The Proof is in the Eggs
Summer 2015
Sometimes, the proof is not in the pudding—it’s in the eggs! During the last week of May, a U.S. Geological Survey crew collected “a lot” of live sturgeon eggs on two new spawning reefs in the St. Clair River. The Hart’s Light Landing Reef, constructed last fall in 30-50 feet of water north of Detroit Edison’s St. Clair Power Plant, and the Point aux Chenes Reef near Algonac, consist of 4-8 inch limestone spread 2 feet deep over the river bottom. And spawning sturgeon seem to like the new habitats!
While collecting samples from “gangs” of egg mats at the upstream and downstream ends of the reefs, the crew saw sturgeon breach the surface many times. Some of the eggs were taken to a laboratory for rearing and were found to be just one day old when collected.
This was welcomed news for the project’s partners including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Michigan Sea Grant, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy (MWC), and the DNR. The MWC administered an $80,000 construction grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete part of the project.
Sometimes, the proof is not in the pudding—it’s in the eggs! During the last week of May, a U.S. Geological Survey crew collected “a lot” of live sturgeon eggs on two new spawning reefs in the St. Clair River. The Hart’s Light Landing Reef, constructed last fall in 30-50 feet of water north of Detroit Edison’s St. Clair Power Plant, and the Point aux Chenes Reef near Algonac, consist of 4-8 inch limestone spread 2 feet deep over the river bottom. And spawning sturgeon seem to like the new habitats!
While collecting samples from “gangs” of egg mats at the upstream and downstream ends of the reefs, the crew saw sturgeon breach the surface many times. Some of the eggs were taken to a laboratory for rearing and were found to be just one day old when collected.
This was welcomed news for the project’s partners including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Michigan Sea Grant, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy (MWC), and the DNR. The MWC administered an $80,000 construction grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete part of the project.