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Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:
See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.
Photos: Larger, high-res versions of some of the images used in this email (snowshoeing, hunter orange, fall leaves and ambassador pic) are available in the DNR's public image gallery. The walleye photo is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Channel Island Reef photo is courtesy of Z. Allan, Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
 When you think of reefs, the Great Lakes don’t immediately come to mind; instead, most people picture the coral reefs associated with tropical waters and colorful fish. But Saginaw Bay once had many rock reefs, created by glacial activity, that provided an important type of habitat for the bay’s aquatic species. Over time, reef habitat was lost, buried by sediment due to logging, manufacturing and agricultural activity in the area. To restore this lost reef habitat, the DNR and many partner organizations worked together on a portfolio of reef habitat projects, including the recently completed Channel Island Reef.
A nearshore reef, Channel Island Reef is constructed in the bay near Channel Island (aka Spoils Island). It is made of natural rock that rises several feet from the bottom but still sits a few feet below the surface of the water. Locally sourced limestone was used, which creates crevices and ledges perfect for spawning fish to deposit eggs into and for young fry (newly hatched fish) to hide from predators. The reef will get lots of wave action, which will keep sediment from building up and wash oxygenated water over fertilized fish eggs, increasing their survival.
“Restoring rocky reefs can help make native fish species – like lake whitefish and walleye – more resilient,” said Jeff Jolley, the DNR’s Southern Lake Huron Fisheries Management Unit manager.
These species use reef habitat for spawning, making it essential for supporting strong fish populations, especially whitefish, which are in decline elsewhere in the Great Lakes.
Jolley said that while walleye are now thriving in the bay, much of the population currently relies on river spawning. That makes it vulnerable—if just one or two river systems experience a disaster, blockage or habitat decline, the effects could ripple across the entire population. By restoring and enhancing diverse spawning habitats, biologists aim to build resiliency into the population.
“It’s similar to diversifying an investment portfolio,” said Jolley. “Spreading the ‘risk’ across multiple spawning areas helps ensure the walleye population remains strong even if one site falters.”
In the coming years, fisheries biologists will study activity at the reef, learning more about how fish use the reef and its beneficial effects on the ecology of Saginaw Bay.
Learn more about the project: Channel Island Reef: Increasing fish spawning habitat and resilience in Saginaw Bay | Michigan Sea Grant.
Questions? Contact Jeff Jolley at 989-686-2678.
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With Michigan’s firearm deer season starting Saturday, the DNR reminds everyone to put safety first. This brief video offers firearm safety tips.
“Success is not always about filling your tag, it’s about safely enjoying the experience and sharing it with friends and family after the hunt,” said Lt. Tom Wanless, supervisor of the DNR’s Recreational Safety, Education and Enforcement Section.
Wanless said that athough some tips seem like common sense, it’s critical for anyone hunting with firearms to consider safety basics each time they pick up a firearm.
All firearm deer hunters should:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Be aware of surroundings – know your target and what is beyond it.
- Unload firearms when crossing obstacles and/or getting in or out of an elevated stand.
- Obey “no trespassing” signs; they are there for a reason.
- Obtain landowner permission to retrieve game that may have wandered onto private property.
- Wear hunter orange to increase your visibility to other hunters. Hunter orange garments must be worn as the outer layer of clothing (such as caps, hats, vests or jackets) and must be visible from all directions.
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During the firearm deer season, all hunters and nonhunters are encouraged to wear bright colors, especially hunter orange, when recreating near woods or fields where hunting may occur.
Get more hunting and tree stand safety tips at Michigan.gov/HuntingSafety. Season and regulation details are available through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.
Report hunting violations, including trespassing, to the DNR Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Freezer already full?
Hunters, if you have success this season, consider donating a deer or money to Hunters Feeding Michigan, a program that helps Michiganders get venison to feed their families. Your generosity can make a real difference to friends and neighbors who are struggling.
Questions about the HFM program? Contact Tom Weston at 517-388-6342.
If raking and bagging fall leaves is an outdoor chore you dread, listen up! There are some good reasons to scratch this from your to-do list.
Where do little critters go during the winter? Many spend it in/under the leaves. Moths, bees, salamanders, turtles and many other species rely on fallen leaves for different stages of their lives, either hiding among the foliage or eating the leaves.
A few years back, one of our Showcasing the DNR stories covered the benefits of leaving your lawn "as is" (or close to it) during the colder months. As you prep your outdoor spaces for winter, try not to be too orderly – leaving a bit of natural chaos is just how many species like it.
Read the full story for more tips on handling your leaves.
Questions? Contact Kathleen Lavey, communications specialist in the DNR Forest Resources Division, at 517-930-4218.
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 See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors at Instagram.com/MiStateParks. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182. (This photo of Big Sable Point Lighthouse is by Sarah Goodwin, for the Michigan DNR, at Ludington State Park in Mason County.)
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