Salmon in the Great Lakes Part III: Scenes from the Salmon Run

The Great Lakes have changed dramatically over the past two centuries. Clear-cut logging, unregulated pollution, habitat destruction and overfishing that began in the 1800s gave way to conservation and sustainable harvest by the mid-1900s. Invasive species created new challenges and gave rise to two management programs that attempted to make the most of the damaged lakes: sea lamprey control, and the stocking of non-native salmon and trout.
This series will relate Great Lakes ecology to the experiences of people who fish for salmon on the Great Lakes, watch them during the fall spawning run in Michigan rivers, and even raise them from egg to smolt in classrooms around the state.
The third video in this series focuses on the salmon run, featuring underwater video from Michigan waters including the Platte River, Little Manistee River, Pere Marquette River, and Grand River. In addition to providing fishing opportunities, the salmon run offers a unique opportunity for nature enthusiasts to witness fascinating behaviors that salmon engage in as they complete their life cycle.
This video was prepared by Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator Dr. Dan O'Keefe under award NA14OAR4170070 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce through the Regents of the University of Michigan. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Commerce, or the Regents of the University of Michigan.