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US To Build 3 Fish Nurseries In St. Clair River

ST. CLAIR (WWJ/AP) - Three spawning reefs are planned for the southern St. Clair River in an effort to increase the number of whitefish, walleye and sturgeon.

The reefs will cost $2.3 million for the U.S. Geological Survey to build, with funding by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Bruce Manny, of the Geological Survey, told the Times Herald of Port Huron that one reef will be built with cobblestone and limestone on three acres at Pointe aux Chenes in Algonac. The other reefs will be built near the Hart's Landing Light. They will take six to eight months to build.

"Fish will be attracted to these spots every year, for a long time to come," Manny said.

The reefs are vital because they will help the fish reproduce. Whitefish are the state's most important commercial fish, while walleye are important game fish, he said. Sturgeon are recovering from near extinction.

"These reefs will be places for the eggs to find safety and hatch naturally, protected from displacement or natural predators," Manny said.

"They'll be producing tons of fish every year, have bountiful fishing, a better economy, attract more tourism, and more importantly, they'll be a location where sturgeon and fish like it are no longer at the point of extinction, but have been revived and flourishing," he said.

TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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