Saginaw Bay supported the second-largest walleye fishery on the Great Lakes until fish populations began declining in the 1940s. Historical evidence indicates that the inner part of the Bay and its tributaries served as the major spawning and nursery grounds; the outer part of the bay and the adjacent waters of Lake Huron was the summer home of adult and subadult walleyes. Land use changes, including logging and agriculture, caused sedimentation buildup, and contributed to the loss of reef habitat in Michigan’s inner Saginaw Bay. The loss of reef habitat contributed to the collapse of the Bay’s walleye fishery and negatively impacted local populations of lake whitefish, lake trout and burbot.

ECT designed a 2-acre reef restoration in partnership with SmithGroup. ECT also completed all necessary permitting, prepared bid documents and assisted with contractor procurement, and provided construction coordination and oversight for the project. The project addresses fish vulnerability by providing greater stability for native fish species, diversifying spawning habitat, and facilitating resilient and diverse fish populations. The project team designed the reef based extensive research done by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in partnership with Purdue University and lessons learned from natural and restored reefs within the Great Lakes, including the recent Detroit River reef project (Vaccaro et al. 2016), Thunder Bay reef restoration project, and the Elk Rapids (Grand Traverse Bay) reef restoration project.

The Coreyon reef restoration project in Saginaw Bay was funded by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, The Conservation Fund, and the Bay Area Community Foundation.