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March 20-22, 2018 Lied Lodge and Conference Center

Nebraska City, NE

2018 Missouri River Natural Resources Conference

Presentation Abstracts

More Than Just A River

Runs Through It

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MRNRC Conference and BiOp Forum 2018 More Than Just A River Runs Through It


1

Title: Woody Vegetation Dynamics on the Niobrara/Lewis and Clark Reservoir Delta

Author(s): Catherine C. Beall and Mark D. Dixon

Mailing Address of Presenter: Catherine C. Beall University of South Dakota 216 1/2 Prospect Street Vermillion, SD 57069

Email Address of Presenter: [email protected]

Abstract: Damming has negatively impacted riparian ecosystems along the Missouri River, reducing channel dynamism, sediment transport, and regeneration of dominant riparian tree species (Populus deltoides and Salix spp.) over the last six decades. However, regeneration opportunities may be provided where geomorphically-active tributaries discharge sediments into reservoir slackwaters, forming novel delta habitats. In a 2015 BioScience article, Volke et al. suggested that reservoir deltas may provide conditions conducive to recruitment of riparian trees, including cottonwood, which are limited elsewhere on the regulated river system. One such delta occurs at the confluence of the Niobrara River with the Missouri River above Lewis and Clark Reservoir in South Dakota and Nebraska. We are investigating patterns of riparian tree regeneration on this delta through vegetation sampling, dendrochronology, and analysis of historical aerial photography. We sampled 30 plots across 17 woody vegetation patches stratified by region within the ~70-km delta in summer 2017. Within each plot, we took cores or slabs from a few representative trees to determine approximate establishment dates. Our initial results suggest a pattern of primarily recent regeneration (i.e., last 5-15 years), spread throughout the delta. This occurrence of regeneration throughout the delta was an unexpected result, as we initially expected tree regeneration to be concentrated within the older sections of the delta. Understanding woody vegetation dynamics within river-reservoir deltas may be vital for managing riparian and riverine habitats, as well as forecasting long-term effects on the riverine landscapes and reservoir storage capacity.

Title: Abundance and Population Structure of Macrhybpopsis Chubs in Reconfigured and Control Bends of the Lower Missouri River, USA Author(s): Thomas C. Boersig, Jacob N. McQuaid, and Kyle R. Winders Mailing Address of Presenter: Thomas C. Boersig - Missouri Department of Conservation 3500 East Gans Road Columbia, MO 65201 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Homogenization of aquatic habitat in the lower Missouri River has resulted in declines of native fish fauna and shifts in aquatic community structure. Cyprinid minnows of the genus Macrhybopsis are small-bodied species adapted to exploit large lowland rivers of central North America, with some species declining from historical abundances and modification of large river habitat implicated in that decline. Macrhybopsis chubs have relatively short generation times compared to large-bodied, long lived big river species, and their populations may respond more rapidly to channel reconfiguration and habitat improvement on the lower Missouri River. We quantified and compared density and population structure of M. hyostoma and M. meeki from two bends on the lower Missouri River, one of which received channel reconfiguration treatment during the spring of 2017. Understanding how channel reconfiguration affects populations of small-bodied fish species and fish community structure may have implications for native piscivores, including the federally endangered pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus.



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Title: Pallid Sturgeon Use, Migration, and Spawning in the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers During 2017 Author(s): Patrick Braaten, Mathew Rugg, Aaron DeLonay, Caroline M. Elliott, David Combs, Chad Vishay, Robert Jacobson, Luke Holmquist, David Fuller, Tyler Haddix, John Hunziker, Eric Best, and Ryan Wilson Mailing Address of Presenter: Patrick J. Braaten - U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center PO Box 165 Fort Peck, MT 59223 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus migration and spawning in the upper Missouri River basin occurs within a habitat template of varying anthropogenic alterations. The Yellowstone River maintains mostly natural hydrologic and thermal regimes, but is fragmented by diversion dams. The Missouri River is hydrologically and thermally altered by Fort Peck Dam operations. Tributaries may either influence migration or be used by pallid sturgeon for spawning. We examined pallid sturgeon reproductive ecology in this complex hydrosystem during 2017 with the following objectives: 1) assess river use and spatiotemporal attributes of pre-spawn migrations, 2) identify the location(s) and timing of spawning events, and 3) verify functionality of spawning patches based on captures of early life stages. Pre-spawn migrations of 57 telemetered wild adult sturgeon occurred almost exclusively in the Yellowstone River where 80-90% used this river during early to mid-June compared to the Missouri River (3-5%). Migrations to Intake Dam were detected for five wild individuals and 14 hatchery-origin pallid sturgeon (HOPS). Migrations past Intake Dam through the natural high-flow side channel were documented for four pallid sturgeon. Two wild and one HOPS translocated upstream of Intake Dam migrated to the Powder River (river mile, RM 150.0), and then nearly 100 miles upstream in the Powder River. Spawning was verified for three wild females in the lower Yellowstone River where aggregations of wild males and HOPS occurred (RM 5.4-6.0; RM 3.7-4.1). Greater than 1,700 Acipenseriform free embryos and larvae were collected and submitted for genetic analysis to verify pallid sturgeon hatch and drift-entry.

