Cormorant Control program

April 2022 and 2023

This year the SASC will again only be allowed to harass cormorants on Brevort Lake.  We are working with the DNR for 2024.  

Again, NO shooting will take place on Brevort Lake.  We are getting very frustrated at the slow pace of our cormorant control efforts.  The DNR has told us that one cormorant nest, one breeding pair, and their resulting fledglings for one breeding season will consume 670 pounds of fish biomass.  Michigan has over 40,000 breeding pairs of cormorants; that number does not include single birds migrating through birds.  But you can quickly see this is a significant problem for our fisheries.    

We will still need volunteers to harass cormorants this year.  We have worked hard to bring back our fisheries!  Let’s work together to prevent the cormorants from having a buffet on our fish.  Anyone can sign up to help; any time you can spare will make a difference!  Email us at sasc764@gmail.com if you would like to help.

April 19, 2021

Well, they are here!  Several hundred Cormorants are making Brevort Lake, their temporary residents during their migration. Unfortunately, because the DNR received the Federal Cormorant permit late, there is not enough time to set up the gun safety class, blood tests, and cormorant identification class; we will only be able to harass them with bird bangers and your boat.

We will work with the DNR to organize blood testing and the classes sooner.

February 19, 2021

Double-crested Cormorant Update Webinars

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides double-crested cormorant management and rulemaking updates during two 90-minute webinars.  The sessions, which are equivalent and will cover the same information, will begin with a brief presentation by Service staff followed by a question/answer period.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to 500 participants per webinar.

Double-crested Cormorant Update Webinar 1 - February 22, 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern

REGISTER FOR FEBRUARY 22 SESSION

Double-crested Cormorant Update Webinar 2 - March 2, 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern

REGISTER FOR MARCH 2 SESSION

January 11, 2021

USFWS Finalizes Cormorant Control Permits

From the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Blog by Charlie Booher

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently finalized a rule that would facilitate the lethal take of nearly 120,000 double-crested cormorants annually nationwide.  This rule is the latest action in a year-long process to comprehensively manage cormorants.  To read the entire MUCC article, click here. 

To see the Federal Register click here.

Watch recorded webinars and view submitted comments at Regulations.gov Docket No.  FWS-HQ-MB-2019-0103

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that evaluates and discusses potential environmental impacts resulting from an agency taking action.  It details the process through which a project is developed, considers a range of reasonable alternatives, analyzes the potential effects of the options, and demonstrates compliance with other applicable environmental laws and executive orders.  The EIS also informs the development of the draft rule, which will also be developed during this timeframe.

The Service will publish the draft EIS and draft rule for public review and comment.  As part of the process, agencies identify and invite the participation of interested people.  A draft EIS is published for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days.  This means the public can comment on the scope of the environmental review at the beginning of the process and again on the draft before a final EIS and final rule are issued.

A final EIS is then published, which responds to substantive comments. Finally, a Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register, announcing the availability of both draft and final EISs to the public.  The EIS process ends with issuing the Record of Decision (ROD), the final rule.  The ROD explains the Service’s decision, describes the alternatives considered, and discusses any monitoring plans, if necessary.

Summer 2020 - Draft EIS review and analysis

Upon closing the comment period of the draft EIS and draft rule, the Service will consider all substantive comments and, if necessary, conduct further analyses.  The Service will then prepare a final EIS, which informs the development of the final rule.