09-06-2012, 11:10 AM
The Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership and Sturgeon for Tomorrow will host sturgeon hatchery tours at the Black River facility near Onaway on Saturday, Sept. 8. Tours will run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Tours are free of charge. Group tours of 10 or more participants are asked to pre-register by calling 231-625-2776. Meeting arrangements will be made upon registration. The hatchery is located in Cheboygan County on the Upper Black River on Twin School Road, adjacent to the Kleber Dam.
Sturgeon researchers from the DNR and MSU will be on hand to talk about lake sturgeon biology, reproductive ecology and the current year's research. Sturgeon for Tomorrow representatives will discuss restoration work to improve sturgeon spawning habitat, sturgeon conservation and outreach programming.
"On the tour we will see the 3-month-old sturgeon currently in the hatchery, and learn about early life history and how we can all play a role to keep healthy populations of this fish in our lakes," said David Borgeson, Northern Lake Huron Unit supervisor with the DNR.
The streamside rearing facility conducts research to determine growth and survival of lake sturgeon, thanks to DNR, federal, Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Sturgeon for Tomorrow funds. Results will provide much-needed guidance for managers involved in lake sturgeon recovery efforts, while improving the effectiveness of lake sturgeon culture and stocking efforts.
The sturgeon fingerlings produced at the hatchery are scheduled to be released into the Black River on Sept. 8 after the tours. Sturgeon produced at the facility will also be stocked into Burt and Mullett lakes on the previous day, Friday, Sept. 7. Mullett Lake will be stocked at approximately 5 p.m. at the Topinabee access site, and Burt Lake will be stocked shortly thereafter at the Mullett-Burt Road ending near Hoppies.
The Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership entered into an agreement with the DNR and has provided the land and invested in the building of this facility.
The lake sturgeon has a long history in the lakes and rivers of Michigan. In fact, sturgeon have been cruising lake waters since the time of the dinosaurs - about 136 million years ago - and were common fish in Great Lakes waters 120 years ago. However, many stresses threaten their survival. The lake sturgeon is now a state-listed threatened species. Sturgeon can live to be more than 100 years old, grow to 8 feet in length and weigh more than 200 pounds.
For more information on lake sturgeon and to learn how to become involved in their rehabilitation efforts, visit www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org or www.michigan.gov/sturgeon.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
Tours are free of charge. Group tours of 10 or more participants are asked to pre-register by calling 231-625-2776. Meeting arrangements will be made upon registration. The hatchery is located in Cheboygan County on the Upper Black River on Twin School Road, adjacent to the Kleber Dam.
Sturgeon researchers from the DNR and MSU will be on hand to talk about lake sturgeon biology, reproductive ecology and the current year's research. Sturgeon for Tomorrow representatives will discuss restoration work to improve sturgeon spawning habitat, sturgeon conservation and outreach programming.
"On the tour we will see the 3-month-old sturgeon currently in the hatchery, and learn about early life history and how we can all play a role to keep healthy populations of this fish in our lakes," said David Borgeson, Northern Lake Huron Unit supervisor with the DNR.
The streamside rearing facility conducts research to determine growth and survival of lake sturgeon, thanks to DNR, federal, Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Sturgeon for Tomorrow funds. Results will provide much-needed guidance for managers involved in lake sturgeon recovery efforts, while improving the effectiveness of lake sturgeon culture and stocking efforts.
The sturgeon fingerlings produced at the hatchery are scheduled to be released into the Black River on Sept. 8 after the tours. Sturgeon produced at the facility will also be stocked into Burt and Mullett lakes on the previous day, Friday, Sept. 7. Mullett Lake will be stocked at approximately 5 p.m. at the Topinabee access site, and Burt Lake will be stocked shortly thereafter at the Mullett-Burt Road ending near Hoppies.
The Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership entered into an agreement with the DNR and has provided the land and invested in the building of this facility.
The lake sturgeon has a long history in the lakes and rivers of Michigan. In fact, sturgeon have been cruising lake waters since the time of the dinosaurs - about 136 million years ago - and were common fish in Great Lakes waters 120 years ago. However, many stresses threaten their survival. The lake sturgeon is now a state-listed threatened species. Sturgeon can live to be more than 100 years old, grow to 8 feet in length and weigh more than 200 pounds.
For more information on lake sturgeon and to learn how to become involved in their rehabilitation efforts, visit www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org or www.michigan.gov/sturgeon.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.