Title: Fish Communities in Missouri River Chutes Author/Presenter: Joshua D. Bruegge Mailing Address of Presenter: Missouri Department of Conservation 21999 HWY B Maitland, MO 64466 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: The Missouri River was historically shallow and braided, with numerous islands, sand bars, and secondary side channels. Construction during the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project channelized and modified the lower Missouri River, eliminating many of the original side channels. The Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project recreated several historical side channel chutes to restore fish and wildlife habitat. The Missouri Department of Conservation sampled fish communities in newly reconstructed chutes from 2006 through 2008. Some sites were resampled in 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the effects of the 2011 flood on the side channels. Data from these samples were compared to mainstem Missouri River fish community data collected by the Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment. Annual variations were seen in the fish communities and abundances in both chutes and the mainstem river. Diversity of the fish communities in chutes and the mainstem river decreased after the 2011 flood.



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Title: Comparative Development of Pallid Sturgeon and Shovelnose Sturgeon Free Embryos Reared in the Laboratory Author(s): Kimberly A. Chojnacki, Marlene J. Dodson, Amy E. George, and Aaron J. DeLonay

Mailing Address of Presenter: Kimberly Chojnacki - U.S. Geological Survey 343 Old Gibler Road Columbia, MO 65201

Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Sturgeon transition through a complex series of brief life stages during their first year, including a free-embryo period extending from hatch to the initiation of exogenous feeding. This period is represented by rapid developmental changes that occur in a distinctive pattern. Characteristics for ten developmental stages of Acipenser free embryos were described in Dettlaff et al. (1993); however, a detailed description of early developmental stages for Scaphirhynchus is lacking. We completed a developmental series to characterize the ontogenetic development of Scaphirhynchus free embryos from hatch through melanin plug expulsion. Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) and shovelnose sturgeon (S. platorynchus) from multiple breeding crosses were reared separately in the laboratory at a mean temperature of 17.8° C (range 17.3 -18.4° C). Free embryos from each cross were preserved at two to four hour intervals, and microscopically examined, and total length was measured (n=5,959). While there were minor developmental differences between Acipenser and Scaphirhynchus, development of both Scaphirhynchus species was similar. Rate of development also was similar between Scaphirhynchus species, requiring a mean of 323.5 cumulative thermal units (CTU) from fertilization to melanin plug expulsion for pallid sturgeon and 318.3 (CTU) for shovelnose sturgeon. Free embryos of both Scaphirhynchus species showed considerable overlap in lengths among developmental stages indicating that length of free embryos alone is insufficient to estimate the age of specimens. A detailed description of pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon free-embryo development provides a necessary template to estimate the age of field collected specimens accurately, and better inform free-embryo transport models.

Title: Downstream Dispersal and Retention of Pallid Sturgeon and Shovelnose Sturgeon in an Experimental Mesocosm Author(s): Aaron J. DeLonay, Kimberly A. Chojnacki, Susannah O. Erwin, Brian W. Anderson, David K. Combs, Marlene J. Dodson, and Chad J. Vishy

Mailing Address of Presenter: Aaron J. DeLonay - U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center 4200 New Haven Road Columbia, MO 65201

Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Studies suggest that pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) and shovelnose sturgeon (S. platorynchus) have a dispersal strategy that facilitates prolonged downstream transport of free embryos. In separate trials using fluvial mesocosms (45-meters long, 18 ˚C well water), free-embryos and exogenously feeding larvae of pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon were presented with transitions to low velocity habitats to determine if downstream dispersal would be slowed or arrested. Both species were tested every three days beginning at one day post-hatch (DPH) and continuing until 16 DPH. A trial was also performed using 1.2 mm neutrally buoyant beads as a passive-particle control. During each trial, 300 sturgeon, or 1000 beads were seeded into flowing water in each of three mesocosms and collected using ichthyoplankton sampling nets at the downstream end at 15-minute intervals. Collected sturgeon and beads were enumerated, and sturgeon preserved to determine developmental stage. Mesocosms were drained at the conclusion of each 8-hour trial. Downstream recovery of free embryos was highest for both species at 1, 4, 7, and 10 DPH (ranging from 92.0-¬99.5 %). Recovery was lowest at 13 DPH for shovelnose sturgeon (48.0 %) and 16 DPH for pallid sturgeon (61.7 %). Approximately 68.5 % of synthetic beads were recovered. Downstream transport of beads was slowed or arrested by complex flows and low velocities, and was most similar to later stage shovelnose and pallid sturgeon that were retained at 13 and 16 DPH, respectively. Despite the opportunity for retention, earlier stages of both species appeared to actively seek downstream dispersal.



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Title: Monitoring and Modeling Escherichia coli in the Missouri River near Omaha, Nebraska to Understand the Impacts of Combined Sewer Overflows and Implementation of the City’s Long-Term Control Plan Author/Presenter: Brenda K. Densmore Mailing Address of Presenter: U.S. Geological Survey 5231 S 19th Street Lincoln, NE 68512 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: The federal government has identified at least 772 communities nationwide, including Omaha that must reduce their combined sewer overflows (CSO) in order to improve water quality in the receiving stream. In 2009, the City of Omaha began the implementation of their CSO Long-term Control Plan (LTCP) to mitigate the impacts of the CSOs on the Missouri River and Papillion Creek. As part of this implementation, the City is required to monitor the streams that receive CSO discharges. Beginning in 2012, the City partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey to collect water-quality data on the Missouri River at four points upstream, parallel to, and downstream of the City to document potential impacts from the implementation of the City’s LTCP. With four full years of data collected, initial data analysis began in 2017 to establish modeling techniques and ensure that appropriate data needed for future modeling and trend analyses are being collected as part of the yearly sampling efforts. Regression models for predicting Escherichia coli concentration at four sites on the Missouri River were developed using a version of the LOADEST model enhanced to accommodate several non-standard explanatory variables. The regression model selected at each site was then used to predict mean daily, monthly, and yearly Escherichia coli concentrations at each of the four sites. This presentation will discuss the selected models at each site, the ability of these models to help us understand the impacts of the LTCP on Missouri River water quality, and the lessons learned from this initial analysis.

