Workday Report - Feb 7 & Feb 10, 2015 - Emerson Creek

TEN DAYS OF TENSION, TRAUMA & TRIUMPH!

Here is the latest in the story of Mill Creek, Emerson tributary and the dauntless volunteers who hang on every syllable of the experts when it comes to disappointment or success.

When Larry Halyk and Warren Yerex, friends of us, each other and our recovering watershed, arrived on January 30th, they shared our enthusiasm for the potential of the Emerson Creek “Nursery” channel. All this was tempered by the concern we all held for the amount of “Upwelling, oxygenated spring water” we seemed to witness. Suggestions were made about how this water could best be used to produce excellent spawning sites. There was, however, the ongoing concern about whether this water was, as at the Mill Creek source, Anoxic, or lacking in dissolved oxygen. Testing is needed. No oxygen. No survival!!

When Jack Imhof and Beth Anne Fischer arrived (along with 9 of us volunteers) on February 7th, we showed them the biggest two springs first and hoped for the best. “Not to be”, said Beth Anne: “Little or no dissolved oxygen in both springs”. Devastating news, but not the end of the world, says Jack. “Many of the most productive brook trout streams and rivers have anoxic spring sources”. Really? We asked. Yes, and in fact, the total dissolved oxygen content and all the other positive elements had both Jack and Beth Anne enthusiastic about the next steps for us in Emerson Creek. Could it be that all is not lost?

Their advice is to allow all the streamside springs to cascade into the stream, and in the process aerate the adjacent waters. The main flows proved to be well above the necessary levels for the hatching and healthy growth of baby brookies. As Larry had advised earlier, he selected prime areas where spawning will occur successfully and what we should do to enhance the conditions to optimize both hatching and fry survival. We went from agony to ecstasy in a matter of a few minutes, while Jack expressed high optimism for our project.

Jack then advised that he would convene a meeting with MNR officials for Tuesday, February 10th to propose a double edged program: The planting of adult, track able fish this coming fall AND the stocking of wild (not hatchery) fry this coming spring. After discussion of all the pros and cons, the group agreed with this plan.



What a wonderful feeling to have come this far: Eight years and 2,400 volunteer hours $40,000 in donations have brought us to this “Alpha Test” of our watershed. The professionals are taking the calculated risk that the work we have all done has created a viable brook trout habitat. It will now be up to the little “fishies” to prove we are correct…and successful.

It is a testament to all the 120+ volunteers who have given of their time and energy to reach this stage. We share your relief and in the optimism for the results we will achieve in the year 2015. It is already a great year, in my book! I hope you will agree.