Sturgeon Release Celebrations
August 22 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Free
Community members and conservation partners are invited to help restore young lake sturgeon into the Saginaw Bay watershed each August and September. At no-cost, participants help release more than 100 native sturgeon into each tributary of the Saginaw River system.
The juvenile sturgeon being released on Friday, August 22 come from the Black River in Cheboygan County. They hatched in the river as a result of natural reproduction.
In late May 2025, researchers from the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries & Wildlife and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources moved the fish to the Black Lake Streamside Rearing Facility for safekeeping. The young fish spent the summer growing to 4-6 inches in length before their release into the Saginaw River system.
All are welcome. Registration is not required.
For general questions, contact:
- Meaghan Gass, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Educator, gassmeag@msu.edu, (989) 895-4026 ext. 5
- Mike Kelly, The Conservation Fund, Great Lakes Office, Director, kellym@conservationfund.org, 989-892-9171
Event Locations
11am | Tittabawassee River
Where: Bob G. Caldwell Municipal Boat Launch, Midland
Local Host: Chippewa Nature Center. For more information, contact Jennifer Kirts at jkirts@chippewanaturecenter.org
12pm | Shiawassee River
Where: Cole Park, Chesaning
Local Host: Friends of the Shiawassee River. For more information, contact info@shiawasseeriver.org
1:30pm | Flint River
Where: Paddlers’ Landings Mott Park Recreation Area, Flint
Local Host: Flint River Watershed Coalition. For more information, contact Emily Stetson at estetson@gcparks.org
2pm | Cass River
Where: Gunzenhausen Walkway, Frankenmuth
Local Host: City of Frankenmuth. For more information, contact Matt Bierlein at mbierlein@frankenmuthcity.com