Jim Boase talking to DTE Energy employees families about lake sturgeon collected from the St. Clair River - Photo by Dave Mitchell

Lake sturgeon research was highlighted at a dinner party sponsored by DTE Energy and hosted by Purdy Fisheries, August 29^{.  The event was held} at Point Edward Ontario near the site of one of the largest lake sturgeon spawning grounds in the Great Lakes. 

Approximately 50 employees from DTE Energy and their families attended the dinner. 

Fishery Biologists James Boase from Alpena FRO and Bruce Manny from USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) were guest speakers at the dinner.

The outdoor dining area is situated near the headwaters of the St. Clair River.  The Purdy facility has multiple venues for viewing live lake sturgeon including a 15,000-gallon outdoor aquarium and two large concrete raceways. 

Following dinner Boase and Manny shuttled guests to the large fish raceways where many lake sturgeon of varying size were housed.   For most of the guests the highlight of the evening was the opportunity to see and handle the live sturgeon that were located in the large raceways.

Alpena FRO, GLSC, Michigan DNR, and DTE Energy have collaborated on a number of studies including telemetry projects in Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River and southern Lake Huron which ultimately led to the discovery of the three known lake sturgeon spawning reefs located in the Huron Erie Corridor. 

In 2003, DTE Energy helped fund the construction of an artificial lake sturgeon spawning reef near Belle Isle in the Detroit River.  This event at Purdy Fisheries provided an excellent opportunity for Alpena FRO to highlight the continued spirit of cooperation between the Service and its partners for lake sturgeon restoration in the Great Lakes.