Whittlesey Creek

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife
Refuge Reintroduction Project, Wisconsin

The objectives of the Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge Reintroduction Project were to first examine the diversity, abundance and status of the Whittlesey Creek fish community, determine the strategies needed for successfully establishing a self-sustaining coaster brook trout population, and lastly to reintroduce coasters into Whittlesey Creek. Working collaboratively to accomplish these goals are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the Wild Rivers Chapter of TU.

Surveys to determine the status of fish communities were conducted by the USFWS and WDNR in 2001 and 2002 in accordance with the project's first goal. What the surveys showed were that brook trout abundance declined by 70% since the last fish community surveys were conducted by the WDNR in 1977. The USFWS and WDNR were then able to develop a plan to re-establish coaster brook trout through a combination of protective regulations, habitat restoration and stocking.

In 2003, the first stocking of coaster brook trout into Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge was accomplished with the release of 75 three to four year old coaster brook trout. The released fish, from the Tobin Harbor and Siskowit strains from Isle Royale, Michigan, were reared in the Iron River National Fish Hatchery in Iron River, Wisconsin. Approximately 26 were implanted with radio transmitters and floy tags were deployed on the remaining fish. Telemetry tracking following the release combined with continuous monitoring has shown that high fish mortality occurred in the stream and at the mouth of the creek as the fish entered Lake Superior.

The reintroductions at Whittlesey Creek over the next five years will continue exploring the stocking of different life stages (e.g. eggs, fry, fingerlings and adults) to compare success rates. Following the earlier release of adult coasters, eggs were stocked in December 2003 and have continued in the subsequent years. TU National and the Wild Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited will continue to provide assistance with reintroductions and have already logged in significant volunteer hours.

To become involved or for more information please contact Henry Quinlan at the USFWS by email at henry_quinlan@fws.gov or Bill Heart, Wild Rivers TU Chapter President by email at wwheart@cheqnet.net.