A new pilot project aims to find a new way to combine to a sediment trap with, fish habitat, and wetland protection functions. This project, funded by a US Fish and Wildlife Service grant through Green Lake County, has constructed a 300 ft. breakwall by installing a two rows of cedar timbers and filling the space in between with old Christmas trees and other brush. This breakwall will provide unique fish habitat on Lake Puckaway, but its primary purpose is protect the wetland on the leeward side by reducing wave energy, and the quieter water behind the wall should allow sediment to fall out of the water. Plants should then have a better chance of taking root, and provide even more fish habitat. This pilot looks to be less expensive, and more natural alternative to rock. I will add a map soon of its location.
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| Ted Johnson and Eric Evensen from WDNR lend a had installing Christmas trees. |
Plant beds like the ones made of cane (common reed, or phragmites) or bulrushes provide excellent cover for fish, and prevent erosion by reducing wave energy. The plants are frequently under stress from high water, and heavy waves, and sometime damage from boats so the lake district has installed "Fragile Habitat" signs at many of these beds. These signs ask that anglers and boaters keep their boats out of the beds. These beds are popular fishing spots and will remain so, but the must be treated with care by not entering with the boat, or dropping anchor in them. This is important at all times of the year, but stems are particularly vulnerable early in the year before they can be seen above the water line, but even dead stems from the previous year help push oxygen to the roots through the winter, and as they begin to break dormancy in spring. Running a snowmobile through a cane bed has been known to kill the plants below, and the snowmobile path can be visible in spring as empty trails through the beds. So cast a lure into, but don't drive or drift into the cane, and bulrush beds. Thank you.
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