Lake sturgeon reef construction at Belle Isle in the Detroit River during the summer of 2004. - Courtesy photo by Jen Reed, Michigan Sea Grant

It has been four years since researchers from Michigan Sea Grant, USGS, Michigan DNR, and the Service first sat down to brainstorm on the idea of constructing an artificial lake sturgeon spawning reef in the Detroit River. 

Those early planning meetings, the research that followed, construction of the reefs, and the history of lake sturgeon were highlighted in a documentary titled “Giants in the River” which aired on Detroit Public Television on April 26, 2007. 

Researchers and partners from Michigan Sea Grant, USGS, Michigan DNR, DTE Energy, JJR Consulting, and the Service were interviewed in the documentary.  This is the second time the documentary has been aired on Detroit Public Television and since the initial airing on April 30, 2006 edits to the film have been made. 

Changes to the original film include the capture of the first adult lake sturgeon captured on the reef during the spawning period in the spring of 2006 and use of the reef by the northern madtom a state listed species in Michigan and a federally listed species in Canada.

Along with the documentary Michigan Sea Grant has developed an educational lake sturgeon display.  Initial unveiling of the display was held at the Detroit Science Center located in downtown Detroit during the spring of 2006. 

The display has since moved to the Smith Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport located in Romulus, Michigan.  For those interested in further information about the display or for a copy of the documentary you can visit the Michigan Sea Grant website located at www.miseagrant.umich.edu/sturgeon/sturgeon_exhibit.html. 

The site includes information about the exhibit, the history of lake sturgeon, a sturgeon quiz and links to websites of all of the partners involved in the project.  Primary partners from the Service include John Hartig, Manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (DRIWR) and James Boase, Fishery Biologist with the Alpena Fishery Resources Office (FRO).