“Return the Sturgeon” Project

Lake Sturgeons are the oldest and largest native fish found in the Great Lakes ecosystem. For a variety of reasons, they were extirpated from the Milwaukee River over 100 years ago. In an attempt to help return this ancient fish to its ancestral waters, the Wisconsin DNR and Riveredge Nature Center are raising Lake Sturgeon at Riveredge in a stream side rearing facility. The goal is to raise 1,000 to 1,500 fish every year for 25 years, which will provide enough mature adults to support a breeding population of Lake Sturgeons in Lake Michigan. Mary Holleback, Senior Naturalist and Sturgeon Project Coordinator, will present this fascinating program. She will discuss the biology and ecology of this large fish as well as the lessons learned along the way and how the public can support this unique and exciting restoration project.