MIDLAND, MI – More than 100 baby sturgeon are now swimming in mid-Michigan’s Tittabawassee River, part of an effort to revitalize the ancient fish species’ presence in the Great Lakes.

The morning of Friday, Aug. 23, the Chippewa Nature Center hosted the release of 130 sturgeon at the Bob G. Caldwell Boat Launch in Midland County. The release was one of four planned throughout the day, the others taking place on the Shiawassee River in Chesaning, the Cass River in Frankenmuth, and the Flint River in Flint.

“This is a big day for sturgeon restoration,” said Mike Kelly of The Conservation Fund. “There will be 520 released today across the watershed.”

He added the sturgeon release is an ongoing project for the next 20 years.

The endeavor resulted from a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal partners.

Buckets of the small fish were brought to the river’s edge, where several attendees took them in hand and gently introduced them to the water. Hatched in the spring, the sturgeon were provided by the Black River Streamside Rearing Facility near Onaway.

“This is a really amazing opportunity to tell the story of the restoration and health of our rivers, that they can support sturgeon,” said Jenn Kirts, Director of Programs for Chippewa Nature Center.

Lake sturgeon 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 to 20 years old. They typically live to be about 55, but specimens older than 100 have been found.

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. Researches estimate their population is now 1 percent of what it once was, with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources listing lake sturgeon as a threatened species.

In recent years, 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 the species.

The released fishes have been individually numbered and tagged. Symbolic adoption opportunities will be available for people to follow the fishes’ progress.

The sturgeon released Friday are expected to travel to the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron to mature. Once grown, they should return to the rivers where they were raised to spawn, probably not until around 2039.

Four more sturgeon release events are slated for Sept. 21. Details are available at saginawbaysturgeon.org.

The sturgeon release events are supported by a variety of partners including Bay County Environmental Affairs and Community Development, City of Frankenmuth, Chippewa Nature Center, Flint River Watershed Coalition, Frankenmuth Morning Rotary Club, Frankenmuth School District’s Chief Science Officers, 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, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Saint Lorenz School, Sturgeon for Tomorrow – Black Lake Chapter, The Conservation Fund, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.