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Located in Charlevoix, this station conducts research and stock assessments on fish populations of Lake Michigan and its tributaries.
Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station
96 Grant Street
Charlevoix, MI 49720
231-547-2914
The T. D. Vinette Company, Escanaba, Michigan designed and constructed the SV Steelhead in 1967. The SV Steelhead is classified as a commercial trawler. It was constructed for the Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of sampling fisheries and deepwater habitats of the Great Lakes. It has operated out of the Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station since 1968.
Length: 62.5 feet
Beam width: 16.3 feet
Draft: 6.0 feet
Displacement weight: 70 tons
Hull: Welded-steel plate (3/8 inch forward ship and 3/16 inch amidship and aft)
Deck: Steel
Superstructure: Aluminum
Engines: Twin, V-6, 380 horsepower Cummins diesel
Running speed: 10.5 knots (12mph)
The SV Steelhead typically operates from March through December, mainly on Lake Michigan although occasionally assisting with other Great Lakes projects. The SV Steelhead is the only one of the four State research vessels that use on-board crew accommodations and has five berths. The galley contains a refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, sink with heated water, and small table. There is a small shower and electric toilet.
Safety equipment onboard includes fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, flares, bilge pump, alarm bells for pressure and heat in the engine room, and an engine room automatic fire suppression system. The vessel is equipped with EPIRB (an emergency locator beacon), meteorological equipment, a marine radio to determine weather conditions, and navigational aids including radar, Loran, GPS, a chart plotter, depth sounder, autopilot, and computer-aided charting systems.
The vessel was designed for fishing suspended and bottom gill nets as well as trawls. The vessel also provides an excellent platform for use of most habitat sampling gear, including sonar, cameras, and dredges. An enclosed heated laboratory/sample work-up area is located just forward of the rear net lifting area.
The Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station maintains a smaller vessel the RV Pimephales ("Bluntnose minnow") for sampling shallower (generally < 50' deep) near-shore waters and bays. The boat is trailerable making it an excellent vessel for a variety of sampling needs and locations. The RV Pimephales provides a sturdy platform for many types of assessments and is equipped with a small gill net lifter. The vessel is capable of fishing small trawls, larval fish tow nets, plankton nets, as well as gill nets.
Length: 23 feet
Beam width: 8 feet
Draft: 6.0 feet
Hull: Welded aluminum
Engines: Twin, 150 horsepower outboard motors
Running speed: 25-30 knots (12-15 mph)
| Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| David Clapp, Research Manager | clappd@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 237 |
| John Clevenger, Fisheries Technician Specialist | clevengerj@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 236 |
| Jory Jonas, Fisheries Research Biology Specialist | jonasj@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 229 |
| Patrick O'Neill, Assistant Boat Captain | oneillp@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 235 |
| Jerry Ranville, Boat Captain | ranvillej@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 242 |
| Kris Snyder, Fisheries Technician | snyderk3@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 225 |
| Jeffery Stevens, Trades Helper | stevensj3@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 241 |
| Ben Turschak, Research Biologist | turschakb1@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 222 |
| Donna Wesander, Fisheries Technician Specialist | wesanderd@michigan.gov | 231-547-2914, Ext. 223 |
