The Fisheries and Wildlife Lake Sturgeon Research Fund supports the work of the Black River Streamside Rearing Facility in Onaway, Michigan—a joint effort between Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Each year, the facility raises and releases 1,500 juvenile Lake Sturgeon into Michigan waters, including Black Lake, Mullet Lake, and four tributaries of the Saginaw River. Beyond rearing fish, the facility is a hub for education and outreach through programs such as Sturgeon in the Classroom, which connects communities and students with hands-on conservation. Black Lake is home to a population of Lake Sturgeon that has been isolated from Lake Huron and other inland lakes by a series of dams. This unique setting makes Black Lake an ideal natural laboratory to study molecular ecology, life history theory, movement ecology, and reproductive ecology. Research at the facility has already produced more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and provided training opportunities for dozens of undergraduate and graduate students. All donations to this fund will directly:

1. Support long-term Lake Sturgeon restoration across the Great Lakes region.
2. Advance research that helps us better understand Black Lake sturgeon and the species as a whole.
3. Maintain the specialized equipment required to ensure the success of the rearing program.

By supporting this fund, you are helping restore one of North America’s most ancient and iconic fish and provide training opportunities for the next generation of scientists.