Title: Sustainable RIVER: Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students on Missouri River Science

Author(s): Mark D. Dixon, Meghann Jarchow, and David L. Swanson

Mailing Address of Presenter: Mark D. Dixon University of South Dakota, Biology 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069


Abstract: Sustainability is an interdisciplinary field that deals with key societal issues which resonate with many students. Hence, sustainability provides an effective framework through which to engage students in undergraduate research. Sustainable RIVER (Remediating InVasives to Encourage Resilience), a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program at the University of South Dakota (USD), is using the Missouri River Basin as a place-based theme through which to engage undergraduate students from multiple disciplinary backgrounds in coordinated, sustainability research. In summer 2017, the first year of the program, eleven students from varied cultural, socio-economic, and geographic backgrounds from across the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) worked with ten research mentors from Biology, Earth Sciences, and Anthropology at USD to conduct research on topics including effects of invasive fishes on aquatic insect emergence, impacts of drought on river suspended load, nesting use of invasive trees by birds in riparian forests, mapping of land use change, historical interaction with the river by native peoples, and competing value claims among Missouri River stakeholders. The program will continue with new cohorts of students during the summers of 2018 and 2019, with goals to publish the research findings in peer-reviewed journals. As part of the program, students also learn about Missouri River management issues and stakeholder viewpoints through outside speakers, field trips, and completion of a capstone group project. We believe that this program provides an excellent opportunity for training future professionals in sustainability and related fields, as well as contributing to high-quality Missouri River science.



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Title: Update on What We Know about Pallid Sturgeon Spawning Habitat: Implications for Restoration, Design, and Monitoring on the Lower Missouri River Author(s): Caroline M. Elliott, Aaron J. DeLonay, Patrick J. Braaten, and Robert B. Jacobson

Mailing Address of Presenter: Caroline M. Elliot - US Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center 4200 New Haven Road Columbia, MO 65203


Abstract: Four potential management actions have been proposed for pallid sturgeon recovery on the Lower Missouri River including population augmentation, spawning habitat restoration, construction of interception and rearing complexes, and flow manipulations. The primary question associated with spawning habitat restoration on the Lower Missouri River is: “can channel reconfiguration and spawning substrate construction can increase the probability of survival through fertilization, incubation, and hatch?” This is based on the hypothesis that re-engineering of channel morphology in selected reaches will increase the probability of spawning by adults, successful fertilization and incubation of embryos, and hatch of larvae. Constructing and evaluating spawning habitat requires considerable understanding to inform design and effectiveness monitoring. Spawning habitat designs proven successful for other sturgeon species may provide initial guidance for pallid sturgeon. Our experience with pallid sturgeon, however, suggests that there are substantive differences in spawning strategies, spawning patch composition and spawning site use among sturgeon species. In this presentation we will update and summarize data on pallid sturgeon spawning behaviors and observed habitat use as measured by: river depth, velocity, substrate, and substrate stability in spawning areas on the Lower Missouri and the less altered Yellowstone River. Assessing functional habitat processes where egg deposition occurs is challenging in a large turbid river and requires obtaining field measurements at resolutions relevant to egg biomechanics. We discuss new methods to expand the physical characterization of hydraulics and sedimentation in spawning habitats, particularly at the egg scale. We will also discuss design of physical monitoring protocols for spawning habitats.

Title: Improving Hydraulic Models and Exploring Uncertainty Using Dye-Trace Experiments in the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers Author(s): Susannah O. Erwin, Edward A. Bulliner, Patrick J. Braaten, and Aaron J. DeLonay

Mailing Address of Presenter: Susannah Erwin - U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center 4200 New Haven Road Columbia, MO 65201

Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: One of the central hypotheses explaining the lack of recruitment of pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Upper Missouri River Basin is insufficient drift distance for dispersing larvae between available spawning locations and supportive habitats downstream. The combination of management actions available to increase the probability of retention and survival of pallid sturgeon early life stages includes flow or temperature manipulation from Fort Peck, drawdown of Lake Sakakawea, and fish passage at Intake Diversion Dam on the Yellowstone River. In 2016 and 2017, we conducted large-scale dye-trace experiments in the Upper Missouri River Basin to evaluate hydraulic processes that influence dispersal of pallid sturgeon free embryos. The 2016 experiment was conducted on the Upper Missouri River, in conjunction with a multi-agency larval dispersal experiment. The 2017 dye-trace experiment was conducted in the Lower Yellowstone River, in a reach that included the Intake Diversion Dam. Dye-trace results and hydraulic data were used to calibrate one-dimensional advection-dispersion models, which in turn were used to simulate downstream dispersal and to evaluate a range of management scenarios. We present a synthesis of findings from the two experiments and compare hydraulic patterns observed in the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. Additionally, we compare simulations generated using the calibrated hydraulic models to available free-embryo data. Based on evaluation and synthesis of numerical simulations, tracer data, surrogate particles, and available free-embryo data, we highlight areas of greatest uncertainty in existing physical models and identify biological questions that are critical for refining decision-making tools.



