Lake Sturgeon Make Stunning Comeback in Georgia’s Coosa River

After decades of absence, ancient fish are not only surviving — they’re reproducing on their own

An ancient fish species that vanished from Georgia’s Coosa River decades ago is now not just surviving — it’s having babies. And it’s doing it without any human help. That’s a huge win for conservationists who’ve spent more than 20 years trying to bring lake sturgeon back from the brink.

The fish, often described as a “living fossil,” once thrived in the river’s murky waters before pollution and overfishing wiped them out. But now, thanks to years of dogged research and careful reintroduction, it looks like the lake sturgeon is finally finding its way home again.

From extinction to a second chance

Lake sturgeon aren’t your average fish. They’ve been around since the dinosaurs — literally. You’d be forgiven for mistaking one for a small alligator at first glance. These armored river giants can live for over 100 years and weigh hundreds of pounds.

But by the late 20th century, they were gone from the Coosa River.

In 2002, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) started hauling in fertilized sturgeon eggs from Wisconsin. The eggs were hatched in Georgia, and the fingerlings released into the Coosa River in hopes they’d grow up, survive, and eventually spawn.

For years, it wasn’t clear if the plan was working. Sturgeon take their sweet time to grow up.

Growing up takes years — and patience

Lake sturgeon don’t reach sexual maturity until much later in life. Males usually mature around 13 to 15 years of age. Females? Sometimes even longer. That slow biological clock made it hard to tell if the project was really working.

“It’s a long waiting game,” said Martin Hamel, associate professor at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and lead author of the new study tracking the repopulation effort.

“And for years, there was always that cloud of doubt,” he added.

Would fish hatched from Wisconsin stock survive the Southern heat? Would they figure out how to spawn in unfamiliar territory?

Turns out, they would.

The tipping point: they’re reproducing all by themselves

UGA researchers finally got their answer. During recent netting studies, scientists were able to capture and tag hundreds of sturgeon — including baby ones. Young fish, born in the wild. Not stocked. No help.

That changes everything.

Hamel said it plainly: “Not only are these fish surviving, but we’re showing evidence that they are capable of reproducing and that the young are able to survive on their own.”

That’s the dream. A self-sustaining population.

Years of data point to a breakthrough

The breakthrough didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of more than two decades of steady work, stocking, monitoring, and patience.

Here’s a quick look at the timeline and key steps:

• 2002: First batch of fertilized sturgeon eggs brought from Wisconsin to Georgia.

• 2003–2020: Annual stocking continued while UGA researchers tagged and tracked released fish.

• 2021–2024: Fewer fish were stocked as scientists looked for signs of natural reproduction.

• 2025: Evidence confirmed of wild-born lake sturgeon surviving and thriving in the Coosa River.

The results were compiled through years of hands-on fieldwork — netting, tagging, and measuring fish, along with painstakingly analyzing the river’s habitat conditions.

Why it matters beyond Georgia

One fish species bouncing back in one river might not seem like a big deal. But it is — for several reasons.

First, it shows that long-term conservation projects, even the slowest ones, can work. Second, it offers hope to other restoration projects in rivers across the U.S. and Canada where sturgeon once thrived. And third, it sends a strong message about what rivers can recover from if given a chance.

The lake sturgeon’s comeback isn’t just a fish story. It’s about ecological resilience.

Here’s how lake sturgeon stack up compared to other freshwater species at risk:

Still work to do — but big progress

Despite the positive signs, experts caution the job’s far from done. Lake sturgeon are still extremely rare in Georgia waters. And while some are now reproducing, it will take many more years before the population reaches anything close to what it once was.

One sentence, just to breathe.

“The river’s healthier now, but it’s not perfect,” Hamel said. He added that ongoing monitoring is essential, along with protecting critical spawning grounds and water quality.

But in a world where bad environmental news feels relentless, this one’s worth celebrating.