Protection Measures for Trout Habitat

The Takeaway: The coastal management program and partners investigate causes and cures for declines in Lake Superior tributaries.

Lake Superior tributaries provide some of the most important cold-water trout habitat in the state and contribute significantly to local economic health. Many of the streams are facing problems caused by warmer temperatures, lack of suitable spawning habitat, and reduced stream connectivity.

Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program led a partnership effort to investigate these issues. Their study set forth 22 recommendations for managers to protect and preserve the future of Lake Superior’s tributaries. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has begun applying recommendations through forest management plans. Partners also hope to create a tool that can help prioritize watersheds for potential management action. NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management supplied Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding of $385,000 to advance the project. (2017)

More Information: dnr.state.mn.us/eloha/index.html

Partners: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program, Minnesota Sea Grant, Natural Resources Research Institute, The Nature Conservancy