North Fish Creek Watershed Restorations
Excess sedimentation is the largest non-point issue in Chequamegon Bay, affecting fish habitat and spawning areas within tributaries and the Bay. North Fish Creek is the largest sediment contributor to the Bay and is also a regionally important cold-water resource impacted by excess sedimentation driven by accelerated surface runoff rates and in-stream erosion at approximately 20 bluff sites. This project builds on over 20 years of research to identify sediment sources and causes in North Fish Creek and will accomplish bluff stabilization, wetland restoration, instream restoration and other fish and wildlife habitat restoration. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant to Northland College under justification 505DM 2.14B 4. The Service through the Ashland FWCO will be involved in all steps of planning, design, construction and oversight of this project. This includes recommendations for all habitat restorations associated with the cooperative agreement, survey assistance and construction oversight. Competition is not practical because Northland College staff and students work on projects funded through this agreement as part of their assigned duties, therefore minimal staff time is charged to Fish and Wildlife Service funds. The partners involved in the projects agree that this is the most efficient and effective way to partner with others and deliver high quality resource management throughout the Fish Creek Watershed. This results in generous in-kind contributions and the college is willing to provide matching funds, leveraging FWS habitat restoration and enhancement dollars. Other government units and volunteer organizations within the watershed are not able to provide this in-kind support.
Office: U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Ted_Koehler@fws.gov
