Seems that the DNR did some fish surveys on the Clinton this year.
Can't find the the official state report (must not be published yet) but this article from the Macomb Daily suggests that the watersheds general quality is improving.
Fish survey shows improved condition of Clinton River watershed
• Jameson Cook
jcook@medianewsgroup.com @jamesoncook on Twitter
• Aug 11, 2020
A doubling of the number of fish and the type of fish caught during a
state study of the Clinton River's Middle Branch compared to a
similar survey 19 years ago demonstrates improved health of the
waterway, officials say.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources staffers captured 1,038 fish
in the Middle Branch of the Clinton River at 24 Mile Road, east of
Romeo Plank Road in Macomb Township, on July 31, according to Macomb
County Public Works and the state Department of Natural Resources.
It is approximately twice as many as caught in 2001.
In addition, while the number of species, 25, was about the same as
last time, an increase in the number of pollution-intolerant species
also points to an improved condition, county Public Works
Commissioner Candice Miller said in a news release and Cleyo Harris,
a DNR fisheries biologist, told The Macomb Daily.
“To have this many different fish in the Clinton River, you might
think you’re on Lake Huron,” Miller said in the release. “It is
incredible. I think it’s attributable to everyone who understands we
need to be good stewards of our environment. It’s everybody, working
to try to improve our water quality.”
"That's really an indicator," Harris said. "It indicates things are
improving" for the river and watershed.
The analysis shows that joint efforts by local and state officials,
and environmental groups and individuals who seek to protect the
Clinton River watershed, benefit the environment and improve quality
of life in the area, Miller said.
“Our department has cleaned out many of the tributaries to the Clinton
River in our efforts to improve the water quality, and we are
committed to continue these efforts,” Miller said.
Harris said the river was cited by the state, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the Clinton River Watershed Council in the early
2000s as an area to target for improvement. From around 2012 through
recent years, agencies improved the habitat by reconnecting flood plains
and wetlands, and creating "back water oxbows," he said.
Officials said qualitative analysis of the fish has improved from
“average” to “excellent.” That’s due to the fish community being
composed of more species that are intolerant of pollution, and a
lower percentage of species – like common carp and creek chubs – that
are more tolerant of pollution.
The number of fish caught during the study included lesser-known
species such as rainbow darters and stonecats, but their presence
also shows the quality of the water is good, officials said. There
were also other, better-known species, such as perch, largemouth bass,
rock bass and bullhead.
Harris noted another good sign was two species of fresh-water mussels,
not the sea-based invasive mussels, were found, albeit a small amount
.
On the negative side, the invasive round goby fish species also was
found. But, "It's not surprising they're in there," Harris said,
noting that they are prevalent in Lake St. Clair. "They compete with
other species and are egg eaters," he said.
There were two other fish surveys conducted as part of the recent DNR
study of the Clinton River. At Dodge Park in Sterling Heights,
biologists caught a total of 308 fish -- from 18 different species –
in the Clinton River. In Oakland County, biologists found 16 species
of fish in the Clinton River near Livernois Road.
Harris said surveys will continue, although none are scheduled for
this year.
https://www.macombdaily.com/news/co...cle_a61c697e-db4c-11ea-824f-13d11cf2f7e3.html