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Title: Longitudinal Trends in Prey Use and Condition of Age-0 Shovelnose Sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River Author(s): Alin Gonzalez and James M. Long

Mailing Address of Presenter: Alin Gonzalez - Oklahoma State University Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit 038 Agriculture Hall Stillwater, OK 74078 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Like most of the large rivers in the United States, the Missouri River, where shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) inhabit, has been altered for navigational purposes or have impoundments. Currently, shovelnose sturgeon is a species of concern and require long distances of riverine habitat to successfully reproduce. Working with specimens collected by the US Army Corps of Engineers and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, we examined how feeding by age-0 (<120 mm) sturgeon was influenced by longitudinal distance from an upstream dam that controls flow for barge navigation in the lower Missouri River. In general, we observed higher catch rates of age-0 sturgeon at reaches furthest downstream from a dam, but prey use and body condition showed the opposite trend. Ephemeroptera was more represented at sites closest to the dam, whereas diptera larvae was the dominant prey item in stomach contents from sturgeon collected furthest from the dam. Body condition, as measured by total lipid content, was positively related to fish length and fish mass, but the strength of those relationships were also related distance downstream. Sturgeon captured closer to the dam contained more lipids per unit of fish length and fish mass than sturgeon captured further from the dam. The types of prey being used, and the lipid storage they are conferring to age-0 sturgeon could be a surrogate for habitat as it has been affected by hydrologic alterations from the dam.

Title: Pallid Sturgeon Telemetry on the Lower Missouri River Author(s): Justin D. Haas, Ryan L. Ruskamp, J. David Adams, and Gerald E. Mestl

Mailing Addresses of Presenter: Justin D. Haas - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2200 N 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Underwater telemetry began in the early 1960’s when radio transmitters were developed to work in water environments. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and United States Geological Survey – Columbia Environmental Research Center have cooperatively been conducting a large scale telemetry monitoring project since 2007 to investigate pallid sturgeon behavior, habitat use and movement in the Lower Missouri River. This program implants and locates fish with varying intensity in the 811 river miles of the Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam to the its confluence with the Mississippi River. Telemetry fish are tracked extensively and intensively throughout the year. We will review the history, technology and learning events of the Missouri River Pallid Sturgeon Telemetry Program.



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Title: Age-0 Sturgeon Distribution and Habitat Usage in the Lower Missouri River Author(s): Jerrod R. Hall, and Gerald E. Mestl Mailing Address of Presenter: Jerrod R. Hall - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2200 N 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: The Missouri River Recovery Program Science and Adaptive Management Plan has identified 6 “Big Questions” for Pallid Sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River to facilitate adaptive management actions by focusing research work to provide information on avoiding jeopardy of Pallid Sturgeon. For the past several years, the Pallid Sturgeon Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program (HAMP) has conducted studies on providing information for “Big Questions 3 and 4” which address uncertainties regarding age-0 sturgeon drift dynamics, food availability, and forage habitats. The current channel reconfiguration projects include top-width widening and interception and rearing complex (IRC) construction. As a part of HAMP, The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) is currently working on a three year project in the Lower Missouri River to evaluate age-0 sturgeon distribution and provide baseline data for potential channel reconfiguration projects. Information for age-0 sturgeon habitat usage could provide depth and velocity metrics for habitat construction activities. NGPC conducted an intensive benthic trawl study within four reaches of the Lower Missouri River between river miles 474 and 691 from May through September during 2016 and 2017. Depth and velocity measurements were collected for all trawls that captured age-0 sturgeon (< 110mm). The objective of this presentation will be to provide initial findings from this ongoing study.

Title: Diel Sampling and Habitat Associations for Silver Carp in a Large Reservoir and River Backwater: Applications for Increased Catch Rates for Bigheaded Carp Management Author(s): Jeremy Hammen, Emily Pherigo, Josey Ridgway, Jason Goeckler, Wyatt Doyle, Ron Brooks, and Jessica Morris Mailing Address of Presenter: Jeremy Hammen - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 101 Park DeVille Drive Ste. A Columbia, MO 65203 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Fish species will occupy a diverse array of positions within the water column and habitats depending on season and time of day. These behaviors influence whether an individual fish is vulnerable to capture when managers are trying to assess a population. Silver Carp, an invasive species, are notoriously difficult to capture making it problematic to assess the species. The USFWS Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office wanted to determine when the greatest probability to capture a Silver Carp would occur over a diel cycle, over a variety of habitats, and season. Sampling occurred in two reservoirs (Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, Kentucky) and a large backwater area (Hansen Materials Services Pits on the Illinois River, Illinois) in spring, summer, and fall of 2017. Randomized transects were sampled continuously through the evening starting two hours pre-sunset and ending five hours post-sunset. Preliminary data has shown that Silver Carp catch rates increase throughout the evening and peak 2-4 hours after sunset in both a reservoir and backwater habitats. Greatest Silver Carp catch rates occurred during spring and fall months in large reservoirs. Depth influenced Silver Carp catch rates in backwater areas but did not influence catch rates in reservoirs. Evidence here suggests that Silver Carp catch rates could be significantly improved if management actions were to occur after sunset and during the spring or fall seasons. Current efforts are being made to centralize tools and techniques for managing bigheaded carp to help managers and biologists better understand bigheaded carp population characteristics.



