Crews build Milwaukee River reef for fish spawning

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin crews are building an artificial reef in the Milwaukee River to support rock-spawning fish populations.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports state Department of Natural Resources officials helped design about 200 feet of new reef that will cover one-third of an acre on the river floor. A state contractor is expected to add about 900 tons of stone to the river by next week near a reef built in 2006.

State fisheries biologist Will Wawrzyn says the $75,000 project will support breeding for species such as sturgeon, walleye and redhorse.

The Fund for Lake Michigan gave the department a $50,000 grant for the project.

The DNR says roughly 10,600 sturgeon raised in river water in Ozaukee County have been released into Lake Michigan since 2006.