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configuration of sandbars, side channels, and varied depths. The confluence <br />areas of major tributaries to the lower Missouri and Mississippi Rivers were <br />emphasized in selecting recovery priority areas because of their importance as <br />feeding and nursery areas for large-aver fish. <br />River reaches outside the recovery-priority areas are not excluded from. <br />implementation of recovery actions, but are designated as lower priority <br />because these areas have been altered to the extent that major modifications <br />would be needed to restore their natural physical and hydrologic <br />characteristics. <br />The recovery-priority areas (Figure 4) are (1) the Missouri River from the. <br />mouth of the Marias River to the headwaters of Ft. Peck. Reservoir; (2) the <br />Missouri River from Ft. Peck Dam to the headwaters of Lake Sakakawea, <br />including the Yellowstone River upstream to the mouth of the Tongue River; <br />(3) the Missouri River from 20 miles upstream of the mouth of the Niobrara <br />River to Lewis and Clark Lake; (4) the Missouri River-below Gavins Point Dam <br />to its confluence with the Mississippi River; (5) the Mississippi River from <br />its confluence with the Missouri River to the Gulf of Mexico; and (6) the <br />Atchafalaya River distributary system to the Gulf of Mexico. Recovery.. <br />priority areas 4 and 5 are further refined to encourage implementation of <br />recovery tasks within 32 km (20 mi) upstream and downstream of major. <br />tributaries. In recovery priority area 4, the major Missouri River tributary <br />areas include,. but are not limited to, 32 km (20 mi) upstream and downstream <br />of the Platte, Kansas, and Osage Rivers. In recovery priority <br />area 5, the-major Mississippi River tributary areas include, but are. not <br />limited to, 32 km (20 mi) upstream and downstream of .the St. Francis, <br />Arkansas, and Yazoo Rivers. <br />Recovery-priority areas may change as additional information on important <br />habitats and spawning areas is obtained. <br />While there has been no evidence of pallid sturgeon reproducing within any of <br />these areas, reproduction and recruitment of shovelnose sturgeon is occurring. <br />17 <br />