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Title: Assessment of Catostomid Species Population Characteristics in the Missouri and Kansas Rivers Author(s): Bethany E. Hoster and Adam J. McDaniel Mailing Address of Presenter: Bethany E. Hoster - Missouri Department of Conservation 15302 LIV Chillicothe, MO 64601 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: The Although fishes of the family Catostomidae are among the most abundant native fishes in Midwestern rivers, they are rarely studied and poorly understood. The importance of larval Catostomids as a food source for other species and importance of adult Catostomids to the fish community demonstrate the need for studying these populations. The Missouri Department of Conservation annually samples Segments 9 and 10 of the Missouri River and Segment 11 of the Kansas River with gillnets. We assessed relative abundance, size structure, and condition of Smallmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) and River Carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) by year and river segment to determine if these populations have experienced changes in recent years. We used catch per unit effort (CPUE) to assess relative abundance and relative weight to estimate condition. Smallmouth Buffalo in both the Missouri and Kansas Rivers showed significant declines in relative weight from 2013 to 2014; individuals from Segments 9 and 11 continued to have significantly lower relative weights in 2017 than 2013. River Carpsucker in Segment 9 experienced a significant relative weight decrease from 2013 to 2014, while Segment 10 fish experienced a significant decrease from 2013 to 2015. Segment 10 River Carpsucker had significantly lower relative weights in 2017 than 2013. Relative weight of Segment 11 River Carpsucker has not significantly differed by year and these fish are in good condition. Monitoring these species can provide important insight into rarely studied, native fish species and demonstrate how changes in their populations may impact other species.

Title: Native Chub Distributions Downstream of Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River in Nebraska Author(s): Thad W. Huenemann and Gerald E. Mestl

Mailing Address of Presenter: Thad W. Huenemann - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2200 N 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: It has been hypothesized that chub distributions may be impacted or displaced by dams. Many chub species have an obligate drift phase similar to Pallid and Shovelnose Sturgeon. We examined the distribution of juvenile and adult Sicklefin, Sturgeon, Shoal and Silver Chub downstream of Gavins Point Dam using standard sampling data from the Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment Program. We found that that Sicklefin and Sturgeon Chub numbers were depressed immediately downstream of the dam which resulted in further downstream displacement of juveniles. Shoal and Silver Chub appear to be less impacted by Gavins Point Dam which is supported by the distribution of juveniles.



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Title: Lower Missouri River Bend-scale Classification: Application to Understanding and Management of Pallid Sturgeon Habitats Author(s): Robert B. Jacobson, Michael E. Colvin, Edward A. Bulliner, Darcy Pickard, and Caroline M. Elliott Mailing Address of Presenter: Robert Jacobson - U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center 4200 New Haven Road Columbia, MO 65201 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Management actions intended to increase growth and survival of pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) age-0 larvae on the Lower Missouri River will benefit from a comprehensive understanding of the habitat template of the river. This study had two objectives relating to selecting locations for pallid sturgeon interception-rearing complexes (IRCs). The first objective was to develop a bend-scale geomorphic classification of the Lower Missouri River to help in the design of monitoring and evaluation of IRC projects. The second objective was to explore whether geomorphic variables could provide insight into varying capacities of bends to intercept drifting larvae. The bend-scale classification was based on geomorphic and engineering variables for 257 bends from Sioux City, Iowa to the confluence with the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri. We used k-means clustering to identify groupings of bends that shared similar characteristics, resulting in separate 3-, 4-, and 6-cluster classifications. Secondly, we explored capacities of bends to intercept larvae through evaluation of generalized linear models that predicted persistent sand area or catch per unit effort (CPUE) of age-0 sturgeon as a function of the same geomorphic variables used in the classification. Among highly ranked models that predict persistent sand area, all contained channel width and standard deviation of channel width as significant variables. Whereas the persistent-sand model documents that physical processes of transport and accumulation are systematic and predictable, the relatively poor performance of the CPUE models indicates that additional processes need to be considered to predict biological transport and accumulation.

Title: A Spatially Explicit Asian Carp Population Model: Purpose, Design, & Capabilities Author(s): Jahn Kallis and David Glover Mailing Address of Presenter: Jahn Kallis - US Fish and Wildlife Service Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office 101 Park DeVille Drive Ste. A Columbia, MO 65203

Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Since their introduction, invasive Asian carp have increased both spatially and numerically in the Mississippi River basin. The current strategy to prevent invasion of the Great Lakes via the Illinois River uses electric dispersal barriers located in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and a commercial harvest program aimed at reducing fish densities near the barriers. The extent to which these efforts are achieving their desired goal relative to alternative strategies, such as different spatial allocations of harvest or incorporation of upstream movement deterrents, remains unclear. Thus, to evaluate various control strategies, we developed a spatially explicit Asian carp population model for the Illinois River. The purpose, design, and capabilities of the model are described with special emphasis on how it can be used as a decision support tool in an adaptive management framework. Finally, we argue that there exists a great need to incorporate other population sources, including the Missouri River, into a single multi-basin model with the ultimate goal of informing both regional and national Asian carp management efforts.



