Sturgeon Arrive in Idaho Falls after 150 million Years

It only took about 150 million years, but the white sturgeon has finally arrived in the Snake River in downtown Idaho Falls. White sturgeon are native to parts of the Snake River in Idaho, but Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls proved too great a barrier. With a boost from the Snake River Sturgeon Cooperative - which includes the College of Southern Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the Idaho Aquaculture Association - the great fish finally reached Idaho Falls Tuesday, October 23. A Fish and Game hatchery truck hauled 74 white sturgeon from the CSI hatchery to the stretch of the Snake River that runs through the center of Idaho Falls. Within their natural distribution in Idaho, Snake River white sturgeon, once considered a species of special concern, are classified as game fish. Strict catch-and-release rules the past 36 years have helped increase wild populations in longer river reaches, and hatchery sturgeon have been used to boost populations in other shorter reaches. "We go through a pretty rigorous process any time we introduce a new species outside their native range," Upper Snake Regional Fish Manager Jim Fredericks said. "We had to insure that introducing the white sturgeon would not negatively impact existing fish populations, habitat conditions and even microscopic invertebrates." Similar introduction efforts, begun in 1990, on the Snake River below American Falls have proven successful. "Sturgeon are large-tackle fish, and we're excited about being able to offer this type of recreational fishing opportunity," Fredericks said. All sturgeon fishing in Idaho is strictly catch-and-release, with barbless hooks required. Because of the unique body structure lacking a skeleton for support, it is illegal to even lift a sturgeon from the water. The 74 fish brought to Idaho Falls ranged in age from 3 to 7 years old and were 18 inches to 3 feet long. White sturgeon can easily live 30 to 40 years, with some fish reaching 100 years. Their size is also impressive. In a few years some of the fish released will easily be 5 or 6 feet long. The current state record white sturgeon caught on a rod and reel, in 1956, is 394 pounds. A fish weighing 675 pounds was caught in 1908, using a set line. The stretch of river near the falls in downtown Idaho Falls was chosen because of its relatively slow flows, cooler water and bottom depths upwards of 70 feet. All of the fish released were implanted with Passive Integrated Transponder tags, similar to those now used for pets. These tags can be scanned without harming the fish so that biologists can track the progress of the introduction. Vital information specifically linked to these tags will identify individuals and allow the growth of each fish to be tracked. Anyone wishing to learn more about one of Idaho's oldest native species can go to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/fish_id/sturgeon.cfm.