Our mission is conserving and restoring healthy populations of native fish and other aquatic species, and protecting the lakes, rivers, and wetlands where they live.

About Us

We are working to restore lake sturgeon, lake trout and other native fish and their habitats in the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, and the Allegheny River watersheds. We are also working to prevent the spread of invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species in these watersheds and the New York State Canal System. 

What We Do

Image of person in USFWS uniform holding a lake trout.
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The Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office works to restore and protect the quantity and quality of habitat for fish within the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario watersheds. We restore important habitat and fish connectivity between streams, rivers and lakes. Our projects improve water quality, help increase abundance of fish, and sustain the economic and recreational benefits derived from fishing and recreating in our public waters.

Our Organization

Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
Program
Falls Church,VA
A bison grazing in the foreground with mountains and a city and electrical infrastructure in the background
The Urban Wildlife Conservation Program improves lives by expanding access to green space, education and outdoor recreation for Americans living in and around cities. Program members work to clear social and historical barriers and foster new connections that advance conservation and strengthen...
Program
A person is walks through a large wide culvert that passes under a gravel road. A small river runs through the culvert.
Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities and...
Program
A view of the Sacramento River. Its flat, blue water is lined by bright green trees and vegetation. Blue skies are overhead.
The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a comprehensive effort to treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms. The Partnership is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to...
Program

Our Species

  • Lake sturgeon
  • Lake trout
  • Cisco
  • Brook trout

Projects and Research

Staff measuring a walleye
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Our office consists of five primary programs: Native Species, Aquatic Invasive Species, and  Aquatic Habitat Restoration. These programs are supported by the Science and Technology and Outreach and Education programs. We work with state and local partners to restore habitat for fish and wildlife. We also target habitat restoration at road-stream crossings which are subject to frequent flooding, and provide technical support in removing obsolete dams that are unsafe and barriers to fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage . We also work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Service, Canada and tribal nations to study native Great Lakes fish and respond to new invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species .

People standing around a table filled with gravel, miniature trees, and miniature sheds
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Stream Smart Training Program

Across the landscape, undersized, aging and improperly placed road-stream crossings create barriers in our rivers, streams, and tidal wetlands. These structures fragment aquatic habitat and prevent or greatly reduce the ability of aquatic species to move freely to migrate, feed, and reproduce. These poorly designed structures are also more prone to clogging, causing flooding, and washing out...

Stream Smart Training Program

Visit Us

We are collocated at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, where there are a variety of recreational opportunities, such as fishing, paddling, hiking, birding, and wildlife watching. Come visit us for some quality time outdoors or check out our 400 gallon freshwater tank at the Visitor Center located on Casey Road between Route 77 and Route 63.

Latest News

Image of biologist holding a fish in a boat.
Wildlife Management
Tench on the Doorstep
Tench is a freshwater fish, native to Europe and western Asia where they are edible and a popular fish for some anglers. Like carp, they have been used as a biocontrol of snails and aquatic vegetation in farm ponds and in aquarium tanks. Indeed, tench can tolerate water with low oxygen...
Staff member uses PCR to process eDNA samples
Wildlife Management
You can swim, but you can’t hide
Scientists can detect invasive fish in the Great Lakes by identifying their DNA in the water.
Image of brook trout being held in pair of hands.
Habitat Restoration
Monitoring Brook Trout
Brook trout populations across the Great Lakes basin have drastically declined. We have been working with our partners for years to improve water quality and habitat for brook trout. Monitoring is essential to understanding the effectiveness of these habitat investments.
A biologist holding a wild lake trout while aboard a boat on Lake Ontario.
Wildlife Management
Where the wild trout are
Lake trout populations in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are rebounding, but wild-produced lake trout are still rare to find. Scientists are determined to uncover the cause.
A large gray fish, with a flat head and rounded snout that has long barbels hanging from its nose, rests on a rocky lake bottom.
Wildlife Management
“Tails” from the deep
In the Great Lakes, lake sturgeon have become as rare as a mythical lake monster. Learn how we're monitoring their populations in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
A graphic showing a red stop sign with a boat on a ramp.
Recreation
Clean, Drain, Dry
Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species starts with all of us. By working together we can protect our aquatic resources and recreational opportunities for future generations.
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Get Involved

Volunteer staffing outreach display.
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Discover for yourself what tens of thousands of volunteers have learned: Volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is fun and rewarding in many ways. Master new skills. Meet new friends. Enjoy a sense of accomplishment from doing your part to further wildlife conservation for the pleasure of generations to follow. Check out our station's latest volunteer opportunities on volunteer.gov.  We can accommodate a few volunteers per season, whether they are official internships for school credit or just looking for the experience.

Location and Contact Information