MENOMINEE, MICH (WTAQ-WLUK) – For nearly a century the Menominee Dam has worked to control the flow of the Menominee River.
It also has blocked the pathway to spawning grounds for the Lake Sturgeon.
A restoration project in the City of Menominee, Michigan is giving the prehistoric fish a lift.
Behind the walls of the Menominee Dam, a 10 by 15-foot hopper takes fish on a ride three stories into the air. After about four minutes, water from the bin cascades into a holding tank below. Crews use nets to sort through the species. Fish, like crappies, are separated and eventually sent back downstream. Lake Sturgeon are evaluated and some of those are diverted to another set of tanks nearby.
“We process sturgeon. The ones that are appropriate candidates go upstream that are going to spawn next spring,” said Darren Kramer, Michigan DNR Fisheries Manager.
Kramer tells FOX 11 sturgeon are released above the Menominee Dam and Park Mill Dam, which is about a mile away. He says a custom-made trailer is new this year.
“Just pull the gate to the back of the trailer and then just herd the fish out. It’s worked really well.”
The fish transfer system began in 2015 with a goal of moving about 90 sturgeon per year.
Jennifer Johnson, Michigan DNR Fisheries Biologist, tells FOX 11 they transported about 150 this season, and they are following the progress of the fish 20 miles upstream.
“We put trackers in some of the sturgeon. So they tell us that they do go to the next dam. They stay up there for one spawning season, and they come back down.”
And, she says when those fish return, a concrete slide could spill the sturgeon through the dam.
“As long as there’s open water on the river, those by-passes are open and operating.”
About 150 people toured the facility Thursday afternoon.
“Just to look at them. Being from the middle of Illinois, I’ve never saw a fish like this,” said Ron Withrow, Marinette.
“They couldn’t get above the dam to spawn before. So it’s going to help the population upriver,” said Al Turner, Menominee, Michigan.
“They’re big fish, and they don’t hurt anybody. They’re part of nature,” said Claire Turner, Menominee, Michigan.
The fish elevator cost about $12 million to build.
A combination of federal, state, and private money paid for the project.
