Fishery Resources of the Superior-Duluth Estuary

Abstract

The Superior-Duluth estuary contains more than 11,500 acres of water (calculated from planimeter measurements of maps provided by the Metropolitan Interstate Committee). If compared to inland bodies of water in Wisconsin, it would rank 7th in surface area. It is characteristic of many estuaries, being historically very shallow (maximum depth of 9 feet) with large areas of submerged and emergent vegetation. It has always been a very important and productive water mass, with critical habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds (migrant and resident) and fish (both resident and Lake Superior species).