Growing numbers of citizens appear to be taking an interest in returning wood to public waters as a place for fish to live.
Sometimes referred to as "fish sticks", the effort is gaining steam says DNR fisheries biologist Scott Toshner based in Brule. He says a tree can live a century, then be put underwater and stay there at least another 100 years providing habitat for fish and other critters.
He says of 29 projects so far, 25 have been in the northern part of the state. He says returning wood to the water enlivens fish populations...
"....fish species especially use wood at some point of their life stage. Every single species at some point uses that wood in some point in their lifestage..."
He says as many as 15 species of fish have been observed living in and around a single submerged tree in a northern Wisconsin lake. Within hours of falling into the water, tadpoles, minnows and other small fish begin to hover in the branches of a tree, followed by an army of shredders and filter feeders -- insects and other species that begin their lives by nibbling on the wood or the beneficial algae that soon coats it.
He says a change in permitting two years ago is helping and funding is available...
"...funding opportunities in the form of healthy lakes initiative, which is a grant program from the DNR which provides cost-share funding for these types of projects up to 75 percent..."
He says some species lay their eggs on wood, others use the structure for protection from bigger fish. The fish also pick off other species who work on the wood for their own needs.
He says lake associations have been helpful in the projects.
