MDNR Report
Steelhead egg collection was scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 14, at the Little Manistee River Weir in Stronach, Michigan. However, electrical damage during overnight storms caused a power failure at the weir facility, resulting in the loss of some of the fish being held for egg collection.
This electrical damage not only affected the main source of power, but also the backup power source and the notification system that alerts staff to power failures. Without power, the systems that sustained the fish were inoperable, resulting in the loss of many of the fish held in the facility at the time.
The weir’s main power source and three of the four pumps have been restored and are now functional; one pump is inoperable and will need repairs. Egg collection will continue as planned for the remaining live fish.
The effect this loss will have on steelhead egg collection for this season is still unknown. The Little Manistee River Weir is the exclusive source of steelhead in Michigan, as well as the primary source for neighboring states, and the planned egg collection quota was 4.6 million eggs.
“No question, this loss of steelhead right before egg collection is a substantial setback,” said Randy Claramunt, chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division. “This is disappointing to our staff, many of whom are anglers and care deeply about this fishery, but they are working quickly to collect eggs from the live fish at the weir to try to meet our needs for steelhead stocking next year.”