Active telemetry has been a major component of Middle Mississippi River pallid sturgeon research for the last several years.  Pallid sturgeon are implanted with ultrasonic transmitters, and their movements are monitored through a combination of active telemetry and a network of passive receivers. 

The Missouri Department of Conservation Open Rivers and Wetlands Field Station (ORWFS) is responsible for monitoring pallid sturgeon use of the lower 100 miles of the Middle Mississippi, which ends at its confluence with the Ohio River. 

ORFWS has determined that some tagged pallid sturgeon have moved downriver and out of the Middle Mississippi River.  Some of the tagged pallid sturgeon have been re-located in the lower Mississippi River, however several of the fish have not been re-located since moving out of the Middle Mississippi River. 

Although pallid sturgeon have not been documented in the Ohio River, ORWFS biologists wondered whether some of the tagged fish may have left the Mississippi River and requested assistance from Carterville FRO. 

Biologist Nate Caswell and technician Matt Mangan used boat mounted hydroacoustic equipment to search for telemetered pallid sturgeon in the lower 62 miles of the Ohio River from the Smithland Locks and Dam down to the confluence with the Mississippi River. 

Despite the effort, no transmittered pallid sturgeon were located.  Although this does not confirm their absence, it is at least an indication that the transmittered fish are still in the Mississippi River.