An Integrated Assessment of the Status of the Fish and Wildlife Populations in the Detroit River

Abstract

The Detroit River spans 32 miles from Lake St. Clair to the western Lake Erie basin. It includes upland habitats, coastal wetlands, riverfront property, and numerous islands. The Detroit River is unique in southeast Michigan because it acts as the border between the United States and Canada, and is co-managed and researched by both countries. In the early 1960s, the Detroit River and its tributaries made national headlines because of devastating pollution problems. Fish and wildlife populations were severely degraded as a consequence of loss of habitat, high levels of persistent contaminants, and excessive phosphorus loadings. In the early-1970s, pollution abatement programs were instated and fish and wildlife populations were improved, but further action is still warranted. In support of these pollution abatement programs, data on a variety of parameters have been collected over the past 30 years within and surrounding the Detroit River watershed. To assess the status of fish and wildlife populations of the Detroit River, this six-step Integrated Assessment, focused on a defined problem, is used to evaluate potential management options. This assessment compiles existing information on fish and wildlife population fluctuations, pressures on these populations, and current ecological health. The goals of this assessment are to document the extent, characteristics, causes, and consequences of the fluctuating fish and wildlife populations in the Detroit River watershed. Future outcomes are predicted if current management strategies are held constant and with two scenarios of additional management actions, including increased remediation of contaminated sediment and increased protection and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat. Guidance for managers is provided for implementation of the two options to further enhance fish and wildlife populations. While the degradation of many fish and wildlife populations in the Detroit River is irreversible, effective management will continue to improve ecosystem health so that fish and wildlife populations become and remain self-sustaining.