Pallid Sturgeon and the Role of the Proposed Program

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There are a significant number of entities that have current and /or future plans for the pallid sturgeon. The first increment of the proposed program should be used to further identify these entities, gain an understanding of their work and any potential overlap with the proposed program, and to develop plans to coordinate activities as appropriate. A partial list of entities with potential pallid sturgeon initiatives include the following: Lower Mississippi Conservation Committee Louisiana Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Team Southern Illinois University, Middle Mississippi — Heidinger and Sheehan Missouri Department of Conservation Blind Pony Hatchery and Fisheries Resource Office (Jim Milligan, Project Leader) Nebraska Game and Parks Commission US Fish and Wildlife Recovery Team, including Steve Krenz and other "Recovery Work Groups" US Army Core of Engineers University of Nebraska Metropolitan Utility District (MUD) ro e ovw, MDC Long term Resource Monitoring, Cape Girardeau ACT? Ongoing research by an estimated 60 scientists Studies at numerous universities including: North Dakota, Montana, Illinois, Missouri, and Louisiana State Gavins Point Hatchery I 01 From the above list it is clear that collectively a great deal of resources are being focused on the pallid sturgeon. Many of the entities listed will need time to develop, implement, and refine their efforts. The proposed program should be sensitive to these timelines and take advantage of the expertise and information gained by these groups. During the first increment of the Proposed Program the focus should be on understanding pallid sturgeon use of the Platte in relation to use of the Missouri River. Currently, there I (� is limited information to describe the constituent elements of habitat and the physical parameters associated with those elements, especially in the Platte River. Including any additional monitoring and research needs at this time will have limited value and stands to place some Proposed Program participants and odds with other water users, utilities, local planning and land use agencies (others ? ? ? ? ?) all of which will exacerbate reaching agreement on the Proposed Program. The existing literature and current information on the Pallid Sturgeon suggests that the Platte River was and is of limited importance to the species. Bailey and Cross (1954) reported the historic range of the pallid as the middle and lower Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Kansas and Yellowstone Rivers. More recent information, which has not yet been fully documented indicates that of 872 records prior to 1998, 70 percent Rev. 1 Sept. 3, 2002 Draft R.B. 2