On October 27th, 2003 the Friends of the Prairie River met with the DNR fisheries biologist out of Antigo. The topics of discussion were: 1.) Regulation changes 2.)Stocking 3.) Current stream improvement work 4.) Future Stream Improvement work

Regulation Changes
Some of the membership expressed implementing more special regulations on the river, similar to the new category 5 regulation that went into effect on the upper river. But, without a track record on how the new category 5 regulation will work, the DNR was not in favor of implementing any more special regulations at this time. They stated that it is an issue that can be re-visited in the future some time after they acquire data from electro-shocking over the next few years. If it proves out that the new regulations help increase the fish population and size, then it will be considered. The DNR also showed us shocking data from the past 10 years that suggested that the fish population in the Prairie was experiencing a down cycle as of late, which can be attributed to many factors such as drought and periods of extreme heat or cold. Conditions which have been a factor on the Prairie the past 2 years.

Stocking
Last year, the DNR stocked 3,000 brown trout in the Prairie and no brook trout. Now with the current DNR budget constraints, there will be no stocking of trout in the Prairie this year. The hope is that the current habitat restoration that has taken place on the river over the past 6 years and any future restoration, will help maintain a fish population that doesn't need to be bolstered by stocking.

Current Stream Improvement Work/Future Stream Improvement Work
The DNR will be doing habitat restoration work on the lower Prairie this summer, consisting of 12 small projects from adjoining land owners. These 12 projects were lined up from previous landowner meetings. Also members of FPR are working on setting up two more habitat improvement projects on the river. One on the North Branch and one on the main branch near Gleason, WI. The work on these projects should begin in the summer of 2005, pending grant funding. With current habitat projects in the works for the next 2 years and no change in regulations being implemented, FPR will be focusing it's effort on more stream improvement work in the coming years.

E-mail Address Update
The e-mail address contact on our website has changed. If you have any comments or questions about our organization or if you would like to be added to our e-mail list, I can be reached at joekrz@verizon.net

Spring Clean-Up
This year's spring clean-up will be on April 24th. We will meet at Hay Meadow County Park (north of Merrill on Hwy 17) at 8:30 a.m and splitting up into groups to clean up our Adopt-A-Hiway section and all of the access points between Parrish and Hwy. C bridge. Brats, burgers & beverages will be served around noon with fishing afterwards. Hope to see you there!!!!