Help Restore Lake Sturgeon this September

Be A Part of One of Saginaw Bay's Greatest Restoration Success Stories!

All are invited to help release young lake sturgeon into the Saginaw River system this September. Attendees at each riverside release event will reintroduce around 100 native sturgeon into each tributary of the Saginaw River system (e.g., Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, and Tittabawassee rivers). Registration is not required, and there is no cost to join. 

Public release celebrations on September 4 and 26 across the Saginaw Bay Watershed include:

• 11 a.m., Tittabawassee River, at the Bob G. Caldwell Municipal Boat Launch in Midland, hosted by the Chippewa Nature Center. For more information, contact Jennifer Kirts at jkirts@chippewanaturecenter.org. 

• Noon, Shiawassee River, at Cole Park in Chesaning, hosted by the Friends of the Shiawassee River. For more information, contact Kim Lazar at kim@shiawasseeriver.org. 

• 2 p.m., Flint River, at Paddlers’ Landings (Mott Park Recreation Area) in Flint, hosted by the Flint River Watershed Coalition. For more information, contact Sam Lazar at slazar@gcparks.org.

• 2:30 p.m., Cass River, at the parking lot at the Gunzenhausen Walkway in Frankenmuth, hosted by the City of Frankenmuth. For more information, contact Matt Bierlein at mbierlein@frankenmuthcity.com.     

The juvenile sturgeon being released in September come from multiple sources: 

• The fish released on 9/4 come from the Black River in Cheboygan County. They hatched in the river as a result of natural reproduction. In late May 2026, researchers from the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries & Wildlife and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources moved the fish to the Black Lake Streamside Rearing Facility for safekeeping. 

• The fish released on 9/26 come from lower Lake Huron near the upper St. Clair River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reared the fish at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery in Wisconsin. 

The young fish spent the summer growing to 4-6 inches in length before their release into the Saginaw River system. Learn more about the restoration effort in the documentary, Dinosaur Fish.

Lake sturgeon are a unique Great Lakes species. They 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 15-20 years old. New research finds that these fish live longer than previously thought, ranging from over 200-400 years old. 

Once abundant in many Michigan lakes and rivers – including the Saginaw River System – 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. 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.

Many partners have been working since 2017 to bring Lake Sturgeon back to the Saginaw River system. Thus far, community members and partners have released over 7,000 sturgeon into local waters. 

Many partners support these sturgeon release events, including Bay County, City of Frankenmuth, Chippewa Nature Center, Flint River Watershed Coalition, Friends of the Shiawassee River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, MSU Extension, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, Sturgeon for Tomorrow – Black Lake Chapter, The Conservation Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and more. 

For general release event questions, contact:

• Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator, gassmeag@msu.edu, (989) 895-4026 ext. 5

• Mike Kelly, The Conservation Fund, Great Lakes Office, Director, kellym@conservationfund.org, 989-892-9171

September 2026 Saginaw Bay Sturgeon Release Event Flyer.

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