Sturgeon Comeback: Ancient Fish Thrive in Minnesota-South Dakota Lake

In a remarkable environmental turnaround, lake sturgeon—ancient fish that can grow over 8 feet long—have returned to Big Stone Lake, a border lake shared by Minnesota and South Dakota. This comeback is the culmination of a decades-long restoration effort that began in 2001.

Back in the late 1800s, lake sturgeon were so abundant in Big Stone Lake that commercial fishermen considered them a nuisance. But overfishing, water pollution, and dam construction eventually wiped them out by the mid-20th century. The last sturgeon sighting was in 1946. For many years, it seemed the species had vanished from the area.

That changed in 2001 when a local coalition, led by fisheries supervisor Norm Haukos, set out to bring the sturgeon back. First, they had to rehabilitate the lake's polluted waters through wastewater treatment upgrades and animal waste management projects. By 2014, the lake was healthy enough to support native fish, and 6,500 baby sturgeon were introduced.

Over the past decade, the sturgeon population has grown to over 44,000 fish, with some reaching impressive lengths. Now, researchers from South Dakota State University and government agencies are closely tracking the sturgeon's movements and monitoring for signs of natural reproduction—the ultimate goal of the restoration effort.

Reconnecting the sturgeon's historic spawning grounds by removing dams has been crucial to the comeback. With access to more habitat, the population could potentially expand beyond Big Stone Lake into the Minnesota River system. This would be an ecological win, mirroring similar sturgeon restoration successes in the nearby Red River basin.

While it may take decades for the sturgeon to fully recover, the progress so far is a testament to the power of long-term environmental stewardship. Big Stone Lake's sturgeon are a symbol of nature's resilience and humanity's ability to undo past mistakes.