Research about Menominee River

USGS2025

Reproductive contribution of lake sturgeon transferred upstream of dams on a Great Lakes tributary

Dam construction contributes to declines in the distribution and abundance of many fishes. Increasing connectivity through adult transfer can be demographically and genetically beneficial, but assessing the effects resulting from transfer can be difficult if resident fish exist upstream. Genotypes of adult and larval lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) were used to quantify contributions to larval recruitment from adults transferred upstream of dams on the Menominee River, USA. We evaluated whether transfer timing, sex, and adult size were associated with the odds of reproduction. Elevator transfer operations in Fall 2019, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 resulted in 152 male and 81 female lake sturgeon transferred upstream. In 2020 and 2021, 580 and 518 larvae were genotyped. We found that 86% (201/233) of adults reproduced and 62.3% (684/1098) of offspring had transferred parents. In total, we estimated that 392 resident adults contributed to offspring production. Mixed matings accounted for 53% of offspring genotyped, increasing levels of offspring genetic diversity relative to offspring produced from resident-only matings. Transferring adults may be a viable restoration alternative for other iteroparous fish in river systems where connectivity to spawning areas has been impeded.

Michigan, Wisconsin↗

USGS2022

Lake Sturgeon movement after trap and transfer around two dams on the Menominee River, Wisconsin-Michigan

Fish behavior after passage or transfer around dams is a critical component in determining whether the goals of these efforts are achieved, but these behaviors are often poorly understood. An elevator was constructed in the lowermost hydroelectric dam on the Menominee River, Wisconsin–Michigan; it is the first elevator specifically designed to capture Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens for upstream transfer above two dams, providing access to high-quality spawning and early life habitat. Our objectives were to determine whether (1) Lake Sturgeon transferred upstream remained upstream for at least one spawning opportunity; (2) spawning opportunity, time to reach the next dam upstream, and residency in different segments of the river were related to sex, capture method (elevator versus electrofishing), and season of transfer; and (3) the probability of fish transitioning back downstream of the two dams varied among months. We evaluated posttransfer behaviors of 139 Lake Sturgeon that were captured in the elevator or by electrofishing, implanted with acoustic transmitters, transferred upstream (in spring or fall) from fall 2014 to spring 2017, and monitored until fall 2018 using 20–23 stationary acoustic receivers deployed throughout the river. Most Lake Sturgeon (91%) remained upstream for at least one spawning opportunity. The probability of remaining for one spawning opportunity was not related to sex, fish capture method, or season of transfer. Residency times within the two impoundments and time to reach the next dam upstream varied among individual fish. A multistate model indicated that monthly survival after upstream transfer was high and that Lake Sturgeon typically remained above both dams in late fall to early spring, with most downstream movements occurring in April and May. Our results indicate that Lake Sturgeon transferred upstream have the potential to contribute offspring that may help to bolster the Lake Sturgeon population in Lake Michigan, but additional research may help in determining whether these contributions occur.

Michigan, Wisconsin↗