Forum: Invasive Species Control; Sea Lampreys
You've probably heard about the damage caused by invasive species in Michigan, but you may be wondering what is being done to address these issues. From zebra mussels clogging the waterways, plants like milfoil and elodea, to sea lamprey harming our important local fish species, we're facing some steep challenges in the Great Lakes. Through the efforts of organizations like the US Fish and Wildlife Lamprey Control, we've seen a marked shift in the presence of these harmful invasives.
Join US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologist Nik Rewald and KUUF member Will Ligon at the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Forum on January 14 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. for a discussion about the current status of sea lamprey in our waterways. They will talk about the life cycle and biology of Lamprey, the history of their presence in the area, and the current methods of controlling their population. A Q&A will follow.
Will Ligon is a graduate of Oregon State University. After working for several years in the dive industry on the west coast, he migrated east to work with USFWS on their lamprey control project as a seasonal biological technician. He is currently a technician for the California State Salmon Monitoring Project based out of Fort Bragg, California and plans to return to Michigan for another summer season of lamprey work in 2024.
Nikolas Rewald is a fish biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, based out of the Marquette Biological Station. This is his 17th season working for the Sea Lamprey Control Program. He is currently serving as the larval assessment biologist focusing on Lake Superior.