Ian Harding of the Red Cliff Band is working to recover coaster brook trout runs in Lake Superior. (Mike Dvorak)
Coaster Brook Trout Waters
Overview
On the Lake Superior coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Trout Unlimited is working to monitor and recover native coaster brook trout, a life history variation of brook trout. Coasters grow to trophy sizes by spending part of their lives in the Great Lakes. Working with partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Technological University, the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe Indians, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the Michigan Council of TU, the Copper Country Chapter of TU, and others, we are revitalizing coaster restoration recovery. We are assessing monitoring strategies and replacing failing road stream crossings that block fish passage and present community flood risks. The Coaster Life History Priority Water aims to recover native coaster brook trout to fishable populations on the Upper Peninsula coast of Lake Superior.
Developing a Coaster Brook Trout Recovery Stakeholder Group
Coaster brook trout in a Lake Superior tributary. (US Fish & Wildlife Service)
Over the past 20 years of coaster brook trout recovery efforts, momentum has surged and stalled. TU is identifying, assembling, and engaging stakeholder agencies, tribal nations, organizations, and universities to build a shared understanding of coaster brook trout life history and to identify restoration, habitat, and research needs.
Conducting Research into Recovery, Habitat, and Restoration Needs
On Whittlesey Creek, Trout Unlimited volunteers are helping the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service repair damage created by logging more than 100 years ago. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
TU and our partners are assessing current distribution of coaster brook trout and conducting research into the specific recovery, habitat, and restoration needs identified by the stakeholder group. With buy-in from and coordination among agencies, tribal nations, organizations, and universities, this coaster research is informing the implementation of strategies that will help us recover this fishery.
Protecting and Restoring Coaster Brook Trout Populations
Sarah Topp of TU and Erin Johnston of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community are reconnecting coaster streams. (Mike Dvorak)
TU and partners are assessing habitat connectivity in identified coaster brook trout streams, and replacing culverts, and removing dams to open up miles of coldwater stream habitat for migrating fish. We’re also working with land trusts to protect riparian habitat corridors and with agencies to promote fishing regulations that protect coaster brook trout.
