Movements of smallmouth bass and walleye in lower Menominee River and Green Bay

MRSMB

September 2020 - May 2023

Smallmouth Bass and Walleye are important fish species in the lower Menominee River and Green Bay. They are desired species for Wisconsin and Michigan anglers. Lower Menominee river is highly industrialized with frequent construction projects adjacent to the shoreline and in water. Construction activity can cause sound disturbance and plumes of sediment in the river. The effects may cause fish to avoid this sections of the river adjacent to construction activity. Several acoustic receivers are deployed in the lower Menominee river including one at Strawberry Island, within 200 feet of a known construction site. This project will determine or document possible avoidance to a known construction site. In addition, tagged smallmouth bass and walleye seasonal movements in the Menominee River and Green Bay will be determined through several existing receivers deployed for other studies involving lake whitefish and lake sturgeon.

• Determine if adult smallmouth bass and walleye avoid a construction site in the lower Menominee River when construction activities (blasting and dredging) are occurring.
• Document seasonal movements of smallmouth bass and walleye in the lower Menominee River and Green Bay

• Understanding impacts of construction activities on migrating and resident fish could influence state and local permitting, such as allowed construction during spawning migrations.
• General telemetry information will inform fish managers of seasonal movement patterns which will aid in a better understanding of spawning migrations and residency.

• Dan Isermann (University of Wisconsin Stevens Point) - diserman@uwsp.edu
• Michael Donofrio (Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources)

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources