A Historic Release

On Saturday, Oct. 4, Rivergate Park was the center of environmental conservation as 1,500 juvenile lake sturgeon were released into the Cuyahoga River. Organized and led by the Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, this event was part of the Cuyahoga River Lake Sturgeon Reintroduction Partnership. The effort is a collaborative initiative involving local, state, and federal organizations that work together to reestablish the lake sturgeon population.

This release aimed to reintroduce the ancient species into its native habitat and restore a crucial part of the river’s ecosystem. These fish were once a significant part of Lake Erie and its surrounding rivers. However, in recent years, their population has begun to plummet due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution.

Regarding the first annual Sturgeon Fest in 2025, Ohio State Sen. Kent Smith of District 21, which includes the East Side of Cleveland and Downtown, shared her thoughts:

“We have spent multiple cycles doing a lot of work for this project. We were told that the hill next to this river could collapse at any moment, killing the ecosystem and shutting down the steel plant, so we put steel beams in place to help prevent this. This long process has allowed us to keep our rivers clean and release the sturgeon today.”

Involved Organizations

Sturgeon Fest 2025 at Rivergate Park demonstrated that this event was a network of partnerships between local, state, and federal organizations, all united by the common goal of reintroducing lake sturgeon into the Cuyahoga River. The key hosts of the event were the Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, who collaborated with conservation groups such as the Ohio Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, as well as federal partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Together, these organizations created an interactive event that allowed attendees to ask questions and have hands-on experiences.

​​Hugh Mahr, from the Ohio Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and a member of their board of directors, discussed the group’s involvement in Sturgeon Fest:

“We work with the health of the ecosystem. As hunter-anglers, we’re very interested in the health of the ecosystem, specifically the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie, which has improved so that these fish can repopulate and be present in the river once again,” Mahr said.

From the Hatchery to the Slide

At Castalia State Fish Hatchery, the sturgeon were transported on a 13-hour ride to the facility. There, they were given time to grow to a size that would allow them to survive on their own.

Once they reached the proper size, they were brought to Sturgeon Fest. They were gently released into the river by being sent down a slide.

Jen Brumfield of the Cleveland Metroparks discussed the process that made this event possible:

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the group that raised the fish, and I would like to thank them,” Brumfield said. “They have helped set up a sturgeon population with fish that grow to 100 years old and have the time to repopulate. But that process will take about 10 years, so be patient.”

Looking Ahead

In the future, these sturgeon will not be left to live on their own. Instead, biologists will closely monitor them, tracking their survival, growth, and movement.

According to Brumfield, in about 10 years, we can expect to see a population increase of these sturgeon.

Sturgeon Fest will be an annual event, with more sturgeon released into the river each year. The event may also prompt other groups to take action, demonstrating that coordinated efforts among local, state, and federal agencies can help revive a nearly extinct species.