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Title: Examining Food Web Dynamics in the Missouri River to Identify the Influence of Habitat Complexity and Asian Carp Invasion on Endangered Pallid Sturgeon Author(s): Lisa Kunza, Becky Bixby, Erin Hotchkiss, Ben Koch, Amy Krist, Justin Murdock, Jon O’Brien, David Waterman, Jeff Wesner, Tom St. Clair, Laura Totten, and Cheryl Chapman Mailing Address of Presenter: Lisa Kunza South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 501 E. St Joseph Street Rapid City, SD 57701 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Understanding the dynamics of the riverine food web that supports Pallid Sturgeon in the Missouri River above and below Gavin’s Point Dam is required to identify factors limiting this endangered fish. This proposed study will (1) identify factors critical to population sustainability of the Pallid Sturgeon, including examining the roles of habitat complexity (i.e., channelized and unchannelized river reaches) and invasive Asian Carp on the structure and function of the Missouri River food web, and (2) estimate the food resources for Pallid Sturgeon entering the Missouri River from seven major tributaries and the degree to which the Asian Carp deplete those resources. Our proposed study addresses the Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP) science and adaptive management plan fundamental objectives for Pallid Sturgeon and will directly address public concerns (raised during the review of the Draft Missouri River Recovery Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement) regarding the need to quantify the impact of increasing Asian Carp populations on Pallid Sturgeon. This proposed intensive field research effort will require private industry-university partnerships, and collaboration among multiple universities. Coordination and collaboration with multiple state and federal fisheries biologist teams will also be integral to the success of this project.

Title: Pallid Sturgeon Larval Drift Simulations Using 3D Flow Mapping from the Milk River Confluence below Fort Peck Dam to Sakakawea Reservoir Indicate that Many Larvae Spend Sufficient Time in the Missouri River to Residualize Author(s): Brian L. Marotz and Mark S. Lorang Mailing Address of Presenter: Brian L. Marotz - Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks 490 North Meridian Kalispell, MT 59901 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Previous research on drifting free-embryo Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Dam, Montana, concluded that most larvae flush rapidly into Sakakawea Reservoir and die. In June 2016, nearly 700,000 embryos were released downstream of the Milk River confluence and recaptured in nets at points downstream to examine drift speed and dispersal. As part of this experiment, Freshwater Map measured river bathymetry and 3D flows throughout the 338-km study reach. River data were used to conduct 4000 drift simulations, which we had planned to correlate with embryo recaptures. Unfortunately, few embryos were recaptured beyond the first netting station; over 99% remained undetected. Simulations showed the fastest 10% could reach Sakakawea Reservoir in 6.56 days, corroborating previous estimates, but only if they remained in the main channel for the entire distance. Unlike passive particles, embryos dart randomly, so can resuspend and continue drifting, but can larvae actively seek faster currents? Velocities throughout most of the river exceed the swimming ability of larvae, and the thalweg is intermittent, abruptly shifting across the channel. Over 90% of simulated drift paths dispersed into low velocity habitats, often distant from the thalweg. Half stalled along river banks, islands, and eddies, reducing drift speed. The longest continual drift distance before stalling was 36.5 km. The fastest drifters in the bottom half-meter would not reach Sakakawea Reservoir from the release site for 31 days, indicating that many larvae have sufficient river residence time to develop, if riverine habitat is suitable for survival.



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Title: River Configuration Effects on Flood Frequency Author/Presenter: Gerald Mestl

Mailing Address of Presenter: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2200 North 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: The channel of the Missouri River changes continuously but riverine processes such as aggradation and degradation can affect significant changes that are almost imperceptible, even to those who believe that we are most familiar with the river. While the general direction and even magni-tude of these types of changes are commonly known, there has been limited discussion of their unfold-ing and long term impacts. I will describe how these incremental changes have and continue to change channel capacity and flood frequency on the upper channelized Missouri River. I will discuss the possi-ble benefits of arresting these changes or even resetting the channel back to a previous configuration, even if the change would be imperceptible to most observers.

Title: Effect of Water Velocity on Growth, Survival, and Energy Reserves of Endogenous Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus Albus Larvae

Author(s): Joseph T. Mrnak, Steven R. Chipps, and Daniel A. James

Mailing Address of Presenter: Joseph T. Mrnak - South Dakota State University Dept. of Natural Resource Management 1390 College Ave. McFadden Biostress Lab Room 138 Brookings, SD 57007


Abstract: Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus are a federally endangered species endemic to the Missouri River basin and the lower Mississippi River. Successful natural reproduction has been limited for decades and in addition, a recruitment bottleneck is hypothesized to occur during the drift phase of endogenous larvae. Understanding factors that affect survival of Pallid Sturgeon larvae is key given their critical status and ongoing recovery efforts. In this study, we evaluated the effects of water velocity on growth, survival, and energy depletion of endogenous Pallid Sturgeon larvae (<18 mm TL). We tested three water velocity treatments at a temperature of 16.3°C; treatments included no velocity (0 cm/s−1), intermediate velocity (range, 1 to 7 cm/s−1), and high velocity (2 to 16 cm/s−1). Growth rate of Pallid Sturgeon larvae was similar across water velocities, ranging from 0.76 to 0.84 mm/d. However, energy reserves of Pallid Sturgeon larvae maintained in the no flow treatment declined significantly compared to larvae in the intermediate and high velocities. Moreover, larvae in the no velocity treatment experienced significantly greater mortality that those maintained in tanks with flow. In natural environments, areas with no flow may pose a significant source of mortality to endogenous Pallid Sturgeon larvae.



