News
Valders Journal covers MCLA Guest Speaker Darren Kuhn
Darren Kuhn has collected many stories in his career as a recreation safety warden, along with a strong desire for people to stay safe while having fun. Kuhn, who works for the state Department of Natural Resources, recently spoke to the Manitowoc County Lakes Association during a meeting in Manitowoc.
Valders Journal article brings attention to phosphorous in area lakes
Phosphorous levels are slowly increasing in Manitowoc County lakes.
Gene Weyer, water quality testing director and former president of the Manitowoc County Lakes Association, displayed graphs of phosphorous levels on 16 area lakes to those gathered at the association’s Feb. 21 meeting.
read full articleSkamania to be Reintroduced to Lake Michigan
Skamania Steelhead. Source: DNR FactSheet
April 4, 2017. In a boost to diversify Lake Michigan fishing opportunities, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will reintroduce Skamania steelhead into the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan over the next three to five years.
Dave Giehtbrock, DNR fisheries propagation section chief, said the Skamania strain is particularly prized because it may reach 32 inches and 12 pounds at age five - larger than other strains. Read the full article on the Wisconsin DNR website.
About the Skamania summerrun steelhead:
This strain was developed at the Skamania hatchery in the state of Washington. Wisconsin originally obtained eggs from Indiana, but we now take eggs from adults returning to our streams. The spawning migration (known as “the run”) begins in late June and early July. The good stream fishing doesn’t begin until the water temperatures start to cool, usually in mid‐September. Spawning occurs from mid‐December through mid‐March with the peak occurring in January and February. The majority of spawning fish are four and five year olds. Four year old fish average 28 inches and 8 pounds while five year old fish average 32 inches and 12 pounds.
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area. Lake Michigan is shared by Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The word “Michigan” originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami meaning “great water.”
Interested in Lake Michigan levels?
Try the interactive Great Lakes Dashboard Project at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).
- Click this link if you are using a tablet, mobile device or a Mac without Flash Player installed https://www.glerl.noaa.gov//data/dashboard/GLD_HTML5.html
- Click this link if you are using a device with Flash Player installed: https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/dashboard/GLWLD.html
MCLA Lake Director: John S. Durbrow
Facts & Figures:
- All of Manitowoc County is included in the Lake Michigan watershed.
- Shore length: 1,400 mi + 238 mi (islands)
- Max. length: 307 mi
- Max. width: 118 mi
- Surface area: 22,300 sq mi
- Depth: Max. 923 ft Mean 279 ft
- Volume: 1,180 cu mi
- Lake type: Glacial
- Recreation and Parks: Visit the Manitowoc City and Manitowoc County websites for information on the many lakeshore parks and attractions, such as Fischer Creek Conservation area.
Fishing Regulations:
- Species present: Click here.
- Current Fishing Report: Click here.
In general, Manitowoc County Lake Michigan fishing reports are updated once per week, usually on Tuesdays, beginning in spring. - 2015 Point Creek Smallmouth Bass Survey Report
- Consumption advisory: Click here.
Aquatic Invasive Species
- Alewife, Big Head carp, Rainbow smelt, Ruffe, Round goby, Silver carp, Sea Lamprey, White perch, Bloody-red shrimp, Spiny and fishhook waterfleas, Zebra and Quagga mussels, Rusty crayfish.
Read more on the Wisconsin DNR website.
Other Resources:
EPA Lake Michigan Management Plan
US Army Corps of Engineers – Lake Michigan Conditions