Lots of water over dam

Larry Goedde today hangs up his fisheries biologist's chest waders for the last time, closing a nearly 30-year career as a steward of northwest Ohio fish resources.

Goedde, soon to be 58, has spent his entire career in District 2, beginning as a fish biologist in 1981 and succeeding Darrell Allison as fish management supervisor in 1992. He has held that post to present, and has seen a lot of water go over the proverbial dam.

"Lake Erie has been up and down," Goedde said. "Some things we can control and some things we can't control - such as invasive species and weather."

Inland impoundments and the region's rivers, however, mostly have been Goedde's bailiwick. He witnessed the crash of the walleye stock of the Sandusky River in the wake of construction of the floodwall and channel through downtown Fremont, and he looks forward to the removal perhaps by next year, of the Ballville Dam there.

Removal of the dam will open some 22 miles of the Sandusky to walleye spawning. Goedde knows that because he led a project that demonstrated that walleye indeed could spawn in the upper stream. "It's something I wanted to see during my career and it's not quite going to happen," the biologist reflected.

In his career, Goedde said he is proud to see that "the professionalism in our agency has improved since I started. And that's a plus. Fisheries management has improved along with that. There is better science and in some cases, better fisheries."

Among success there he cites especially yellow perch and hybrid saugeye management work in the region's municipal upground water-supply reservoirs - the newest of which is under construction at Fremont, to replace the dam. "The fishing in the upgrounds reflects that [work]."

Another management feather-in-the-cap has been the Lake La Su An chain of lakes and wildlife area in Williams County, which opened in 1983 under a innovative lake-by-lake quota and permit system aimed at maintaining high-quality bluegill fishing.

"We didn't know if we would be able to sustain it when we first started, and it's been more successful than we originally thought," Goedde said of La Su An.

Looking at the Big Picture, he adds: "Right now is a tough time for Ohio and all state agencies. But I am convinced we will make it through these tough times. We've got such a strong constituent base [fishermen] and they'll help us get through."

He plans to remain in the region for the time being, helping tend to family. And would you be surprised to know he's got some fishing in his future? He does not intend to keep his 23-foot lake boat on a trailer.

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In related news, Doug Brewer, manager of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge complex in Ottawa and Lucas counties, is not retiring but he is moving on to manage the 44,000-acre Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois, effective Sept. 10.

Brewer, 51, served four years with the Toledo office of the army corps of engineers before joining the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1994, working out of the Portland, Ore., office. He joined Ottawa refuge in 1997 as assistant manager and served a year in 2003 as acting manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. He returned to Ottawa in 2004 as manager.

He has seen a lot of changes, including construction of the popular new Ottawa Visitor Center and headquarters. "I have mixed emotions about leaving," said Brewer. "There are so many great partnerships and friendships."

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Changes in crossbow regulations that provide expanding opportunities for hunters ages 10 and up statewide have been approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission.

Effectively immediately, they include:

t Lowering the minimum age for crossbow use from 12 to 10 years of age statewide.

t Expanding the use of crossbows to all legal hunters during all archery and firearm seasons statewide, except in the upper peninsula, where crossbow use will remain prohibited during the late archery and muzzleloader seasons, unless the hunter is disabled.

t Allowing the use of modified bows where crossbows are legal.

t Including a temporary crossbow permit for hunters with temporary disabilities.

t Eliminating a provision that limited the maximum bolt velocity for crossbows.

t Eliminating the three-year sunset provision for the use of the crossbow in the affected section of the wildlife conservation order.

Hunters using crossbows will still be required to obtain a free crossbow stamp. The stamp allows the state to monitor and survey crossbow hunters to determine the effect the crossbow regulations have on hunter recruitment, retention and harvest.

Results of a mail survey conducted after the 2009 hunting season indicated that participation in archery deer hunting increased after crossbow regulations were liberalized, said the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. For more information about crossbow hunting in Michigan, go on-line to michigan.gov/hunting.

Contact Steve Pollick at:

spollick@theblade.com

or 419-724-6068.