The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Monday announced the annual update to its web application designed to inform the public on local and regional trends in abundance, growth and survival of important fish populations in selected streams across Michigan is complete.
The application was developed and launched by the DNR in 2014 and summarizes data collected from a network of fish population survey sites, with data for some sites going back to 1947.
“The Stream Fish Population Trend Viewer features more than 40 streams that represent a range of conditions in terms of stream size, temperature and Great Lakes access,” said DNR fisheries research biologist Troy Zorn. “The focus is on streams with long-term data and naturally reproducing populations of trout, Great Lakes salmonids or smallmouth bass to provide users with information on self-sustaining fish populations around the state.”
Since trends in stream fish populations largely are influenced by regional climate and flow conditions, repeatedly going back to the same locations annually provides a clear understanding of trends in a stream. Users will be able to see what the population trends are in different areas of the state by comparing trends for key sites in each region. For fishery managers, understanding regional trends is critical to determine the best course of management on these streams, as well as interpreting survey data on streams that are surveyed less frequently. Understanding these trends is equally important to anglers, watershed or conservation groups, and the public.
Anglers, fisheries professionals and the public can look up a river and see what the most recent trends are in terms of abundance, growth and annual survival of selected fish species. Information can be viewed in map, graph or table formats. Approximately half of the sites are sampled each year, with new data added to the Trend Viewer each spring.
