Ken Sulak sent this story today, about rescuing Gulf Sturgeon from the dry bed of the Alapaha River, back in September 2010.

The Alapaha River often goes dry in late summer and fall, because what little water it has after evapotranspiration goes down the Dry River distributary into the Dead River Sink, and only emerges about 19 miles downstream at the Alapaha River Rise and Holton Creek Rise, both on the Suwannee River upstream from the Alapaha River Confluence.

Dug deep into photo files – found a few images from 12-13 Sept 2010 rescue of 4-5 sturgeon stranded in a pool in the otherwise dry Alapaha. I no longer have access to USGS files since the current regime has decided to cutoff all retired emeritus scientists from their stored data. So I could not determine exactly where this was located, exact number of fish rescued, or their lengths. This was a 2-day effort. I will ask Mike Randall to pull up the field logs and see if he can find the relevant data.

Sturgeon Rescue from Dry Alapaha River –Kenneth Sulak while at USGS, September 12-13 2010

We drove in on an SRWMD gated entry using one of their ATVs, followed a trail along riverbank, then up the dry river bed by 4-wheel ATV. Mike Randall and I waded into the pool with large landing nets (the smallest net shown here) and also a two-brail seine. After a lot of chasing the fish around we managed to net them all. I was in the water to begin with, but then took photos while the younger guys chased the fish around and managed to capture them. That was not easy.

Young biologist last name Doroshev (I do not recall his first name) from FWC accompanied, and is shown removing the smallest sturgeon from a landing net. The bank was steep here, and it was some work to haul the larger sturgeon up the bank to the ATV on the trail above. We only had general directions to the stranding pools from a local hunter. On this occasion, we found this one, but could not locate two others. The others I think we not readily accessible along the mix of driving the riverbed where possible, or alternatively following trails through the woods or along top of the riverbank.

FWC biologist assisting in removing smallest sturgeon, about 3.5 ft long, 2025-09-12 –Ken Sulak

FWC biologist assisting – removing smallest sturgeon (about 3.5 ft long) from small landing net, to haul up the bank and place in a cattle trough on a cart behind the ATV. The largest individual was about 5 ft long and maybe 70 lbs. These 4-5 sturgeon rescued on this day were driven down to Gibson Park/Nobles Ferry and released into the Suwannee River.

Pool with two large sturgeon visible, 2025-09-12 –Ken Sulak

Pool with two large sturgeon visible, located in a steep-sided rocky section of the river. One sturgeon is the dark object in the middle of the pool; it looks like a black log. The other is the dark object in the foreground.

Dry river bed upon approach to isolated pool, 2025-09-12 –Ken Sulak

Dry river bed upon approach to isolated pool. This was a driveable section, but then the riverbed and banks got rocky and steep. Had to drive atop the bank.

Mike Randall with one large sturgeon right next to him, and another in the lower left corner, 2025-09-12 –Ken Sulak

Mike Randall with one large sturgeon right next to him, and another in the lower left corner.

Mike and FWC biologist with large sturgeon wrapped in seine, 2025-09-12 –Ken Sulak

Mike and FWC biologist with large sturgeon wrapped in seine, being hauled up the riverbank. This fish was in the range of 100 lbs.

Mike and FWC biologist having coralled the largest fish in a landing net, 2025-09-12 –Ken Sulak

Mike and FWC biologist having coralled the largest fish in a landing net.

Ken may send more text later.

The water level those two days was about 1.65 feet or 62.25 NAVD88 on the Jennings Gauge.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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https://wwals.net/donations/

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