Lake Sturgeon Recovery Efforts in the Upper Mississippi River

Lake sturgeon are considered rare in Missouri and were nearly extirpated in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) since 1931 as a result of overfishing and habitat fragmentation. Propagation efforts have been implemented by the Missouri Department of Conservation since 1984 as means to restore the lake sturgeon population. Although recent population increases have been observed, a formalized evaluation to determine if lake sturgeon are self-sustaining in the UMR has not been completed. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the proportion of reproductive individuals, (2) evaluate seasonal movement patterns of adults, and (3) validate purported spawning locations within the Upper Mississippi River. Lake sturgeon catch data indicated that approximately 11 percent of the population are reproductively mature. Additionally, telemetry data confirms long distances traveled by adult lake sturgeon during the spring season, which suggests spawning migration. Finally, we were able to document lake sturgeon embryos and emergent fry below Melvin Price Locks and Dam 26 in the UMR near St. Louis, Missouri. This study represents the first documented spawning of lake sturgeon in the UMR and highlights the success of lake sturgeon recovery efforts in Missouri.