Laserfiche WebLink
affected by cold water releases from the reservoirs or the habitat has been severely modified by BSNP <br />training structures. The Missouri River downstream of Gavins Point is the longest unfragmented <br />segment of the Missouri River, however it is also the most severely modified by BSNP training <br />structures. <br />Importance of the Missouri River to the Pallid Sturgeon - The Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Plan <br />(USFWS 1993) has identified four recovery priority management areas on the Missouri River for <br />priority implementation of recovery actions. Those river reaches exhibit remnant elements of what is <br />believed to be suitable pallid sturgeon physical habitat, provided that the hydrology and chemical <br />elements of the aquatic ecosystem, such as temperature and turbidity, are restored. The recovery <br />priority areas are listed as follows from the headwaters to the Mississippi River, (1) from the mouth of <br />the Marias River to the headwaters of Ft. Peck Reservoir, (2) from Ft. Peck Dam to the headwaters of <br />Lake Sakakawea, including the Yellowstone River (Segment 2), (3) from 20 mi (32 km) upstream of <br />the mouth of the Niobrara River to the headwaters of Lewis and Clark Lake (portions of Segment 9), <br />and (4) from Gavins Point Dam to the Mississippi River (Segments 10 -15). Recovery priority <br />management areas 2, 3, and 4 are most affected by main stem dams. 4---r <br />The length of the Missouri River affected by the 6 main stem dams (Fort Peck Reservoir and <br />downstream) represents more than one -half of the existing range of the pallid sturgeon. To date, 75 <br />percent of pallid sturgeon observations recorded in the pallid sturgeon catch record database <br />maintained by the Service have come from the Missouri River (S. Krentz, pers. comm. 2000). �— <br />The incidence of hybridization also is lower on the Missouri River than on the Mississippi River, and <br />increases in frequency from the headwaters to the mouth (Carlson et al. 1985, Keenlyne et al. 1994). <br />Importance of the Kansas River to the Pallid Sturgeon - Historic catch records for pallid sturgeon <br />are scarce for the Kansas River. Since 1950s, only five documented pallid sturgeon have been <br />sampled from the lower 40 mi (65 km) of the Kansas River, all during late March and early April in <br />1952. Little sampling for pallid sturgeon has occurred on the Kansas River. <br />In general, pallid sturgeon researchers assume at this time that tributaries are used primarily for foraging <br />and/or spawning. Pallid sturgeon use of tributaries such as the Kansas, Platte, and Niobrara Rivers �- <br />needs to be better evaluated to identify their role in pallid sturgeon recovery. They are undoubtedly <br />important to the ecosystem, but the full extent of pallid sturgeon use of those habitats is unclear. <br />Pallid sturgeon inhabit the main stem Missouri River, and have entered the lower Kansas River during <br />floods, with the furthest upstream records from Douglas County (Cross and Collins 1995). It is highly <br />unlikely that this species currently occurs in the Kansas River due to habitat modifications and physical <br />barriers (e.g., Johnson County Wier), except under conditions of high flows. <br />Env. Baseline -PS 159 <br />