Chattanooga Students Participate in Lake Sturgeon Conservation Initiative

Chattanooga Students Make Waves for Conservation

On a beautiful day in Chattanooga, Tennessee, approximately 50 fifth graders from Brown Academy took part in a heartwarming conservation initiative that connected them with nature and science. At the scenic Tennessee River, these young conservationists joined forces with biologists from the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI) and educators from the Tennessee Aquarium. What did they do, you might ask? Well, they reintroduced around 500 state-endangered Lake Sturgeon back into the river right in the lively Coolidge Park area!

A Swim with a Purpose

Each of the juvenile sturgeons the kids released measured between four and eight inches. Imagine the excitement as those little fish splashed into the water, finding their new home in the river that flows through downtown Chattanooga! It’s not just a fun day out; it’s part of a much larger effort to restore these magnificent creatures to their natural habitat. Over the past 24 years, more than 425,000 Lake Sturgeon have been raised and released into the Tennessee and Cumberland River watersheds, thanks to the dedicated work of the Aquarium and its partners.

History of the Lake Sturgeon

It’s hard to believe that just 50 years ago, a scene like this would have been impossible. Lake Sturgeon had practically disappeared from the Tennessee River, victims of overfishing, damming, and deterioration of water quality. However, beginning in the late 1990s, improvements in river management and water quality, along with the species’ recognition as state-endangered, paved the way for scientists to consider reintroducing these fish back into the river.

A Long Time Coming

The Tennessee Aquarium took the reins to lead the charge on this ambitious project. They used their skills in propagation to raise juvenile sturgeon from eggs taken from wild sturgeon found in Wisconsin’s Wolf River. The inaugural class of these fish was released into the river in the year 2000. Fast forward a couple of decades, and despite the incredible number of sturgeon that have been released, scientists are still on the lookout for signs of these fish reproducing independently in the wild.

Hope for the Future

Bailey, one of the scientists involved in this remarkable initiative, pointed out the significance of these long-term reintroduction efforts. “By the time these fifth graders are old enough to enter their careers, we may be seeing Lake Sturgeon successfully re-established in the Tennessee River,” he said. “That would be a huge achievement for this project after we’ve put in so many years of hard work towards that goal.” What a hopeful vision for our future!

Get Involved!

If you ever want to catch a glimpse of adult Lake Sturgeon in action, there’s a live webcam set up at the Tennessee Aquarium where you can watch these fascinating fish swim and thrive. This whole effort serves as a reminder of how important it is to care for our environment and the species that inhabit it. The smiles on the faces of the fifth graders as they released the juvenile sturgeon were a testament to how meaningful these experiences can be.

So, here’s to the future of the Lake Sturgeon in Tennessee River and to the next generation of conservationists who are learning to appreciate and protect our natural world!