U.S. and Canadian partners announce $178,000 in funding to construct a lake sturgeon spawning reef off Fighting Island in the Detroit River.  Funding for reef construction has been provided from:

·        Canada-Ontario Agreement – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources ($65,000)

·        National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Bring Back the Natives Program ($45,000)

·        Michigan Wildlife Conservancy ($30,000)

·        U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Coastal and Challenge Cost Share Grants ($23,000)

·        Environment Canada’s Great Lakes Sustainability Fund ($15,000)

Both BASF and DTE Energy will provide in kind construction support to this project.  We are also working with our partners for additional funding to advance this important initiative. 

Phase 1 of this project, Pre-Construction Assessment, was completed in 2007 with $34,500 from Environment Canada’s Great Lakes Sustainability Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Phase 2, Reef Construction, will be undertaken in 2008-2009.  Following reef construction, Post-Construction Assessment will be undertaken in 2009-2010, including a public education and outreach component.   

In 2001, lake sturgeon spawning was documented in the Detroit River for the first time in over 20 years, but their numbers are estimated to be only 1% of their original population.  Scientists have now determined that lack of spawning habitat is one of the factors limiting lake sturgeon population growth.  Over the past six years, lake sturgeon spawning habitat has been constructed off Belle Isle in Detroit, off McKee Park in Windsor, and off Fort Malden in Amherstburg to increase available spawning habitat for lake sturgeon and other native fish.  Historically, the area surrounding Fighting Island was well known as an important spawning and nursery area for lake sturgeon and thus was targeted as a potential habitat construction site.  Recent research by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey has shown that water velocity and depth characteristics off the northeast corner of Fighting Island are ideal for spawning and the river bed can support a constructed reef.  In addition, scientists have caught juvenile lake sturgeon just downstream of the proposed Fighting Island reef site, providing further justification for building the reef in this location.    

Current partners in the project include: Environment Canada, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Essex Region Conservation Authority, U.S. Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, BASF Corporation, DTE Energy, Landmark Engineers Inc., International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Sea Grant, and Wildlife Habitat Council.