Approximately 10,000 fall fingerling lake sturgeon can be reared in the additional 8 FT. x 2 FT. round polypropylene stock tanks. - FWS photo

Approximately 1000 fall fingerling lake sturgeon can be reared in each 8' x 2' tank. - FWS photo

Staff of the Genoa National Fish Hatchery (NFH) added five hundred cubic feet of rearing space to the already packed sturgeon building. Since 2004, the building has helped provide the needed rearing capacity to propagate up to 40,000 lake sturgeon annually for federal, state, and tribal restoration programs throughout the country.

The only area left for the new tanks was in the center of the building. This space is normally left empty for distribution truck access, and therefore the tanks and plumbing were designed to facilitate removal after the lake sturgeon are stocked out. 8 FT. x 2 FT. round polypropylene stock tanks from the local tractor store were used because of their affordability.

Ten tanks were purchased for approximately $2100.00. A typical fiberglass tank of equal size would have cost $1100.00 each, resulting in a net savings of $8900.00. Approximately 10,000 fall fingerling lake sturgeon can be reared in the additional tanks. The extra space will allow Genoa’s lake sturgeon program to continue to grow, and to reach out to new cooperators in order to fulfill their fisheries management plans.