FRIENDS OF THE SPANISH RIVER
present
"Adopt-A-Musky" and Stage 2 Celebration
Friday">

FRIENDS OF THE SPANISH RIVER present "Adopt-A-Musky" and Stage 2 Celebration Friday, June 4, 1999, Spanish Ontario, 11 a.m. "Adopt-A-Musky" Program This program consisted of presentations on the muskellunge, or "Musky", to local grade school groups by biologists. This fish is native to the Spanish River but its numbers have dwindled over past decades due to historic degradation of water quality. Students were shown a film on the musky were also invited to enter an essay/poem contest (for Grades 4 to 8) or an art contest (for Junior Kindergarten to Grades 3) on the "Adopt-A-Musky" Program and what it means to them. Contest winners will be invited to a "welcome home" party for the Musky on June 4th at the Township of Shedden Marina. Students will also help in the official release of one-year old Muskies into the lower Spanish River. Participating schools include the communities of Espanola, Nairn, Spanish Harbour Muskellunge Project This is the fourth year of an anticipated six-year program designed to reintroduce muskellunge to the Spanish Harbour Area of Concern. To date, about 4000 fingerlings have been released into the Spanish River, including 2750 during 1998-99. To increase fish survivorship, 150 fingerlings were held over during the winter at a fish rearing facility in Lindsay, Ontario. These fish will be released during the June 4th "Adopt-A-Musky" - Stage 2 Celebrations at the Township of Shedden Marina. At the event, the Friends of the Spanish River will unveil a sign describing the project and acknowledging supporting partners including Environment Canada's Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund. The Cleanup Fund has contributed $52,000 to the Muskellunge Reintroduction project, and $113,800 to date to various environmental projects in the Spanish Harbour Area of Concern with partners contributing $118,000. Other project partners include: E.B Eddy Forest Products Limited, Espanola Game and Fish Protective Association, Falconbridge Limited, Fish America Foundation/Wildlife Forever, Fox River Valley Chapter of Muskies Inc. - Gil Hamm Memorial Chapter Challenge, INCO Limited, Northshore Anglers and Hunters Conservation Association, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Recreational Fisheries Institute of Canada, NAR Environmental Consultants Inc. and the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Prepared by: Cliff Evanitski, Liaison Officer, Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund, 905-336-4475