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Management Units

Management Units

Management units support local fisheries and aquatic resources. Each management unit covers the watersheds in their area — which includes the inland lakes, rivers and streams, in addition to the part of the Great Lakes that they drain into. Each unit has fisheries biologists and technicians that do research, conduct surveys, work with hatcheries to make stocking decisions, recommend fishing regulations, and work with their area research stations. All of this contributes to making sound decisions for managing Michigan’s fisheries in the Great Lakes and inland lakes, rivers and streams.

View the Areas of Responsibility Map

fisheries management units

Better Fishing Waters

  • Looking for a new fishing spot? Our fisheries management biologists have complied this list of locations that offer good fishing opportunities for the indicated species. 

    View the Better Fishing Waters list

Status of the Fishery Resource Reports

  • Status of the Fishery Resource Reports contain the results of major fisheries surveys on Michigan lakes and rivers.

    View reports

The Central Lake Michigan Management Unit (CLMMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the central portion of Lake Michigan. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Clare, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Roscommon, Wexford. The CLMMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Michigan from field offices located in Cadillac, Harrietta and Traverse City.

Contact Information

Acting Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator: Dave Caroffino, 231-350-8654

Central Lake Michigan Unit Manager: Scott Heintzelman, 231-775-9727 ext. 6070

Fisheries Biologists: 

  • Mark Tonello, 231-775-9727 ext. 6071 (Pere Marquette, Big Sable, Little Manistee, Manistee, Betsie River watersheds)
  • Heather Hettinger, 231-922-6056 (Platte, Boardman, Elk, Jordan, Boyne, Bear River watersheds)

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Olen Gannon, 231-389-2551

Fisheries Technicians: Bob Kerry, 231-389-0420; Tara Miller, 231-389-0420

Traverse City Customer Service Center, 2122 South M-37, Traverse City, MI 49685

Cadillac Customer Service Center, 8015 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601

Additional Resources

Central Lake Michigan River Access Site Information

Printable CLMMU Areas of Responsibility Map

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The Lake Erie Management Unit (LEMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into Lake Erie. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Hillsdale, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The LEMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Erie from a field office located in Waterford.

Contact Information

Lake Erie Basin Coordinator: Jim Francis, 517-242-3593

Lake Erie Management Unit Manager: Sara Thomas, 734-718-0474

Fisheries Biologists:

  • John Buszkiewicz, 248-296-2498
    • Covers: Detroit, Rouge, Ecorse, Huron & Raisin River watersheds
  • Cleyo Harris, 248-221-0328
    • Covers: St. Clair, Black, Belle, Pine, Salt & Clinton River watersheds

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Todd Somers, 248-221-8887

Fisheries Technicians: Dennis Tar; Eric Plant

Waterford Fisheries Station, 7806 Gale Road Waterford, MI 48327

Printable LEMU Areas of Responsibility Map

Contact Information

Lake Superior Basin Coordinator: Dave Caroffino, (231) 350-8654

Lake Superior Unit Manager: Cory Kovacs, 906-287-0816

Eastern Lake Superior

Encompassing all of the waters that drain into the eastern portion of Lake Superior. This work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette.

Fisheries Biologist: Audrey Baetz, 906-287-1646

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Shawn Sapp, 906-293-9402

Fisheries Technicians: Carl Christiansen, 906-293-9402; Wayne Heinzman, 906-293-9402

Newberry Customer Service Center, 5666 State Highway M-123, Newberry, MI 49868

Western Lake Superior

Encompassing all of the waters that drain into the western portion of Lake Superior. This work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Ontonagon.

Fisheries Biologist: Kris Nault, 906-250-7807 

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Shawn Sapp, 906-293-9402

Fisheries Technicians: Kyle Urban, 906-353-6651 ext. 115; Jack Cole, 906-353-6651 ext. 115

Baraga Customer Service Center, 427 US 41 North, Baraga, MI 49908

Additional Resources

Printable LSMU Areas of Responsibility Map

Cisco Lake Chain - Boundary Waters Map

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The Northern Lake Huron Management Unit (NLHMU) encompasses all waters that drain into the northern portion of Lake Huron. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Alcona, Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Mackinac, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon. The NLHMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Huron from a field office located in Gaylord.

Contact Information

Lake Huron Basin Coordinator: Doug Schultz, 989-590-9073

Northern Lake Huron Unit Manager: Tim Cwalinski, 231-340-0276

Fisheries Biologists: Neal Godby, 231-340-2621; Matt Klungle, 989-889-4832

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Kynzie House, 989-619-7099 

Fisheries Technicians: Taylor Gross; David Lombardi

Gaylord Customer Service Center, 1732 W M-32 Gaylord, MI 49735

Additional Resources 

Printable NLHMU Areas of Responsibility Map

View archived content

The Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit (NLMMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the northern portion of Lake Michigan. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Gogebic, Iron, Baraga, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, Delta, Alger, Schoolcraft, Luce, and Mackinac. The NLMMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Michigan from field offices located in Escanaba and Crystal Falls.

Contact Information

Acting Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator: Dave Caroffino, 231-350-8654

Fisheries Unit Supervisor: Darren Kramer, 906-786-2351 ext. 789-8213

Fisheries Biologists:

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Bradley Shucha, 906-875-6622 ext. 119, Crystal Falls DNR Office

Fisheries Technicians: Jacob McWethy, 906-875-6622 ext. 119; Michael Woodworth, 906-875-6622 ext. 119

Escanaba DNR Office, 6833 Hwy. 2, 41 & M-35, Gladstone, MI 49837

Norway Field Office, 500 West US-2, Norway, MI 49870

Crystal Falls DNR Office, 1420 US 2 West, Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Additional Resources

Printable Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit Areas of Responsibility Map

Cisco Lake Chain - Boundary Waters Map

View archived content

The Southern Lake Huron Management Unit (SLHMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the southern portion of Lake Huron. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Iosco, Isabella, Lapeer, Livingston, Midland, Ogemaw, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola. The SLHMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Huron from a field office located in Bay City.

Contact Information

Lake Huron Basin Coordinator: Doug Schultz, 989-325-3232

Southern Lake Huron Unit Manager: Jeff Jolley, 989-686-2678

Fisheries Biologists: Jason Gostiaux, 989-686-3645; April Morey, 989-686-2295

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Chris Schelb, 989-684-7892

Fisheries Technicians: Vince Balcer, 989-684-7892; Ryan Histed, 989-684-7892

Bay City Customer Service Center, 3580 State Park Drive, Bay City, MI 48706, 989-684-9141

Additional Resources

Printable Southern Lake Huron Management Unit Areas of Responsibility Map

View archived content

The Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit (SLMMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the southern portion of Lake Michigan. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw. The SLMMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Michigan from a field office located in Plainwell.

Contact Information

Acting Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator: Dave Caroffino, 231-350-8654

Southern Lake Michigan Unit Manager: Brian Gunderman, 269-251-2645

Fisheries Biologists:

  • Addie Myers, 989-778-0389 (Mona [Black Creek], Grand River, Pigeon River and Macatawa River watersheds)
  • Matthew Diana, 269-910-0157 (Kalamazoo River, Black River, St. Joseph River and Galien River watersheds)

Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Matt Smith, 269-204-7056

Fisheries Technicians: Mike Wilson, 269-204-7058; Alexa Curtis, 269-204-7057

Plainwell Customer Service Center, 621 N. 10th Street, Plainwell, MI 49080

Additional Resources

Printable Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit Areas of Responsibility Map

An Overview of the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit Walleye Rearing and Stocking Program

View archived content