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Title: Drought Early Warning and Response: The 2017 Northern Plains (Ongoing) Event

Authors/Presenters: Britt Parker, Brian Fuchs, Laura Edwards, and Doug Kluck

Email Addresses of Presenters: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Abstract: Drought is no stranger to the Missouri Basin. It is a relatively common occurrence and costly with impacts to agriculture, ecosystems, energy production, health, water supply and other sectors. In 2017, a drought that reached the D4 (exceptional level - worst case) was responsible for major damage to most of eastern Montana. In addition the western Dakotas sustained serious damage and loss with D3 (extreme level) conditions. In this session we hope to provide an overview of the 2017 N. Plains drought as well as inform on some of the ways drought is monitored in the U.S. and explain a bit about the Missouri Basin Drought Early Warning System. Parker - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) was authorized by Congress in 2006. NIDIS's mission is to improve the nation’s capacity to pro-actively manage drought-related risks, by providing those affected with the best available information and resources to assess the potential for drought and to better prepare for, mitigate, and respond to the effects of drought. NIDIS has an interagency mandate to develop and pro-vide a national drought early warning information system by building upon existing federal, tribal, state, and local partnerships, and is working towards this objective incrementally throughout regions of the country. The Missouri River Basin DEWS kicked off in 2014, and NIDIS has been working in the region to raise drought awareness and to improve the capacity of stakeholders to monitor, forecast, plan for, and cope with the impacts of drought in the region. Our efforts to respond to and better understand the 2017 Northern Plains Drought will be highlighted in this session. Fuchs - The United States Drought Monitor is the foremost tool available for monitoring drought conditions in the United States. This presentation will focus on how the United States Drought Monitor is made each week and how local experts throughout the Missouri River Basin contribute. Information on the process of how the map is made as well as the types of data and information used will be discussed as well as how this information is utilized by various stakeholders. Edwards - The 2017 U.S. Northern Plains drought was unusual in its rapid onset in the spring season. Impacts to the agricultural sector were significant in loss of grazing, pasture and forage and low surface water supplies in the Upper Missouri River Basin. The evolution of the drought shows that some early climate indicators in the fall of 2016 and winter 2017 may have contributed to the rapid increase in drought impacts in the growing season. One unusual factor in the 2017 drought was that the flows on the mainstem Missouri River were at or above average for most of the year. Water supply shortages came about due to low streamflows in the tributaries that provides some local water supplies, and through infrastructure limitations to treat and transport water to rural water users. An overview of regional drought impacts and response efforts will be presented. Kluck - Due to the Northern Plains drought in 2017 there was a call for additional information from NOAA and partners to provide more timely and focused information in a number of different ways. This presentation will address some of the information delivery mechanisms employed to provide the latest drought status and outlook information to the drought stricken regions. Many key regional partners collaborated to gather and provide the monitoring information. In addition, a brief overview of potential future conditions will be included.



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Title: Effect of Water Velocity on Growth, Survival, and Energy Reserves of Endogenous Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus Albus Larvae Author/Presenter: Barry C. Poulton Mailing Address of Presenter: U.S. Geological Survey - Columbia Environmental Research Center 4200 E. New Haven Rd Columbia, MO 65201 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Success of recovery efforts to optimize food availability for larval and juvenile stages of imperiled riverine fishes may depend on comprehensive knowledge of the aquatic macroinvertebrates they consume. Communities of macroinvertebrates, including midges (Diptera: Chironomidae), are controlled by hydrologic and hydraulic conditions that affect prevailing substrates and organic matter availability. However, linkages between functional and taxonomic composition of diet items and critical nursery habitats utilized by riverine fishes are poorly understood. To help guide restoration efforts, I examined functional classifications and habitat affinities for the 61 Chironomid genera found in the Lower Missouri River (LMOR). Over half of midge genera are non-specific, habitat generalists found in both lentic and lotic habitats, with 74% of lotic taxa inhabiting either erosional or depositional zones. The four midge taxa specific to sand/silt substrates coexist with generalists. Sand/silt habitats have lower relative abundances (range 5 – 80 #/m squared) and mean richness (1.2 taxa) compared to dike backwaters with finer organically-enriched substrates (range 43 – 1559 #/m squared; 3.8 taxa). Midges colonizing on or near the sediment surface (sprawlers+clinger/climbers) made up 77% of the taxa, compared to burrowers in consolidated sediments (23%). In the LMOR, midges occupy all aquatic habitats and information suggests a highly mobile community dominated by habitat/substrate generalists in the collector-gatherer functional classification. However, if midge taxa specific to habitats (for example, sand/silt substrates) are found during diet studies, this may help identify habitats supportive of imperiled fishes if sampling and taxonomic limitations can be overcome.

