A newly opened centre in LaSalle on the edge of the Detroit River is aimed at doing research into the water and ecology of the Great Lakes.
The ribbon was cut on the $1.2-million Freshwater Restoration Ecology Centre, next to Gil Maur Park.
It's a joint initiative of the University of Windsor and the town with support from the Essex Region Conservation Authority.
University President Dr. Alan Wildeman, Mayor Ken Antaya and other dignitaries took part in the ribbon cutting.
Marlena McCabe is a Masters student at the university researching Sturgeon.
She says the centre is a valuable research tool: "when it comes to restoring species and looking at restoration ecology of these Sturgeon we need a facility such as this where we can take our research to the next level and even raise Sturgeon here in the facility"
She says the centre has allowed her to further her research and to catch some of the amazing, ancient fish.
FREC Director Trevor Pitcher says the centre will do research and training: "it's not just about Sturgeon, it's about the water quality, invasive species and restoration of species at risk so it's a big piece of the puzzle and we train the next generation of aquatic scientists as well, so that's a big piece of this as well"
US Fish and Wildlife Biologists Justin Chiotti and Brian Schmidt holding live Sturgeon at UWindsor's Freshwater Restoration Centre. #CKLW pic.twitter.com/yuWuN4gzZL
— Peter Langille (@PLangille800) May 24, 2017
There is an artificial Sturgeon habitat reef just off the shore from the centre which has been part of restoring the population of the rare fish to around 6000 in the Great Lakes.