Cold Water Regulations
During 2009, the MDNR focused on simplifying trout stream regulations, while maintaining adequate protection of the trout fisheries. This applied to all cold water streams including the Pere Marquette River and its tributaries. Trout stream categories were decreased from 7 to 5, with Types 5-7 condensed into a single category of gear restricted streams. Statewide minimum size limits (MSL) of 7 inches for brook trout and 8 inches for brown trout were established on all Type 1 streams, which comprise 16,000 miles of the 20,000 miles of trout streams in the state of Michigan. Types 2, 3, and 4 were unchanged.
In 2010, the MDNR focus changed to the gear restricted category. Currently, MDNR manages 112 stream miles with gear restricted regulations. Legislation was passed in 2001 to allow an additional 100 miles to be managed with gear restrictions (GR), but the additional mileage has not been implemented as of 2010. In early January 2010, MDNR asked for nominations from the public for streams they believe should be considered for gear restrictions. MDNR also began a review of current gear restricted streams for appropriateness for remaining in the gear restricted category. Public nominations were taken from early January into mid February, with over 500 individuals responding and over 1300 stream miles nominated for gear restrictions. MDNR Fisheries Division internally reviewed all streams that were nominated, and recommendations from the regional fisheries biologists were released to the public in mid-May 2010. The internal recommendations for the Pere Marquette were to maintain the status quo, with 7.5 miles of Flies-only/ No-kill water from M-37 to Gleasons`s Landing, the tributaries continuing to be managed under Type 1 regulations, and the mainstream below Gleason`s remaining as Type 4.
Seventeen public hearings were scheduled throughout the state during June 2010. Over the summer, MDNR reviewed comments taken during the public hearings, and received input from the External Coldwater Regulations Steering Committee, on which the Pere Marquette Watershed Council participates. The MDNR then amended its proposal for the PM River to include an additional 2.9 miles of additional Flies only/no-kill regulation, from the current downstream boundary of gear restriction at Gleason`s Landing down to Bowman Bridge. This proposal was released to the public in early September, and was placed on the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) agenda in October for information/comment. Support as well as opposition was passionately voiced at the October NRC meeting in Lansing. Following the October NRC meeting, MDNR again amended the proposal for the PM and withdrew the additional 2.9 miles of flies-only/no-kill water, and instead proposed 10.5 stream miles, from Gleason`s to Rainbow Rapids, to be managed seasonally as artificials-only with limited harvest, during the spring/summer trout season. From the April trout opener to August 31; the daily kill limit would be 2, minimum size length 8 inches for browns and 10 inches for rainbows, only 1 over 18”, and no-kill between 14” and 18”. From September 1 to the April trout opener, which covers the salmon and steelhead seasons, this section would be managed under the current Type 4 regulations, with the exception of a daily kill limit of 1 for rainbow/steelhead, which would apply year-round. This seasonal gear restriction proposal went to the NRC in both November and December, and was signed by MDNR Director Humphries following the December NRC meeting. It will be implemented April 2011.
PMWC continues to support gear restrictions for the Pere Marquette River, leaving the specific type of restrictions to be designated by the MDNR.