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Species at Risk: Lake Sturgeon in the Nottawasaga River Canadian Wildlife Essa Federation Township

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Species at Risk: Lake Sturgeon in the Nottawasaga River Canadian Wildlife Essa Federation Township Species at Risk: Lake Sturgeon in the Nottawasaga River Canadian Wildlife Essa Federation Township Nature Conservancy Sturgeon Point of Canada Marina Dorsal Fin Scutes (Bony Plates) Heterocercal Tail Barbels Sucker Mouth Lake Sturgeon Diet Benthic Organisms Small Fish Molluscs Algae and Crayfish plants Spawning Behaviour Sexual Maturity: Males start spawning between 12 to 20 years of age Females start spawning between 14 to 33 years of age Periodic: Males spawn every 2 to 3 years Females spawn every 4 to 9 years Spawning Habitat Riffles - shallow, fast flowing water over a clean coarse gravel/rock bottom Spawning occurs in the Spring between late April and early June in water temperatures between 9 - 18oC Nursery Habitat • Juvenile sturgeon prefer low velocity current, shallow water (1-3 feet deep) and sandy to gravel substrate • Hatchlings grow rapidly, about 15 – 20 cm by the end of the summer • Nottawasaga River is abundant in potential nursery habitat Main Threats Barriers to Spawning Migration Habitat Degradation Pollution and An early commercial catch of lake contaminants sturgeon from Lake Erie (MNR photo). Illegal Harvest Invasive Species Stormwater Gobies and Zebra Mussels Garden River Mississagi River Spanish River North Channel Georgian Bay Saginaw Bay Nottawasaga River St. Clair River Wasaga Beach Alliston Identify Candidate Lake Sturgeon Spawning Habitat Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project Objectives: Identify critical Lake Sturgeon spawning habitat. MNR staff captured lake sturgeon in Georgian Bay at the mouth of the Nottawasaga River and in the lower 500m of the river, both locations in Wasaga Beach in April 2012. MNR and NVCA staff jointly Installed 21 radio-transmitters into 20 adult sturgeon between April 18 and May 4. Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project April 19 to May 10 – River temperatures ranged from approximately 6C to 10C. Why can’t we find any sturgeon upstream in the Nottawasaga River between the river mouth and Nicolston Dam? What are the fish waiting for? Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project May 15, 2012 – 14C Upstream Migration Started! One radio tagged lake sturgeon found at Nicolston Dam and a second radio-tagged fish located at a location close to Essa Centennial Park, in close proximity to about 15 – 20 sturgeon spawning in the tailout of a deep pool! Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project May 15, 2012 – 14C. Sturgeon Spawning Habitat Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project May 15, 2012 Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project May 15, 2012 Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project May 15, 2012 Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project Results from Radio Tracking Study: Of the 20 sturgeon radio tagged at the river mouth between April 18 and May 4, 7 were re-located with the radio transmitter. Of the 7, 3 were located at the river mouth or close-by Georgian Bay on April 30. Of the 7, 5 were located upstream in the Nottawasaga River between May 15 and June 13. Lake Sturgeon 2012 Radio Tracking Project May 15, 2012 Conclusions from Radio Tracking Study: Part of the Nottawasaga River spawning run stages at the mouth of the river in spring until temperatures exceed 12C, then they begin an upstream migration. Many reports from anglers however indicate that another portion of the spawning run enters the river in the fall or possibly early spring. Lake Sturgeon 2012 Juvenile Sampling Program Future Sturgeon Stewardship Programs • Focus on restoration projects that improve riparian habitat and address issues related to stream temperature, contaminants and sedimentation • Focus restoration efforts in high priority areas (e.g. Minesing Wetlands) • Support the MNR in future population status programs Larval D-net anchored downstream of spawning habitat Thanks to all our Partners! Nature Conservancy of Canada Canadian Wildlife Federation Essa Township Sturgeon Point Marina.
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