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The St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair, Michigan: an ecological profile

Thomas A. Edsall·Bruce A. Manny·Nicholas Raphael
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Abstract

The St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair form a part of the connecting channel system between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. This report synthesizes existing information on the ecological structure and function of this ecosystem. Chapters include descriptions of climatology, hydrology, and geology of the region; biological characteristics; ecological relationships; and commercial and recreational uses, as well as discussions of management considerations and issues. The St. Clair system provides valuable habitat for migratory waterfowl and fish spawning and nurseries, and contains some of the most extensive emergent wetlands in the region. The system is used for navigation, municipal and industrial waste disposal, recreational boating, fishing and waterfowl hunting. Allowing for multiple human uses while maintaining important waterfowl and fish populations is the greatest challenge facing managers of this system.

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Thomas A. Edsall, Bruce A. Manny, Nicholas Raphael. 1988. The St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair, Michigan: an ecological profile. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/2000047

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