The Riveredge Nature Center released hundreds of sturgeon into Lake Michigan as part of a lake sturgeon rehabilitation effort the center has partnered in for almost two decades along with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
“Since the advent of the project, we have actually released over 22,000 lake sturgeon. Now, they are returning to the river, so it’s so satisfying to be a part of a conservation project where you can see the tangible, visible progress year to year, where you can really feel that you are making a difference,” says Amy Casey, a volunteer with Riveredge, who helps raise baby sturgeon before they’re released into the lake, reports Spectrum News 1.
Once a thriving fish population in Lake Michigan, the sturgeon population in the Milwaukee River was heavily impacted by overfishing, pollution and habitat loss. Lake sturgeon eggs were collected from the Shawano Dam in April, and they were raised and protected in water from the Milwaukee River by the team at Riveredge, before being released into Lake Michigan at the end of September.
“We are raising them on the water that they are going back into, so they come back to the Milwaukee River to spawn,” adds Mary Holleback, leader of the program, who also pointed out their positive effect on lakes and rivers, reports Spectrum News 1. “They eat invasive species. They are also a key indicator of the water’s health, so essentially, if the river can support a sturgeon, the river is a lot healthier than it has been.”
PHOTO: RIVEREDGE NATURE CENTER
