I was fortunate enough to grow up on a family farm outside of Highland, IL that contained several ponds. I spent almost every day of my summer vacation chasing frogs and catching fish. Over the years I was able to watch those ponds go through cycles of good and bad fishing, fish kills and runaway vegetation. I never gave thought as to why or how the changes happened and I definitely never thought there was anything that could be done about it.
My love for those ponds led me to a bachelors of Science degree in Zoology from Eastern Illinois University, taking every fisheries course they offered. While working toward my degree I spent 3 and half years working with the Illinois Natural History Survey fisheries research lab. With the INHS, I worked as a creel clerk at Ridge Lake in Charleston, IL and then I became a fisheries technician spending time at both the Kaskaskia and Sam Parr biological stations. As a fisheries technician I was able to go out on lakes in southern and central Illinois on almost a daily basis. Most days were spent electrofishing, pulling seines, collecting water samples, collecting sediment samples and identifying vegetation. In addition to collecting samples we analyzed a variety of samples and collected additional data from our many research ponds. This position was a great benefit to me as I was able to measure thousands of fish across many Illinois lakes. In doing this I was able to see what types of habitat the fish preferred and I was able to see what made some lakes better than others. That job also gave me the opportunity to watch and listen to professional fisheries researchers analyze and discuss data on a daily basis.
Shortly after college I partnered with a local agricultural supplier that sold aquatic chemicals. I was hired to do customized aquatic applications for them. After working as an aquatic applicator for 5 years I decided to start my own company that also offered fisheries management services, fountain and aeration sales as well as water quality testing.
My love for those ponds led me to a bachelors of Science degree in Zoology from Eastern Illinois University, taking every fisheries course they offered. While working toward my degree I spent 3 and half years working with the Illinois Natural History Survey fisheries research lab. With the INHS, I worked as a creel clerk at Ridge Lake in Charleston, IL and then I became a fisheries technician spending time at both the Kaskaskia and Sam Parr biological stations. As a fisheries technician I was able to go out on lakes in southern and central Illinois on almost a daily basis. Most days were spent electrofishing, pulling seines, collecting water samples, collecting sediment samples and identifying vegetation. In addition to collecting samples we analyzed a variety of samples and collected additional data from our many research ponds. This position was a great benefit to me as I was able to measure thousands of fish across many Illinois lakes. In doing this I was able to see what types of habitat the fish preferred and I was able to see what made some lakes better than others. That job also gave me the opportunity to watch and listen to professional fisheries researchers analyze and discuss data on a daily basis.
Shortly after college I partnered with a local agricultural supplier that sold aquatic chemicals. I was hired to do customized aquatic applications for them. After working as an aquatic applicator for 5 years I decided to start my own company that also offered fisheries management services, fountain and aeration sales as well as water quality testing.
Mike Anderson biologist/owner
cell 618-973-1964 If you have submitted an email to me in the past through the contact form and I did not respond please email me directly at mike@metroeastponds.com There had been an error in the link and I was not receiving any information submitted through the contact form. I always respond to emails so if you do not hear from me in 48 hrs please call me. |
|