Lower end of Jones Chute located at river mile 95.0 on the Middle Mississippi River. Corps of Engineers photo.

USFWS biologist Matt Mangan with hybrid sturgeon collected near Rockwood Island in the Middle Mississippi River. USFWS Photo.

Schematic of proposed sampling design for trawling around Moro Island in the Middle Mississippi River. Developed by USFWS biologist Matt Mangan. USFWS photo.

Larval sturgeon collected in early June 2008 near Rockwood Island in the Middle Mississippi River. USFWS Photo.

Fiscal Year 2008 marked a very busy year for Marion, Illinois, Ecological Services Sub-Office (MISO) staff in addressing pallid sturgeon consultation compliance and recovery.  In 2000, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a jeopardy biological opinion for pallid sturgeon to the Army Corps of Engineers for continued operation and maintenance of the 9-Foot Navigation Channel Project on the Upper Mississippi River.  Since that time, MISO staff have attempted to ensure compliance with the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative which included the following elements: 1) completion of a pallid sturgeon habitat study; 2) facilitate development of a pallid sturgeon conservation and restoration plan; 3) implementation of a long-term pallid sturgeon conservation and restoration plan which should include monitoring of pallid sturgeon population demographics and habitat; and, 4) implementation of short-term “pilot” projects during the interim period when the conservation and restoration plan is under development.

In 2008, MISO staff continued to work with the Corps to finalize the pallid sturgeon habitat and demographics study conducted from 2002-2006.  It was agreed that the Corps would fund two study efforts which included intensive, continuous telemetry tracking of two gravid female pallid sturgeon in order to locate spawning sites.  Additionally, the Corps funded a trawling study which would provide information for development of the next study proposal.  MISO staff provided technical input into this trawling study in order to ensure the scientific validity and value of the data collected and to begin the process of matching Middle Mississippi River studies with research ongoing on the Lower Missouri River.  Partners in the 2008 research include Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the Missouri Department of Conservation. 

In addition to habitat restoration projects for pallid sturgeon, MISO staff are involved in the planning and review of channel regulating works and maintenance projects proposed by the Corps to improve navigation channel conditions.  In FY 2008, the Corps completed the St. Louis Harbor Channel Project, which included construction of three chevron dike structures.  Although the goal of this project is to reduce navigation channel maintenance dredging, the chevrons will create a 0.5 mile long seasonal side channel, as well as three deepwater, shallow water and island complexes.  Early biological monitoring indicates increased habitat and species diversity in the project area with fish species composition increasing from 12 to 22 species during pre- and post-project monitoring.  Both adult and young-of-the year shovelnose sturgeon were collected in the habitats created by the chevrons.  Other important species that were found to utilize chevron habitats include largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, sauger, smallmouth buffalo, black buffalo and river redhorse.

In addition, in FY 2008 the Corps initiated planning for three additional channel regulating works projects: Cape Rock, Waters Landing and St. Genevieve.  MISO staff participated in pre-alternative meetings for these projects and will continue to coordinate with the Corps in FY 2009 to ensure these projects minimize habitat impacts for fish and wildlife resources, and propose to improve habitat diversity.  Important partners in these planning meetings include the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Department of Conservation.

In addition to consultation compliance activities, MISO staff actively participated in the Middle Basin States Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Workgroup, reviewed and provided comments on the pallid sturgeon stocking plan and assisted with broodstock collection efforts.