Lake Sturgeon Movements after Upstream Passage of Two Dams on the Menominee River

Session: 11. - Acoustic Telemetry Applications in the Great Lakes

Daniel Isermann, USGS-Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, [email protected]
Joshua Schulze, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, [email protected]
Nicholas Porter, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, [email protected]
Joshua Raabe, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, [email protected]
Michael Donofrio, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Robert Elliott, US Fish & Wildlife Service, [email protected]
Darren Kramer, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]

Abstract

Construction of a fish elevator in the lowest dam on the Menominee River, Wisconsin-Michigan, provided the means to capture lake sturgeon for passage upstream of the lowest two dams to a section of river where better habitat exists. Information on the behavior of lake sturgeon after passage is needed to determine if this strategy might be effective for augmenting lake sturgeon recruitment. From 2014-2017, adult lake sturgeon (n = 140) were captured during spring and fall from the lower Menominee River using the elevator and electrofishing, implanted with acoustic transmitters, transported and released upstream of the two lowest dams. Eighty three percent of lake sturgeon remained upstream of both dams for at least one spawning opportunity and no significant difference in spawning opportunity was detected between sexes or season of passage. As of August 2016, 37 of the first 100 fish with acoustic transmitters were still upstream of both dams, 6 were between the dams, and 57 were downstream of both dams. Our assessment suggests that upstream passage has the potential to increase sturgeon recruitment as fish do remain above both dams to spawn, but future assessment is needed to determine if these fish produce offspring. 

1. Keyword
fish tagging

2. Keyword
Lake Michigan

4. Additional Keyword
sturgeon