The Mershon-Neumann Heritage Chapter is planning to conduct the South Branch brown trout redd survey again this year. This survey on the South Branch of the Au Sable is coordinated with a similar survey on the main branch by the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of TU and another survey on the north branch by Anglers of the Au Sable.
The purpose of this announcement is to let you know our tentative plans for the south branch survey.
Tentatively, the date for this year’s survey will be Friday, November 4th. We will meet at Chase Bridge on the south branch of the Au Sable River at 10 am.
The location and size of spawning trout redds provides:
· DNR Fisheries an estimate of the female trout population
· Yearly averages of redd sizes identifies trends of fish size
· Identifies protective cover needs
· Identifies productive and non-productive river reaches
If you have not helped with this project in the past… here is what we are asking for help with: Wade (with other volunteers) a one to two-mile section of the south branch to inventory brown trout redds. Each redd location will be measured and the GPS coordinates will be recorded. It will take about two hours to complete the inventory in each river reach. Each term plans to complete two reaches in the day.
New volunteers will be provided training - both pre-survey and on the stream. If you have a friend that would be interested in helping with this survey, please let them know, too.
Please contact me directly if you wish to volunteer or have any concerns or questions at: 989-280-0381 or ausablecedars@gmail.com
Howard N. Johnson
MNHTU Advisor