Northeast Michigan, Cheboygan County- Black River: Huron Pines AmeriCorps members and nearly 60 volunteers came out on Saturday, May 9, 2009 to protect state-threatened lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) through erosion control on the Black River. Co-sponsored by Sturgeon For Tomorrow, the day focused on reducing erosion on two sites near Tower, MI. Throughout the brisk but sunny day, over 3,000 native plants were planted and erosion control measures were taken to improve sturgeon spawning habitat.

View Project Photos at Huron Pines AmeriCorps on Flickr.

Why protect sturgeon? A relic from the age of dinosaurs, the sturgeon is both the oldest and largest fish found in the Great Lakes system. Lake sturgeon can grow to a length of nine feet and weigh upwards of 300 pounds. While male sturgeon can live for 50 to 60 years, the females can live for as long as 150 years.

Once plentiful across the Great Lakes states, lake sturgeon populations were drastically reduced by a combination of overfishing, dam construction, habitat destruction, and more recently, poaching. On the Black River, campers from a adjacent campground have been traveling the steep bank to catch a glimpse of the ancient fish. In the process however, their frequent travel has killed the native vegetation and created severe erosion. Without plants to absorb and slow rainwater runoff, sand and other pollutants run straight into the Black River.

That’s bad news for the sturgeon. Each year, they swim upriver to spawn. In order for their eggs to survive, the eggs need clean cobblestone on the river bottom to stick to. As the sand runs into the river and covers the cobblestone, the eggs can’t attach and therefore never hatch.

To help this charismatic fish, Huron Pines is working to put erosion control measures in place at three sites. With the help of Huron Pines AmeriCorps, Sturgeon For Tomorrow, Boy Scout Troop #645 of Harrison, Cheboygan Archers and a number of area volunteers, two of these sites were greatly improved on Saturday. Volunteers placed rock, topsoil, seed, and landscape fabric and then planted over 3,000 native plants to reduce erosion. Next, Huron Pines will be posting interpretive signs to explain the project.

In addition to erosion work, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University are monitoring the sturgeon run every year. They tag and weigh each fish to monitor population numbers, evaluate reproductive success and rear juvenile sturgeon for reintroduction.

The project was part of national AmeriCorps Week: a weeklong, nationwide event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible.  

Learn more about Huron Pines AmeriCorps.

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