MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that efforts to help Lake Superior sturgeon become self-sustaining is entering a critical phase. Lake Superior sturgeon were nearly wiped out in the big lake about a century ago. In the 1980's, wildlife officials began restocking sturgeon. Those fish are just now reaching the age to reproduce - but they don't have a good place to do that. Crews have been busy this winter, trying to build the perfect sturgeon love nest. 

Sturgeon were the biggest fish in Lake Superior, reaching up to 100 pounds and several feet long. Individuals could live a century.