The Genesee River in Rochester NY is a historically productive Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) spawning tributary of Lake Ontario. Lake Sturgeon have been absent since at least 1930 and in 2000 the local population was classified as extirpated. The lower Genesee River and nearby Lake Ontario waters are part of the EPA Rochester Embayment Area of Concern (AOC). One de-listing criterion for the AOC is that “Lake Sturgeon of all life stages inhabit the Genesee River or when the physical and biological habitat is suitable for Lake Sturgeon”. A multiagency collaborative research project was initiated in 1999 to test restoration actions focused on returning Lake Sturgeon to the river. A Lake Sturgeon habitat suitability model, using multi-year habitat sampling, rated the river habitat as again suitable for juveniles and adults (1999-2002). In 2003-2004, hatchery reared juvenile Lake Sturgeon were introduced into the study area, with further releases 2013-2023. River persistence and biological characteristics of the restoration population were assessed each year. Mark-recapture analysis and acoustic telemetry provided estimates of both first year and longer-term habitat use of the Genesee River, and migration patterns between the Genesee River and other nearshore and tributary habitats in Lake Ontario. Catch rates for juvenile fish in the Genesee River
