GLIN==> Rebounding Fish Population Threatened by Poor Road Maintenance

For Immediate Release
September 22, 2010

Contact: Carl Lindquist at 906-228-6095 Ext: 14 or Carl at superiorwatersheds.org<mailto:Carl at superiorwatersheds.org>

Re:  Rebounding Fish Population Threatened by Poor Road Maintenance

MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN - After implementing a decade of successful restoration projects in the Salmon Trout River watershed, monitoring has documented improvements in the Coaster Brook Trout population but a series of recent poor construction practices and erosion problems are dumping tons of sediment into the river and threatening all progress.

Since 1999 the Superior Watershed Partnership has completed over twenty large-scale, watershed improvement projects on the Salmon Trout. Recently however the Kennecott Corporation and their contractors have been implementing a number of projects on local roads leading to the proposed mine site. These roads include the Triple A road where recent road projects and right-of-way clearing have resulted in serious erosion and sedimentation to the Salmon Trout River.

"The restoration work on the Salmon Trout has been very successful but equally important is preventing future problems" said Carl Lindquist Executive Director of the SWP. "The SWP is requesting that Kennecott and their contractors use the best practices available, spare no expense and cut no corners in protecting the resource. This includes using clear-span bridges, bottomless arch culverts and proven storm water management practices."

The SWP, with local, state, federal and tribal support, has implemented nearly $1 million in protection and restoration projects in the Salmon Trout watershed. These projects prevent hundreds of tons of sediment from entering the river annually and smothering important fish habitat.  The Salmon Trout is considered the last river on the south shore of Lake Superior with a documented, naturally-reproducing population of Coaster Brook Trout.

After a long period of decline monitoring has documented a steady increase in the number of large Coaster Brook Trout in the Salmon Trout River. While populations in the Salmon Trout River remain relatively small monitoring data indicates an increase in the number of adult fish since 2002.

The SWP continues to implement projects that have been prioritized in the Salmon Trout Watershed Management Plan. The plan was developed by the SWP and approved by the EPA and Michigan DNRE. SWP Watershed Planner Geraldine Larson credits the plan for providing an effective, science-based approach to Great Lakes habitat restoration; "The plan provides a snapshot of existing and potential impacts to the watershed and helps us prioritize projects and get the best ecological benefit with the funding we receive." The plan includes a comprehensive inventory of degraded sites and identifies roads and stream crossings as the primary source of impacts, contributing hundreds of tons of sediment per year.

Watershed restoration projects that have been installed by the SWP include; erosion control, clear-span bridges, bottomless arch culverts, sediment traps, storm water controls, native plant restoration and stream bank stabilization. As a non-profit organization the SWP has secured local, state, federal and tribal funds to implement these projects but there is more work to be done and additional funding is still needed. SWP funders include but are not limited to; EPA, MDEQ, Michigan Coastal Management, US Fish and Wildlife, Great Lakes Commission, the Joyce Foundation and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.


The SWP has a dedicated staff of biologists, planners, technicians and educators who provide creative, science-based solutions for a wide range of Great Lakes challenges facing communities and watersheds across the Upper Peninsula. For more information contact the SWP at (906) 228-6095 or www.superiorwatersheds.org<http://www.superiorwatersheds.org>.



Please see attached photos

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Natasha Koss
Project Coordinator
Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Trust
2 Peter White Drive
Presque Isle Park
Marquette, Michgan  49855
ph.  (906)228-6095
fax. (906)228-6863
www.superiorwatersheds.org<http://www.superiorwatersheds.org/>

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