Central Ohio (District 1) Fish Management

Initiatives and Accomplishments 

Stewardship

• Complete final phase of the Blackbird Basin More Fish Project at Indian Lake in partnership with the Ohio BASS Federation Nation and ODNR Division of Parks, including bass spawning habitat improvements in the basin and restoration of wetland plants at the basin’s mouth.

• Implemented a project in partnership with ODNR Division of Parks and The BASS Federation Nation, to improve and protect bass spawning habitat at Indian Lake.
• Implemented a project in partnership with ODNR Division of Parks, the Ohio BASS Federation, and District 5 fish management staff to improve bass spawning habitat at Lake Loramie.
• Completed fish assessment surveys at 11 reservoirs including Alum Creek Lake, Buckeye Lake, Deer Creek Lake, Delaware Lake, Griggs Reservoir, Indian Lake, Kiser Lake, Kokosing Reservoir, Knox Lake, O’Shaughnessy Reservoir and Paint Creek Lake. (year?)
• Continued to coordinate activities related to the Mac-O-Chee Creek Stream Restoration Project, This $378,000 project restored a section of the Mac-O-Chee Creek that was channelized, creating a meandering stream channel and more diverse in-stream habitat more capable of supporting brown trout and native non-game species.
• Provided technical guidance for and monitored post-construction development of Mac-O-Chee Floodplain and Stream Restoration Project completed in FY 09 by landowners at Piatt Castle (Logan County). 
• Assisted in implementation of a project conducted by Ohio State University to restore the endangered Northern Riffleshell Mussel on Big Darby Creek (Franklin County).

Opportunities

• Initiate improvements to the dam at Knox Lake as permitted by available budget.
• Improve parking lot and lower lake access ramp at Knox Lake as permitted by available budget.
• Improve parking lot and launch ramp at Delaware Wildlife Area as permitted by available budget.
• Maintain sport fishing access at existing public access areas located at Greenfield Lake, Rock Mill Lake, Mad River, Knox Lake, Richards Scioto River Access and Brinkhaven Access.
• Complete fisheries monitoring surveys at 10 reservoirs including Alum Creek Lake, Buckeye Lake, Deer Creek Lake, Delaware Lake, Griggs Reservoir, Hargus Lake, Madison Lake, O’Shaughnessy Reservoir, Rush Creek Lake, and Washington Court House Upground.
• Monitor central Ohio stream sportfish populations in the Mad River and Scioto River.

• Completed angler access road and parking lot adjacent to the Mac-O-Chee Floodplain and Stream Restoration Project in Logan County.
• Developed a fisheries management plan for the City of Mt. Vernon to improve fishing opportunities at Foundation Park.
• Maintained sport fishing access through grass mowing, parking lot maintenance, and trash pickup in accordance with a regular maintenance schedule or as appropriate at existing public access areas located at Greenfield Lake, Rock Mill Lake, Mad River, Knox Lake, Richards Scioto River Access and Brinkhaven Access.
• Coordinated funding at Knox Lake and the Elmon Richards access site on the Scioto River from the Boater/Angler Access Fund. Projects included lighting, and area maintenance.
• Completed fish assessment surveys at 12 reservoirs, including Alum Creek, Buckeye, Deer Creek, Delaware, Indian Lake, and Rush Creek Lakes, Hargus Creek, Hoover, Knox, Kiser, Madison and O’Shaughnessy Reservoirs. (year?)
• Creel surveys were conducted on 8 reservoirs, including Alum Creek, Deer Creek, Delaware, and Knox lakes, and Buckeye, Hoover, Rush Creek and Madison reservoirs.
• Conducted creel surveys on four reservoirs including Alum Creek Lake, Deer Creek Lake, Hoover Reservoir and Knox Lake.

Connections

• Continue to work in cooperation with ODNR Division of Parks, Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Licking SWCD, Perry County SWCD, and the Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow Watershed Group, and serve as advisor in development of a strategic plan for improving the water quality of Buckeye Lake.

• Coordinated data entry from 600+ bass tournaments into the paperless Ohio Bass Tournament Database that is used in conjunction with fisheries information collected by the Division to better facilitate tournament data entry & reporting and evaluate bass populations and the effectiveness of Ohio bass regulations.  Developed summary reports for the Ohio Bass Federation and for all bass tournament groups using this information.

Traditions

• Coordinate youth fishing events with the village of Ashley and Sunbury at their upground reservoirs. 
• Conduct a Passport to Fishing program at a youth fishing event at Cenci Park in Lancaster.

• Continued a partnership with the Columbus Clippers minor league baseball team in the development & promotion of Ohio Sportsman’s weekend including discounted admission to all holders of hunting & fishing licenses.
• Coordinated youth fishing events with the respective villages at the Ashley and Sunbury upground reservoirs.  Conducted a Passport To Fishing program at a youth fishing event at Cenci Park in Lancaster.