LAKE STURGEON REINTRODUCTION AND POPULATION ASSESSMENT IN THE NAMEKAGON RIVER AND ST. CROIX RIVER, WISCONSIN

Jeff Kampa and Gene Hatzenbeler
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Spooner WI

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fish Management and Endangered Resources programs have identified information needs to manage lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), a species of special concern in Wisconsin, to sustain fishable populations and restore populations in their native range. We are documenting lake sturgeon population size, movement, and recruitment in the St. Croix River above the confluence with the Namekagon River and in the Namekagon River. We are also assessing the performance of lake sturgeon stocked above fish movement barriers in the system. Forty two lake sturgeon ranging from 20.8” to 51.0” were marked with dangler and passive integrated transponder tags during 2008. Two lake sturgeon were captured upstream from the Trego Dam on the Namekagon River in a reintroduction area. Movement of recaptured fish was generally localized near marking locations, however, one fish moved approximately 50 miles downstream in 27 days. We will document lake sturgeon seasonal distribution and population size, and evaluate gear bias during 2009 - 2011.

Obtain additional information on the status of lake sturgeon in Wisconsin under species profiles in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/wwap/explore/profiles.asp