Things that happened in 1920:

1. Women were gaining the right to vote

2. Harvard beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl

3. This giant lake sturgeon was born!

Recently caught by a @usfws crew during a fish survey of the Detroit River, this 240 lb beauty was quickly released back into the wild.

If you’re urgin’ for more sturgeon facts or you would like to follow more of the science being done by native fish crews like the one that caught this ancient 7 foot long lunker, check out the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Facebook page, @AlpenaFWCO.

Photo by Jason Fischer/USFWS

“We are never far from the lilt and swirl of living water. Whether to fish or swim or paddle, of only to stand and gaze, to glance as we cross a bridge, all of us are drawn to rivers, all of us happily submit to their spell. We need their familiar mystery. We need their fluent lives interflowing with our own.” — John Daniel

The John Day National Wild and Scenic River the longest undammed river in Oregon. It flows through colorful canyons, broad valleys and breathtaking terrain. Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri was established in 1964 as the first national park site to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers are two of the finest floating rivers you’ll find anywhere. These 134 miles of spring-fed, cold and clear waters are a delight to canoe, swim, boat or fish. The rivers are bordered by forests of sycamores, maples, cottonwoods and willows, high cliffs, and over 300 caves. The Ozark Region is rich in history, too. People have lived here from 10,000 years ago to the present. Every time and every group of people has a story to tell. Will you stop to listen? Photo of sunset from the Clubhouse overlook on the lower Current River by Brock Davis, National Park Service.

#DidYouKnow that Idaho had canyons? Southern Idaho’s Snake River plains are dissected by several deep river canyons that offer spectacular scenery and world-class bird viewing and photography opportunities. Close by is the Bruneau Canyon Overlook. It’s the only readily accessible spot from which to view this deep canyon and was recently protected by Congress as a Wild and Scenic River. The viewpoint provides a taste of one of the more remote corners of the U. S.: the Bruneau-Jarbidge-Owyhee River Canyon system. These canyons offer whitewater boating, fishing, hunting and unlimited exploring for properly equipped adventurers. Photo by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands.

The South Fork of the Snake River flows 66 miles across southeastern Idaho, through high mountain valleys, rugged canyons and broad flood plains to its confluence with the Henry’s Fork near Menan Buttes. The South Fork supports the largest cottonwood gallery forest in the West and is among the most unique and diverse ecosystems in Idaho. Along its picturesque banks can be found an impressive array of other wildlife including moose, elk, mountain goats, mountain lions, black bears, and more than 126 bird species. Photo by mypubliclands

Flowing north through the Alaska Range, the Delta Wild and Scenic River passes through one of the most rugged and remote landscapes in America. The 90-mile Delta River is a bucket list destination. In this pristine Arctic habitat, you’ll find bountiful wildlife such as moose, caribou, beaver, fox, eagles and tundra swans. The river offers amazing float trips, camping, fishing and more. Photo by Bob Wick, mypubliclands

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is gorgeous this time of year – and it’s only a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron! The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills and open farmlands. Beaver Marsh (pictured here) is a favorite location for watching wetland birds and other wildlife.

Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Gibson.

The last light of the day melts into the Flathead River in Glacier National Park.

Photo: National Park Service

Gliding through mountains, canyons, meadows, and the vast farmlands of the Snake River plains, lined with commanding cottonwood galleries and a lush shrub understory, the Snake River Corridor is truly a beautiful and unique destination. The area offers diverse recreational opportunities with over 300,000 visits per year and sustains a broad variety of plant, fish, bird and wildlife populations. It is also home to the federally threatened Ute ladies’ tresses orchid and is a world-famous blue ribbon fishery, supporting the largest wild Yellowstone cutthroat trout population outside of Yellowstone National Park. The first World Fly Fishing Championship in North America was even hosted here in 1997. Thanks in part to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) this area will continue to be preserved and enjoyed.  

Photo copyright: Leland Howard

The 149-mile Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River flows through the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Montana. The land and the rugged, surrounding uplands (commonly call the Missouri Breaks) are defined in part by their history. The entire region was the homeland and lifeblood of American Indians. The river served as the pathway for Lewis and Clark, then the waterway for steamboats and a drawing card for fur trappers and traders. Later, the river and the Missouri Breaks were sanctuaries for desperados trying to stay a step ahead of the law. The land was also a source of hope and inspiration for several generations of homesteaders. Today the public lands in the monument make a significant contribution to the local lifestyle and the regional economy.

Within the monument you can float the river, fish, hike, hunt, drive for pleasure, find a little solitude, enjoy a sense of exploration or simply marvel at the variety of resources around you.

Photo: Bureau of Land Management