Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Sturgeon in the lower Chippewa River (WIDNRECCR)

It is known that the lower Chippewa River contains relatively robust populations of Lake Sturgeon and Shovelnose Sturgeon various times of the year, but it was unknown if there are Chippewa River resident fish or if these fish belong to larger metapopulations from the upper Mississippi River. To investigate the use of the Chippewa River and other nearby tributaries by these species, five receivers were deployed in the Chippewa River, two in the Red Cedar, and one in the Black River. Between 2021 and 2022, 47 lake sturgeon (30 males; 15 females; 2 unknown) were implanted with 10-year acoustic transmitters during a spawning stock survey in Eau Claire. In 2023, 30 shovelnose sturgeon (21 males; 9 females) were implanted with 2.5-year acoustic transmitters during a spawning stock survey near Caryville. Receivers are downloaded each fall and movement of tagged fish is evaluated.

Points of Contact

• Joseph Gerbyshak

  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

  Principal Investigator