Lake Sturgeon Return to Minnesota Waters After 80-Year Absence
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📰 The quick summary: Lake sturgeon have returned to Big Stone Lake in Minnesota after nearly 80 years of absence, showcasing a successful environmental restoration effort that has already introduced more than 44,000 fish into the ecosystem.
📈 One key stat: More than 44,000 lake sturgeon have been stocked into Big Stone Lake since 2014, with some now reaching 55 inches – approaching the size needed for sexual maturity and potential natural reproduction.
💬 One key quote: “With the abundance of sturgeon we’re seeing out on the lake, we’re very pleased and encouraged by their survival rate,” said BJ Bauer, a fisheries specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
1️⃣ The big picture: Lake sturgeon have returned to Big Stone Lake on the Minnesota-South Dakota border for the first time since 1946, marking an environmental comeback decades in the making. These ancient fish, which can grow over 8 feet long and live 150+ years, were once abundant in the area before overharvesting, pollution, and dam construction led to their local extinction. Starting in 2014, wildlife officials began reintroducing sturgeon fingerlings into the newly-cleaned waters, with over 44,000 fish stocked so far. Scientists now track these prehistoric survivors with ultrasonic transmitters to monitor their movements and reproductive capabilities, hoping to establish a self-sustaining population.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The successful reintroduction represents a complete environmental turnaround for a lake that once received raw sewage from surrounding communities. Extensive cleanup efforts since the 1980s transformed Big Stone Lake from highly polluted to healthy enough to support these sensitive ancient fish. Dam removals throughout the Minnesota River system have reconnected vital spawning routes, addressing one of the biggest threats to sturgeon survival. Some fish have already reached impressive sizes approaching sexual maturity, suggesting the population isn’t just surviving but thriving. This restoration mirrors similar success in the Red River basin, where biologists verified natural sturgeon spawning for the first time in over a century.
3️⃣ What’s next: This fall, researchers will place ultrasonic transmitters on about 50 sturgeon to track their movement patterns and potentially identify spawning locations. Blood samples will determine whether any males or females have reached sexual maturity. Additional dam removal projects near Browns Valley will further improve upstream passage, potentially opening new spawning grounds as the fish mature.
Read the full story here: The Brighter Side News – Triumphant return of ‘living dinosaur’ to Big Stone Lake in Minnesota
