Ronald M. Bruch
People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish
People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish a tale of the cultural and scientific history of an iconic Wisconsin fish, the lake sturgeon. Throughout the process of writing the book, the authors interviewed community activists, sturgeon spearing enthusiasts, spear and decoy craftsmen, and scientific researchers associated with the Lake Winnebago sturgeon population. Because of the cultural, social, economic, and scientific knowledge captured in these interviews, the UW-Madison Wisconsin Water Library preserved the audio files as a collection of oral histories. This collection, People of the Sturgeon, encapsulates perspectives on lake sturgeon as they are reflected in the book.
The People of the Sturgeon collection includes interviews with outdoorsmen, scientists, and craftsmen associated with the Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, lake sturgeon population.
Collection compiled by the UW-Madison Wisconsin Water Library. Audio courtesy of the Oshkosh Public Museum. Recordings were collected as part of the research for People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press, Madison, WI.
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Ronald Bruch was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spent his childhood summers in Ashland County, Wisconsin. Bruch attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He later obtained a master's degree and is completing his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Bruch began his career with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in 1976, starting as an intern in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He held various positions, including working on the O'Connor River Project and in Marinette and Milwaukee. He succeeded Dan Folz as the sturgeon biologist in Oshkosh in 1990. Throughout his tenure, Bruch has been involved in sturgeon research and management, developing and implementing the Winnebago Comprehensive Management Plan and engaging in sturgeon population surveys across multiple regions. In addition to his official duties, Bruch has been an advocate for public involvement in resource management. He has worked closely with organizations such as Sturgeon for Tomorrow and the Sturgeon Advisory Committee. His work has significantly contributed to the sustainability and growth of the sturgeon population in the Lake Winnebago system.
Scope and Content Note
The oral history interview with Ron Bruch, conducted on September 24, 2007, in Van Dyne, Wisconsin, covers a wide range of topics related to his career and contributions to fisheries biology, particularly his work with sturgeon. Bruch discusses his early life and the experiences that led him to pursue a career in fisheries, detailing his academic journey and the various positions he held within the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A significant portion of the interview focuses on Bruch's role as the Upper Fox-Wolf Fisheries Work Unit supervisor and sturgeon biologist. He explains the development and implementation of the Winnebago Comprehensive Management Plan, his involvement in sturgeon population surveys, and the challenges and successes of managing the sturgeon fishery in the Lake Winnebago system. Bruch highlights the importance of public engagement in resource management, describing his interactions with local organizations and the strategies he employed to involve the community in conservation efforts. The interview also touches on Bruch's views on long-term environmental changes and their potential impact on sturgeon populations. He reflects on the historical context of sturgeon fishing in Wisconsin, comparing past and present population levels and discussing regulatory changes that have influenced sturgeon conservation. Bruch shares anecdotes from his career, illustrating the practical and sometimes personal aspects of his work. Throughout the interview, Bruch emphasizes the significance of data-driven decision-making in fisheries management. He discusses his research on sturgeon growth rates, the impact of environmental factors on fish populations, and the methodologies used to collect and analyze data.
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