Restoration Success Monitoring at North Fish Creek
The goals of the restoration work on North Fish Creek are to reduce excess sediment from getting into the creek and Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay to improve water quality and habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Our 3-year restoration success monitoring project will help us understand how well the projects are achieving our goals.
Sediment Load Study
The Center is collecting water samples from North Fish Creek to see how much sediment is in the water. The samples are filtered and measured in the lab and will allow us to see if the amount of sediment in the creek now is different than in the past, prior to any restoration work.
Fish Population Study
The Center has been performing an annual fish survey with assistance from Wisconsin DNR. The surveys occur in both restoration and non-restoration areas of the stream reach. Comparing the survey data from these areas can show if and how the fish populations have been affected by restoration work. We are particularly interested in seeing if brook trout benefit from the restoration work.
3D Modeling and Mapping
The Center is working with Bayfield County to collect high-resolution elevation data using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology. The information will allow us to create 3D models and maps of the stream reach to assess the changes in sediment erosion and deposition in both restoration and non-restoration areas.
Photo Point Monitoring
The Center is taking annual photographs from several established locations at each of the project sites. The photographs provide a simple way to show visual evidence of changes at each of the project sites on an annual basis over time. The photographs from each location at each project are compiled chronologically into a single document that allows for easy visualization of project performance at each site.