Public-private partnerships are on a lot of lips lately, but here in Sault Ste. Marie, it's nothing new. The proof is in the Lake Superior State University
Aquatic Research Laboratory, which is celebrating its 25th year of salmon hatching and releasing this summer.
The lab began in the 1970s as a collaboration between LSSU and Edison Sault Electric Company, now
Cloverland Electric Cooperative, as well as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Together, the three have pursued all kinds of Great Lakes aquatic research projects over the years, including hatching and releasing Atlantic salmon into the lakes each year.
This year's Atlantic salmon release is celebrating that anniversary by bearing the names of the two friends responsible for the lab's origins; Gale Gleason, LSSU professor and head of the lab, and William Gregory, former president of Edison Sault.
"It has been quite interesting to see the lab grow through the years," says Roger Greil, lab manager. Greil started working in the lab as a student in the 1980s and has been involved with every Atlantic salmon stocking. The lab has released between 25,000 and 60,000 salmon yearlings each year since 1987, and this year's class is more than 30,000 fish.
"What is most satisfying, however, is seeing the experience that our students get and watching them expand their knowledge to become comfortable in their lab work and highly competent researchers," he says.
Other fish studied and released from the lab over the years have been rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, brook trout and whitefish. Currently, the lab works on many fishery and water quality issues, including invasive species, sport fish management and water pollution. It's even added on a Fish Disease Laboratory, where students can major in fish health.
"Dr. Gleason and Bill had a vision of strengthening a university-community partnership that continues to thrive to this day," says LSSU President Tony McLain. "The Aquatic Research Lab is a great example of what partnerships can create."
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Roger Greil, Lake Superior State University
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