What is the current status of the lake sturgeon population in Big Stone Lake?

The lake sturgeon population in Big Stone Lake has grown to over 44,000 fish, with some individuals reaching impressive lengths, as of 2025.

How did the researchers from South Dakota State University and government agencies study the sturgeon's movements?

The researchers placed about 50 sturgeon with small ultrasonic transmitters that send pings picked up by underwater microphones, allowing them to monitor the fish's travel patterns around the lake and its connected waterways.

What role did dam removal play in the sturgeon's comeback in the Big Stone Lake area?

Historically, sturgeon moved upstream into shallow, boulder-filled river bottoms to spawn, but dams on the Minnesota River and its tributaries had blocked their routes. Over the past decade, five dams were removed to reconnect the sturgeon's historic spawning grounds, which has been crucial to the restoration effort.

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

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

12 Oct

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Summary

Lake sturgeon, once nearly extinct, now thriving in Big Stone Lake
Restoration effort took decades, including pollution cleanup and dam removal
Researchers tracking sturgeon movements to study natural reproduction

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.