The lake sturgeon population in the Great Lakes has dropped to less than 1% of historic numbers, but dedicated efforts are underway to change that from organizations like Milwaukee Riverkeeper, the Deng Aquaculture Lab at UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences, and Riveredge Nature Center. From habitat restoration to research on alternative dietary methods and passionate community efforts, local groups are collaborating to revive these ancient giants and restore their place in our waters for generations to come. This short film exhibits a story of progress for lake sturgeon restoration efforts in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern (AOC). Watch below to learn more.
Learn more about Riverkeeper’s work throughout the Milwaukee River Basin: https://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/.
Learn more about sturgeon conservation at Riveredge Nature Center: https://riveredgenaturecenter.org/program/sturgeon-fest/.
Clean up efforts are underway in the Milwaukee Estuary AOC, and dredged legacy contaminants have to go somewhere. Check out our prior research on the Dredged Material Management Facility for the AOC clean up, and what the Public Trust Doctrine requires, here: https://uwm.edu/centerforwaterpolicy/is-the-proposed-dredged-material-management-facility-an-opportunity-for-the-community/.
For more information about the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern, visit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/GreatLakes/Milwaukee.html.
For more information on Dr. Dong-Fang Deng’s research and her aquaculture lab at UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences, visit: https://uwm.edu/freshwater/people/deng-dong-fang/
Read more about lake sturgeon throughout Wisconsin in Paul A. Smith, “What is Wisconsin’s most important fish? A good case could be made for the lake sturgeon,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Jan. 29, 2025) https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2025/01/29/the-revered-lake-sturgeon-a-wisconsin-success-story-like-no-other/77513264007/.