Water-life preservationists are building fish-spawning reefs in the St. Clair River delta to restore habitat for declining fish species.

The Ann Arbor-based group Michigan Sea Grant is leading efforts to create nine spawning reefs in the delta.

The reefs are east of the river's shipping channel in St. Clair County's Clay Township, near Harsens and Dickinson islands and about 30 miles east-northeast of Detroit.

The Detroit Free Press says the reefs are particularly designed to aid sturgeon, slow-maturing fish that can live 100 years.

Project participant Jennifer Read says the reefs also will attract a small, endangered catfish calledortheast of Detroit.

The Detroit Free Press says the reefs are particularly designed to aid sturgeon, slow-maturing fish that can live 100 years.

Project participant Jennifer Read says the reefs also will attract a small, endangered catfish called the northern nadtom, plus whitefish, walleye and several species of suckers.

Michigan Sea Grant is a cooperative program of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University