Title: Interception Rearing Complexes Author/Presenter: Drew L. Schrader Mailing Address of Presenter: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 601 E 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64106 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: The Kansas City District has undertaken the design effort of creating Interception and Rearing Complex (IRC) projects to aid in the recovery of the endangered pallid sturgeon. This IRC development is in response to the recommendations outlined in the Missouri River Pallid Sturgeon Effects Analysis-Integrative Report 2016, which identified multiple hypotheses related to the current lack of pallid sturgeon recruitment on the lower Missouri River. The IRC projects address the hypothesis that larval pallid sturgeon are not able to exit the thalweg (navigation channel) before they starve because the river lacks hydraulic conditions that would transport them into supportive channel-margin habitats. The objective of IRC projects is to enhance interception and rearing habitat at the project location or, more specifically, to promote the transfer of free-drifting embryos (interception) into channel margin habitats (rearing habitats) through river training structure modifications and additions. A particle tracking model (PTM) was utilized to simulate particle drift and to screen design alternatives for the highest interception potential. PTM simulates transport of particles using Adaptive Hydraulics (AdH) two dimensional hydrodynamic model outputs through the interface of the Surface-water Modeling System. IRC sites will follow a monitoring plan for the duration of the study to analyze both physical and biological change. Two IRC sites have been constructed and are currently in the monitoring phase, while two more are currently in the design phase. This presentation will discuss the engineering analysis behind the proposed designs at the two new sites and the real-time application of the latest science.



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Title: Effects of Invasive Trees on Nesting Productivity for Breeding Birds in Missouri River Floodplain Forests Author(s): David L. Swanson, Amanda Hegg, Geoffrey Gray-Lobe, Sebastian Ruiz, and Mark D. Dixon Mailing Address of Presenter: David L. Swanson - Missouri River Institute University of South Dakota - Dept. of Biology 414 E Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Floodplain forests support the highest bird diversity of any habitat in the Great Plains region. On the Missouri River, river management by upstream dams has greatly impacted native floodplain forests and the processes that sustain them. These changes have also contributed to invasion of floodplain forests by native upland tree species (eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana) and by non-native species (e.g., Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia). Shrub-nesting bird species may occur in similar densities in native- and invasive-dominated forest stands, but bird density alone is a poor indicator of habitat quality, with studies of nesting success needed to determine the effects of different habitat types on reproductive fitness. In this study we examined the quality of native vs. invasive tree species as nesting habitat for floodplain forest birds. We found and monitored > 300 nests of 22 riparian bird species at five sites along the Missouri River varying in invasive tree species abundance during the 2017 breeding season. Preliminary data suggest wide variation in nest success among bird species and among nest trees, with some bird species showing fairly high nest success in invasive tree species, but others with poor nest success. A consistent bird community-wide effect of invasive tree species on nesting success was not evident. Future studies will include analyses of the effect of vegetation structure and composition surrounding nest sites on nest success and additional years of data collection. These data will help inform decisions related to invasive tree species management in Missouri River riparian forests.

Title: Ten Years of Pallid Sturgeon Broodstock Collection Efforts in the Lower Missouri River Author(s): Kirk D. Steffensen, Thad Huenemann, and Jerrod Hall Mailing Address of Presenter: Kirk D. Steffensen - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2200 North 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Until 2008, stocking Pallid Sturgeon in the lower Missouri River was dependent upon surplus fish from the upper Missouri River propagation and stocking efforts. However, due to genetic drift concerns in the middle Mississippi River, the Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Team ceased stocking these upper basin origin progeny in the lower Missouri River. Subsequently, the need for local broodstock developed for the continuation of the Pallid Sturgeon Augmentation and Supplementation Program (PSASP) in the lower Missouri River. For the past ten years (2008-2017), the Nebraska Game and Park Commission (NGPC) Missouri River Programs have been conducting an intensive broodstock collection to capture reproductively ready, wild-origin Pallid Sturgeon from an 80.5 rkm reach below the Platte River confluence. Lead by NGPC staff and with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers and hatchery personnel, greater than 1,600 pallid sturgeon were collected. Of those, over 300 unmarked adult Pallid Sturgeon were transferred to Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery or Blind Pony State Fish Hatchery for reproductive assessment. Overall, these efforts have highly contributed to the PSASP in the lower Missouri River. These efforts have also provided a unique snapshot at annual capture-recapture rates, thus providing population estimates, relative condition assessment, annual reproductive readiness, and year-class strength and growth from previously stocked hatchery-origin Pallid Sturgeon for this reach of the lower Missouri River. Future broodstock efforts will continue to collect these population metrics as well as contributing to the PSASP.



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Title: Comparing Fish Community Condition Trends in the Missouri River Author(s): Juju C. Wellemeyer and Kyle Winders Mailing Address of Presenter: Juju C. Wellemeyer - Missouri Department of Conservation 21999 Highway B Maitland, MO 64466 Email Address of Presenter: [email protected] Abstract: Relative weight has been widely applied as a tool to evaluate fish condition, and conse-quently several factors of fish populations including health, prey availability, and reproductive potential. A standard weight equation, formed of lengths and weights from populations across the distributional range of a species, allows for comparisons of fish condition across localities and time. Typically, relative weight is used for single species comparisons, but it also can be informative about the fish community as a whole, including the assemblage status and interspecific interactions within a fish community. Our goal was to evaluate the condition of the Missouri River fish community through time. We assessed fish condition along the lower Missouri River using established standard weight equations for 10 large-bodied Missouri River species that were the most commonly sampled. Data from the Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment database was used to plot condition trends from 2006 to 2017. Subsequent evaluation using abiotic variables allowed insight of fish species response to environmental conditions within the broader fish community context. Fish assemblages are influenced by multiple covariates and using a relative weight assessment approach can give a streamlined measurement of fish community status.

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