Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited » Conservation

Dolan monitoring report released

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:51:03 +0000

As part of the large in-stream Dolan property project in 2010, SWMTU is required to monitor the status of the project and report the findings. By following this link, you can read the 18-page report.

If you are interested in just the summary, here it is ….

The Dolan Habitat Improvement Project is a unique and innovative effort to restore coldwater habitat to a designated county drain. The project was designed to improve aquatic habitat, while having minimal impact on stream flow and drainage-related function. Thirty five log structures were constructed for this project.

Initial results are encouraging. The logs appear as though they are naturally occurring and have been in place for a long period of time. Water is free flowing through the project reach and, based on Year 1 monitoring results, there are no significant concerns for bank erosion or physical instability of the structures.

Trout populations were found to have increased by about 2.5 times in the first year of monitoring, with an increase in the amount of naturally reproduced fish. Several trout, many of them very large, were observed spawning within the project area during the first week of November, 2010. Macroinvertebrate scores increase by three points, and remain Excellent. A slight increase in physical habitat score is directly related to addition of log structures. Long-term results will dictate the overall success of the project on improving aquatic populations.

Continued project monitoring will be extremely useful for determining wise use of future funds. If the project is determined to be a success, several opportunities for similar projects exist in the area, and throughout the state. It is anticipated that the project will serve as an example of successful coldwater restoration in a designated county drain – two uses of a resource that have traditionally been conflicting.

Public comment on the Grand River watershed

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:47:22 +0000

Nicole DeMol wants to make us aware of a public comment on the Grand River Watershed DNR Assessment. She plans to go to the December 28 meeting. Comments will be received until January 15, 2012.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division has released for public comment a draft report details the physical and biological characteristics and proposed management actions that impact aquatic resources associated with the Grand River watershed.

To ensure that all those with interest have an opportunity to learn about the study and provide comments, public meetings will be held in Belmont at the Plainfield Charter Township Hall, 6161 Belmont Avenue on Wednesday, December 28 at 7:00 p.m.

A copy of the report and more information can be found at:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_57228-266191–,00.html

Salmon in EGR Middle School classroom

Dave DeJonge — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:49:07 +0000

With the assistance of SWMTU and the East Grand Rapids Middle School PTSA, Pete Miller (SWMTU Board Memeber and EGR Middle School teacher) is proud to share his Trout in the Classroom Experience!!!

They placed 200 Chinook Salmon eggs in their tank on November 8, 2011 and will be releasing them in a local river in May of 2012. Students will be learning about the life cycle of salmon, will maintain the tank, monitor water quality levels, and will help release the salmon that survive.

Please check back often to do the following:
- watch the live webcam
- see updated pictures of the salmon
- see updated salmon population data

Watch live streaming video from egrmsscience at livestream.com

2011 State of TU

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:24:33 +0000

Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood delivers the State of TU address at the 2011 Annual Meeting in Bend, OR.

2011 State of TU from Trout Unlimited on Vimeo.

Help create a permanent SWMTU scholarship at MSU

Dave DeJonge — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:57:31 +0000

SWMTU is trying to establish a permanent endowed fellowship program at Michigan State University to continue a tradition first started by Sis Schrems in honor of her husband, and our founding member, Cornelius “Cornie” Schrems.

Every year since 1987, our Chapter has awarded a $2,000 scholarship to a graduate student at MSU who is interested in coldwater fisheries and wild trout populations. Sis Schrems established the scholarship program initially, and our Chapter supplemented the fund via a fund-raising effort around year 2000.

The future Dr. Bryan Burroughs sits with Sis Schrems upon his winning of the Schrems Scholarships. Dr. Burroughs is now the Executive Director of Michigan Trout Unlimited.

To award the $2,000 scholarship in recent years, the Chapter has used $1,000 out of the Schrems Scholarship fund and $1,000 out of our general operating account. At the start of this new fund-raising campaign, the Schrems Scholarship fund had an approximate $20,000 balance.

The Chapter’s intention in setting up the endowment at MSU includes the following:

Permanently honor the intentions of Sis and Cornie Schrems to help support a current MSU student of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife who works toward the mission of SWMTU.
Annually recognize such student with a one-time $2,000 award known as the Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited Graduate Fellowship.
Establish a minimum endowment fund at MSU in the amount of $40,000.
Allow MSU to manage, invest and grow the endowment in perpetuity.

In order to make this happen, our Chapter is attempting to raise an additional $20,000 in 2011 to achieve our goal of $40,000. So far, we’ve raised about $17,000 through private donations and matching funds from environmentally-oriented endowments.

Now, we need the support of SWMTU members to raise $3,000 in 2 months.

The easiest way to make your donation is to make out a check to Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited, and mail it to P.O. Box 230094, Grand Rapids, MI 49523.

Donations in any amount will help us meet our goal, and keep in mind that your donations are tax-deductible.

If the fund-raising effort is successful, the scholarship selection will be formalized at MSU and continue the traditional selection efforts of MSU’s Dr. William Taylor. A selection committee will be comprised of a member of SWMTU, an MSU faculty member interested in coldwater fisheries, and a designee of the Graduate School.

The Fellowship recipient will be a graduate student working on coldwater fisheries who demonstrates excellent academic credentials, evidence of leadership, ability to communicate with the public, ability to solve problems creatively, and a dedication to trout fisheries. A list of past winners of the Schrems Scholarship can be found here.

If our fund-raising effort is not successful in raising $20,000 in 2011, the Chapter will deposit the accumulated funds in the bank account that is currently earmarked for the Schrems Scholarship and will continue funding the scholarship as it has in recent years.

About the Schrems

The history of Cornie Schrems and Trout Unlimited goes back to 1959 when TU itself was established in Grayling, Michigan. One of the original founding members of Trout Unlimited was Cornie. While the original group focus centered on the Au Sable River, Cornie wanted to take this notion beyond the banks of that fabled river. He felt the same dedication and effort could be applied to his favorite “home waters” of the Pere Marquette and Little Manistee rivers. Thus, it was that Cornie joined together with fellow Grand Rapids fly fisherman such as Blake Forslund, C.R. Evenson and Dick Nelson to create the West Michigan Chapter in 1962.

Cornie and the others gathered more believers in the cause and the Chapter prospered and grew larger. Cornie is best remembered for the time and effort he devoted to teaching younger fly fishers about the privileges and responsibilities that go with fly fishing for trout. His financial support, leadership and vision never faltered. He was instrumental in establishing the “Flies Only” section of the Pere Marquette River. Each year, the Chapter gives the Cornelius Schrems Award to a person who has contributed to the lore and sport of fly fishing.

After Cornie’s passing in 1982, his wife, Sis, founded the Schrems Scholarship Fund for graduate students to use in research projects involving wild trout. In 1994, Sis received the Distinguished Service Award from Trout Unlimited at its National Convention in Bozeman, Montana.

Our Chapter owes a great debt of gratitude to the Schrems. Through 38 years of continuous and steadfast support of Trout Unlimited, Sis and Cornie created a legacy. In 2000, our Chapter renamed itself the Schrems West Michigan Chapter of Trout Unlimited. This was intended to be more than a gesture of appreciation. Our hope is that it will be a constant reminder that we have to work to continue the Schrems’ legacy. Thank you for your help and consideration in this effort. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

JR Hartman
President, Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited
616-364-0113
jr@hhmetalsource.com