Originally printed in the Gaylord Herald Times by Chris Engle.

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Volunteers aiming to protect an ancient species of fish came out to the Black River May 9 to get their hands dirty in an erosion control project. Huron Pines AmeriCorps, Sturgeon For Tomorrow, a local Boy Scout troop and other volunteers teamed up to spread topsoil and plant native plants on an eroding stretch of riverbank.

As the riverbank has eroded, sand and soil has covered the cobblestones on the bottom of the river, causing sturgeon eggs to float downstream to die instead of attaching to the river bottom. A group from Michgan State University was scouring the river looking for sturgeon to tag and, one week earlier, had tagged 70 of the fish at this very location. A complete story will appear in a future edition of the Herald Times.