage to coaster brook trout about 50 feet from the inlet. This culvert was the last major fish passage barrier in the Whittlesey Creek watershed. The county removed the undersized culvert and installed a larger aluminum culvert to open more than 11 miles of unrestricted fish passage for coaster brook trout.

Inside the culvert, 16 baffles were created to improve water flow. After the larger culvert was installed, the county placed erosion control fabric and riprap and seeded the streambanks to stabilize then, preventing sedimentation into the stream and improving the water quality.

Improved Fish Passage in Michigan

The Black River is a coldwater system supporting populations of eastern brook trout. Michigan identified 62 road crossings in the Black River watershed as contributing excessive sedimentation to the river, reducing the water quality, impairing fish habitat and creating barriers to fish passage. The crossing at Black River Road along Hodges Creek was identified as a high priority for removal.

Huron Pines, Inc., a non-profit community conservation organization in Grayling, Mich., received $4,000 to improve fish passage along Hodges Creek, a tributary to the Black River, in the Cheboygan River watershed.

Collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Montmorency County Road Commission, Huron Pines, Inc. removed two undersized culverts at the Black River Road crossing and installed a larger culvert to seven miles of streambed. After the culvert was installed, it raised the road height at the culvert and placed crushed limestone at the road approaches to prevent sediment loading into the stream and improving the creeks’ water quality.

In addition to blocking fish passage by the undersized, double culverts at the Black River crossing along the Hodges Creek in Montmorency County, Mich., erosion from the streambanks contributed sediment into the stream reducing the water.

The new Hodges Creek arched culvert was buried in the streambed. Volunteers placed fieldstones into the culvert to assist with creating a natural streambed improving brook trout passage.

San Diego River Habitat Restoration—
A Six-Year Look

Restoration project shows great benefits to fisheries

In 2004, the Aquatic Adventures Science Education Foundation, now the Ocean Discovery Institute, received $25,000 from the FishAmerica Foundation to restore and improve rearing and foraging habitat and water quality in the San Diego River.

The San Diego River wetlands provides critical habitat for juvenile fish and serves as a feeding grounds for larger fish species. Species, such as halibut, enter the intertidal region to feed on smaller fish species, like killifish.

The San Diego River Mouth is a salt marsh wetland providing critical habitat for juvenile fish recruitment and serves as a feeding ground for larger fish species, such as halibut. This site is the junction of the San Diego River, Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and nearly a million people visit it annually for fishing, biking and walking. Excessive footpaths and homemade trails, however, damaged the wetlands and the surrounding area.

To restore this critical fishery habitat, in 2004 more than 1,600 community volunteers and students removed invasive plants and replanted native vegetation along 10 acres of riparian area. They also installed several signs at the site to highlight the importance of the project and provide outreach to the community.

In 2007, FishAmerica awarded a second grant to the Ocean Discovery Institute to investigate the fish nursery function of the newly restored wetlands. Volunteers spent 180 hours monitoring the fish usage of the wetlands and teaching local students about their importance. Volunteers found longjaw mudsuckers and California killifish, important forage species for halibut and kelp bass.

In 2009, the Ocean Discovery Institute handed over the reins for monitoring and maintenance to the local community.

Just six months after the revegetation project, the wetlands already provided additional fisheries habitat.

At low tide in 2005, the wetlands supplied nearly two acres of habitat for juvenile fish.