Lake Sturgeon Spawning Habitat Enhancement: Combining Three Sonar Technologies

One suspected reason for persistently low Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) population levels is limited access to suitable spawning habitat: fast flowing water and gravel or cobble substrate. A dam regulates the Seneca River’s flow from Cayuga Lake, potentially restricting sturgeon access to upstream spawning habitat. Spawning sized sturgeon have been observed below the dam during the spring spawning season. As part of a project to create suitable spawning habitat in this area, we used sidescan sonar to map substrates, multibeam sonar to map bathymetry, and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler to map summer water flow. Our poster outlines the use and results of these three sonar technologies. Combining these technologies, project partners will predict spawning season flow and select the optimal site for habitat enhancement. Pre- and post-enhancement sampling will assess changes in spawning activity.