#eatsafefish

Source: EGLE newsroom

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) was awarded a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess contaminants in fish in several areas of Michigan -- with a particular focus on water bodies where youth fishing events have historically or are currently taking place.

Brandon Armstrong, EGLE aquatic biology specialist, filets a rainbow trout for a successful angler at the Wayne County Parks youth fishing derby at Waterford Bend Recreation Area in Northville. 

The primary goal of EGLE’s Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program is to collect data that are used to inform the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Eat Safe Fish guide. This grant helps EGLE meet this goal by providing funds to assess contaminants in fish from water bodies nearby communities that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards, often referred to as Environmental Justice areas. EGLE will be attending youth fishing events near these areas to collect samples for contaminant monitoring.

Upcoming events include:

The Public Safety Youth Derby at Muskegon Lake in Muskegon, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 15.

The Buell Lake Fish Camp at Buell Lake Park in Clio from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 16.

The Brighton Optimist Club Derby at Brighton Mill Pond in Brighton from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 17.

The Global Water Festival at Canal Park in Grand Rapids from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 29.

The Thread Lake Fish Camp at Thread Lake’s McKinley Park in Flint from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 11.

Events that already have taken place as part of the grant are:

Wayne County Parks Derby at Waterford Bend Park in Northville.

Saginaw County Parks’ Catch Me If You Can family fishing festival at Haithco Lake in Saginaw Charter Township.

The Hesse-Earl Youth Fishing Program at Hawk Island Park in Ingham County.

Fish will also be collected under this grant from additional water bodies located near Environmental Justice areas including  Reflection Pond in Riverview, Spring Valley Pond in Kalamazoo, Richmond Park Pond in Grand Rapids, Battjes Park Pond in Wyoming, Galloway Lake, Osmun Lake and the Clinton River in Pontiac, Muskegon Lake and Little Black Creek in Muskegon, WmP Thompson Pond in Port Huron, Carpenter Lake in Southfield, the St. Joseph River and the Paw Paw River in Benton Harbor, and the St. Marys River in Sault Ste Marie.