COLUMBUS, OH -- Shovelnose sturgeon, last seen in Ohio in 1957, are being reintroduced into the Scioto River near Circleville in an attempt to bring this smaller relative to the lake sturgeon back to Ohio waters. The first stage of a multi-year project to return shovelnose sturgeons to the state began Wednesday, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The project is supported through contributions to the state income tax check-off funds for Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species. Contributions can be made by checking line 25 (form 1040) or line 17 (EZ form) on the 2001 state income tax form.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service assisted in netting shovelnose sturgeons on Wednesday from the Ohio River below Smithland Dam, just upstream from Paducah, Kentucky. It is the last major dam before the Ohio meets the Mississippi River.
A state fish transport truck was standing by to begin the eight-hour trip to bring the sturgeons to Ohio. Its really important that they not spend more time than necessary in a tank, said Scott Schell, project leader for the Division of Wildlife. The sooner we can get them back into a natural habitat, the better their chances of survival, he added.
Shovelnose sturgeons were once common in the Ohio River and lower sections of its larger tributaries, and are still common in other states downstream from Ohio. The shovelnose is a large-river species that prefers the fast chutes and riffles where the rivers narrow and current is fast.
The decline of the species began in 1911 when many dams were constructed, which blocked access to spawning areas and eliminated their preferred habitat. Pollution also caused problems by impacting water quality and consequently the sturgeons primary food sources - mollusks, snails, and aquatic insects.
We chose the Scioto River at Circleville as the reintroduction site because the rivers water has greatly improved since the 1970s, said Randy Sanders, program administrator for the Division of Wildlifes Stream Conservation and Environmental Assessment Unit. This area supports more different species of fish than any other stream location in the state. That means it not only has good water quality, but high quality habitat, as well.
Unlike their long-lived relative the lake sturgeon, shovelnose sturgeons only live to be about 12 years of age, and reach weights of only five to six pounds. Lake sturgeons can reach weights of 300 pounds and live for more than 100 years.
In addition to relocating sturgeons from other areas, the wildlife division will attempt to raise additional fish at their Kincaid and Senecaville hatcheries. Once the fish reach a size of about six inches they will be stocked in the Scioto River. The project will continue for five years.
Funding for the shovelnose reintroduction project comes from the endangered species and wildlife diversity state income tax checkoff, purchase of cardinal license plates and donations. Ohio taxpayers can donate all or a portion of their state income tax refund to the Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species Fund by checking line 25 (form 1040) or line 17 (EZ form) on the 2001 state income tax form.