TRAVERSE CITY, MI (AP)-- About 450 tons of limestone have been dumped into Lake Michigan in a project to rehabilitate a northern Michigan reef and boost native fish populations.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports the dumping location in Grand Traverse Bay is in a reef complex where lake trout, lake whitefish and lake herring are known to spawn. MLive.com reports the limestone was put in the water this summer.
Aquatic ecologist Matt Herbert says the reef complex is the only known place where lake herring spawn in Lake Michigan. His team hopes rehabilitating the reef will help native fish keep eggs safe from predators and the harsh winter.
The $181,000 project is being led by the Nature Conservancy, with help from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Central Michigan University.
