Lake Sturgeon Restoration in the Rochester Embayment Dawn

Lake Sturgeon Restoration in the Rochester Embayment Dawn Dittman USGS Great Lakes Science Center Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science Cortland, NY

What About the Genesee River? Rochester Embayment Area of Concern The AOC designation was based on impairments caused by “conventional pollutants, ” heavy metals, toxic organic substances, contaminated sediments, fish consumption advisories, municipal and industrial point sources, and combined sewage overflows (GLWQB 1981).

Human Habitat Seth Green: Obsessed with the study, catching of fish, and restoration. 2000 Improved Water Quality! Mid 1880’s Large bass, pike, 50 lb catfish, Invertebrate Prey 100 -150 lb Lake Sturgeon. History Fish Community

Lake Sturgeon Reintroduction Experiment in the Lower Genesee River, NY One tool of lake sturgeon management across the Great Lakes is the stocking of juveniles. Measurement of post-stocking survival and habitat use by hatchery reared fish provides valuable information for metrics of success of this management tool. The project provides measures of progress toward Lake Sturgeon restoration in the Rochester AOC. • 1900 YOY Juveniles: Released 2003 -2004 AOC Delisting Criteria Lake Sturgeon of different life stages inhabit the Genesee River up to the Lower Falls and the Embayment, or physical and biological habitat are suitable for all life states of Lake Sturgeon

October 2016 : June 2017: October 2017 8 < 5 kg 7 < 7 kg 4 < 8 kg Conclusion: A few of the 13 to 14 year old Sturgeon are using the river (June-October). The majority of 2003 -2004 released fish had moved out into Lake Ontario and possibly other tributaries. In the Spring?

Spring 2016 3 adult males! 7 to 12 kg (17 -27 lb) Near identified possible spawning habitat. Thus, the older larger fish were in the river during known Sturgeon spawning environmental conditions. Lake Sturgeon Spawning Habitat: 2020 -? Assessment and Enhancement

Adaptive Management of Stocking Levels • 1 st year and 2 nd year survival Genesee River. • Stocking was resumed in 2013. • 2015 Field Season: Captured 161 of the 2013 YC with 45 recaptures. • The two year old fish had a 92% retention/survival rate.

NY Lake Sturgeon Restoration Plan: Stocking 2013 to 2023 1047 1010 956 503 777 2013 YC 2014 YC 2015 YC 2016 YC 2017: All YC are present Survivorship & Growth Positive 2013 YC 2017 YC 2015 YC Lake Sturgeon Restoration Adaptive Management: habitat use, retention/survival, migration: to inform stocking implementation. Telemetry

Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science Great Lakes Science Center USGS Technical Support

Environmental Principles Functional Habitats Stream/River fish data from NYSDEC Statewide Fisheries Database Great Lakes Framework Lake Ontario fish data from NYSDEC and USGS collections

Comprehensive Native Fish Restoration in the Great Lakes Ecosystem Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Science Great Lakes Science Center