Phone: 573-234-2132 |
Mission and Goals
To conserve, enhance, and protect aquatic ecosystems in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and border waters of Kansas and Nebraska in partnership with state and federal agencies, resource managers, and concerned citizens.
The goals of the Fishery Resources Office in Columbia in support of this mission:
Partnerships and Accountability:
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Partnership: Collaborate with other agencies, organizations and individuals to conserve, protect, and enhance aquatic ecosystems.
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Outreach: Communicate to inform and educate people about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, fish and wildlife resources, and ecosystems in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers region.
Aquatic Species Conservation and Management:
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Aquatic Nuisance Species: Promote cooperative efforts to prevent, control, and manage the spread of nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species.
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Threatened and Endangered Species: Restore threatened and endangered fish species (and their habitats) to healthy, self-sustaining populations.
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Interjurisdictional fisheries: Provide Service perspective and assistance in the conservation, restoration, and management of interjurisdictional Missouri and Mississippi river fish and their habitats.
Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Conservation:
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Restore wetlands, watersheds and streams, and other aquatic habitats in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers region.
Leadership in Science and Technology:
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Develop trawling methodologies for large river sampling
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Manage large scale fisheries databases
Workforce Management:
Train, equip and support staff to effectively and safely meet our aquatic resource conservation goals.
Public Use:
Assist Federal resource managers and regulators in fisheries management and stewardship in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers watershed. Provide optimum recreational fishing opportunities on Service and other federal lands.
History
The Columbia Fishery Resources Office (FRO) was established in Columbia, Missouri in 1991. The office was located in the Federal Building in downtown Columbia through November 2003. We moved to a new facility on the west side of town complete with a laboratory and boat barn. We are co-located at this location with other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs including the Columbia Missouri Ecological Services office, the Missouri Private Lands Office, and the Mississippi Flyway Office. Columbia FRO is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Lakes - Big Rivers Region (Region 3).
Partners and Clients
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Columbia Environmental Research Center/USGS
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Iowa Army Ammunition Plant
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Middle Basin Pallid Sturgeon Workgroup
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MICRA Paddlefish/Sturgeon Committee
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Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
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Missouri River Natural Resources Committee
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Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Team
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University of Missouri Columbia Fisheries and Wildlife Program
Geographic Area Covered
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Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska
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Missouri River Corridor in Kansas and Nebraska
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Swan Lake, Squaw Creek, Neal Smith, Union Slough, DeSoto,and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges
- Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge