Evaluation of a Naturalized Rock Ramp Fish Passage for Cool- and Warm-Water Fish in a Tributary of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Murry, Brent

T-109-12
Evaluation of a Naturalized Rock Ramp Fish Passage for Cool- and Warm-Water Fish in a Tributary of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Brent Murry , Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative, US Fish & Wildlife Service, San Juan, PR

Andrea Ania , Fisheries, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alpena, MI

James C. Boase , Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office - Waterford Substation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Waterford, MI

Andrew S. Briggs , Alpena FWCO - Waterford Substation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Waterford, MI

Justin Chiotti , Alpena FWCO - Waterford Substation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Waterford, MI

Clarence Fullard , Biology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI

Tracy L. Galarowicz , Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI

Daniel B. Hayes , Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Joseph Leonardi , Fisheries, Michigan Department of Natural Resouces, Midland, MI

Gabe Madel , Biology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI

Jacob Stoller , Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Dams across the Great Lakes basin are nearing or beyond their original design life. Aging dams can be repaired to restore their function and safety, removed to restore full river connectivity, or retrofitted with a rock ramp structure to increase connectivity while retaining the socio-economic value of the impoundment. The success of rock ramp structures is not well documented. Our objective is to evaluate the success of a recently built rock ramp for increasing fish upstream movement and reproductive success. We sampled the relative abundance of adult spring migratory fishes and fish egg and larval density above and below a newly built rock ramp and a comparable dammed river. Catches of spring migratory fishes, particularly walleye, suckers, and quillback, were much higher below the rock ramp than above, indicating that the rock ramp still presents an impediment to upstream migration. Consistently, we found that the density of eggs and larval fishes was higher below the rock ramp than above. Recent rock ramp re-configurations created larger lanes between the boulders and an increase in adult fish passage. Rock ramp design needs to be more cognizant of the behavior and swimming abilities of native fishes to improve their success.

T-109-12 Evaluation of a Naturalized Rock Ramp Fish Passage for Cool- and Warm-Water Fish in a Tributary of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

T-109-12
Evaluation of a Naturalized Rock Ramp Fish Passage for Cool- and Warm-Water Fish in a Tributary of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron