LAKE SUPERIOR COMMITTEE

Algoma's Water Tower Inn
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 5N3
30, 31 March 1993

Executive Summary

1. Proposed GLFC contaminant position statement

The LSC referred discussion of the proposed contaminant position statement to the CLC. Each agency will consolidate reviews for report to CLC and possibly independently to GLFC. 

2. Lake trout rehabilitation plan

The LSTC will consider the draft lake trout rehabilitation plan at its summer meeting and pass its recommendations to the LSC by October 1993. Rick Clark (MDNR), author of MdNR's rehabilitation plan, will be asked to participate.

3. Common gear for sportsmen

LSC members will advise Bob Thomson (OMNR) on agency contacts for his review of common gear for sportsmen. The Lake Superior Law Enforcement Subcommittee had expressed an interest in participating.

4. Fish community objectives

The LSC and LSTC will review fish community objectives (at least "bullets") at the August meeting. The LSTC will consider the percentage of siscowet vs. lean lake trout. The proposed GLFC workshop on environmental objectives should provide additional habitat components. And the fish community objectives could be revised to account for chinook salmon reproduction. A representative from the binational program will be invited to attend the August meeting for informational purposes.

5. Proposed environmental objectives workshop

The LSC supported the proposed workshop on environmental objectives, and will attempt to provide updated fish community objectives (at least bullets) for the workshop. Organizers may also wish to refer to the Binational Program's ecosystem objectives.

6. Draft Binational Program on Ecosystem Objectives 

1. The LSC would channel comments on the Binational Program's draft ecosystem objectives through Bob Thomson (OMNR). The LSC discussed whether the Binational Program's objectives were on the same or a separate plane as the LSC's fish community goals, and the need for institutional arrangement which would allow the two to merge as the basis for strategic planning. Such merging would be needed as the same resource agencies that had signed on to the LSC's objectives would eventually be signatory to the Binational Program's objectives. There was general agreement that conflicts were most likely when the Binational Program attempts to incorporate the LSC's fish community goals, and not when the fish community objectives addressed related habitat needs. Jake Van der Wahl suggested that the Binational Program's objectives may be in conflict with those of the LSC if the latter embrace fish management practices such as stocking (particularly exotic species) and chemical control of sea lamprey, and that such differences might not be reconcilable. However it was observed that the same resource agencies that agreed to the LSC's fish community objectives will be asked to agree to those of the Binational Program, and thus the two sets of objectives will have to be reconciled. The LSC was disappointed that the Binational Program made no reference to the LSC's fish community objectives which were published prior to the commencement of the Binational Program.
   
2. Binational representatives were invited to attend the LSC's August review of its fish community objectives for informational purposes, and the organizers of the proposed environmental objectives workshop were referred to the Binational Program's objectives as background material.
   
3. Fishery agencies will try to be represented at Binational Program meetings.
   
4. Bob Thomson (OMNR) and Jake Van der Wahl (EnvCan) will provide the LSC with a list of Binational Program members.

7. State of the lake report of the Binational Program

The LSC authorized Binational Program incorporation into its state of the lake report of the LSC document of the same name. The Binational Program organizers were invited to review the LSC state of the lake report (as well as fish community objectives) and advise on what they don't like.

8. Pennsylvania proposal to permit triploid grass carp

Each LSC agency will comment directly to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. (Vote is 26 April.)

9. Development of IMSL model

The LSC approved LSTC participation in development of the IMSL model, eg. 2 agenda hours at each of two upcoming LSTC meetings and attendance of 3 LSTC members at a 3 day workshop.

10. Lake Superior Technical Committee Work Group

The LSC endorsed the concept of work groups under the LSTC developing management plans under the fish community objectives, and agreed to support work and travel through their respective agencies. The LSTC will develop the concept, terms of reference and membership suggestions (including outsiders where appropriate) for LSC consideration, eg brook trout (Lou Newman), sturgeon (Jeff Slade), walleye (Mike Hoff), and steelhead (John George).

11. Ruffe control plans

The LSC discussed ruffe control plans, including the need for research and Canadian involvement.

12. Isle Royale lake trout

The LSC discussed lake trout fishing recommendations.

13. Proposed Michigan DNR strategy for reducing BKD incidence

The LSC found reasonable the desire to stock only R.s. free salmonids, and referred further discussion to the CLC. The GLFDCC should be asked to define "Rs-free" and "Rs-free sources", monitoring, and to consider research needs. Education should not characterize BKD reduction efforts alone as the answer to salmon mortalities in Lake Michigan. The LSC acknowledged that BKD is a stress-mediated disease. BKD-reduction efforts need to be coupled with ecosystem stress management and framed within a larger program of stressor management.

14. Scheduling of state of the lake reports

The LSC recommended that the interval between state of the lake reports be lengthened from 3 years to 5.

15. LSC officers 

Tom Gorenflo (COTFMA) will chair and Bob Thomson (OMNR) will vice-chair the LSC through the 1995 LSC meeting.

MD
8 April 1993

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