The restoration of Lake Sturgeon back to the Menominee Indian Reservation took a step forward with the release of 500 fingerlings. The sturgeon were released near Keshena Falls as part of the MITW Lake Sturgeon Managment Plan. The effort is part of the overall goal to produce a population that remains present in the Wolf River year round above the Balsam Row Dam. The fingerlings were excess fish from another restoration project the WI-DNR is conducting on the Upper Fox River near Lake Winnebago. The fish were slated to be destroyed but given the similarities of the projects the MITW was able to obtain them for the restoration project here. Ron Bruch of the WI-DNR brought the fish to be released after he and Fred Binkowski implanted the sturgeon with PIT tags which will allow the fish to be identified if they are recaptured in the future. The MITW Chairman Randal Chevalier and other staff were on hand to take part in the release. MITW Conservation and Environmental Services staff are part of a lake sturgeon workgroup that keeps the MITW Lake Sturgeon Management Plan moving forward through continued planning efforts that include working with the WI-DNR and USFWS on implementing project goals. The next release of fish is planned for mid September with 30 adult fish being brought to the reservation. The adult fish will have sonic transmitters that will allow MITW and WI-DNR staff to track their movements within the Wolf River on and off the reservation.
Lake Sturgeon Fingerlings in the truck
Jeremy Pyatskowit hands a bucket of sturgeon to Karen Washinawatok
Don Reiter releases sturgeon in the Wolf River
Hailey Pecore and Mary Lisa Keenan-Carenza look at the sturgeon
