On Saturday, September 21, there will be public release events, where attendees have the opportunity to release this pre-historic fish into the Saginaw Bay Watershed. +100 hatchery-raised Lake Sturgeon will be released into each tributary of the Saginaw Bay Watershed (Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, and Tittabawassee rivers). We hope you can join!
The Lake Sturgeon released in September come from lower Lake Huron near the upper St. Clair River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reared the fish at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery.
Public release events Sept. 21 include:
Lake Sturgeon are a unique Great Lakes species. They can grow up to 7 feet long and can weigh up to 300 pounds. The slow-maturing fish do not begin reproducing until they are 15-20 years old. Once abundant in many Michigan lakes and rivers, Lake Sturgeon were nearly eradicated due to overfishing and habitat loss, particularly the destruction of rocky reefs in rivers that sturgeon and other native fish species use for spawning. Many partnerships and projects are working to restore sturgeon to a self-sustaining level in Michigan. This work includes restoring sturgeon habitat, reintroducing sturgeon into their native ranges, and raising awareness and appreciation for this unique species.
The September 21, 2024, sturgeon release events are supported by a variety of partners including Bay County, City of Frankenmuth, Chippewa Nature Center, Flint River Watershed Coalition, Friends of the Shiawassee River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, MSU Extension, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, Sturgeon for Tomorrow – Black Lake Chapter, The Conservation Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and more.
Learn more about the lake sturgeon restoration efforts on the Saginaw Bay Sturgeon website (www.saginawbaysturgeon.org).
If you have general release event questions, please contact: Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator, gassmeag@msu.edu, 989-318-3116.