Arctic grayling once thrived in northern Michigan’s cold-water streams. The Manistee and Au Sable Rivers attracted fishing and wildlife enthusiasts who were eager to admire the grayling’s iridescent beauty. This native fish was an important part of Michigan’s history. The City of Grayling, Michigan is its namesake.    

By 1936, Michigan’s population of Arctic grayling was completely wiped out. The species couldn’t withstand habitat destruction from logging, overfishing and competition from the introduction of predatory trout.  

The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative, formed in 2016 and led by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Division and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, is now working to bring the fish back to Michigan’s waters. The initiative is already receiving strong support from more than 45 agencies, including four CMF members.   

A 2017 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation allowed for a field study along the upper Manistee River. Researchers collected data to identify streams where habitat conditions would be ideal for each life stage of the Arctic grayling. The grant also supported outreach to engage Michiganders in the re-introduction efforts. 
 
The Rotary Charities of Traverse City grant support enabled a partnership with NorthSky Nonprofit Network to create a fund development strategy matching public and private funding sources with project phases and the development of initial grant applications. 

This spring, it was announced that a grant from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation will be used to support efforts similar to those taken by the state of Montana, where scientists have been working to restore self-sustaining populations of Arctic grayling for nearly 30 years.  

“Our donors and review committee are extremely interested and supportive of this project,” said Sarah Ford, the foundation’s community and donor engagement officer. “In fact, thanks to the generous support of individual donors who maintain funds with us, we were able to award $1,000 more than the $10,000 that was requested. They felt the project was important to support a legacy project for our region and Michigan.” 

The Manistee County Community Foundation is also a partner in the initiative. 

The initiative has secured over $418,000 to date; the total cost is projected to be $1.1 million. 

 “The grayling reintroduction is a tremendous collaborative effort and there simply is no way we can bring this iconic fish back to Michigan without the generous contributions of others,” Jim Dexter, Fisheries Chief, DNR said. 

Want more? 

Learn more the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative. 

Read the Action Plan.  

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