Fish Biologist Clayton Ridenour and technician Joshua Schloesser traveled to Columbus, OH during the week of December 13^th-17^th to attend the 69^th Annual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference.  The four day meeting brings together natural resources professionals and students from Midwest States representing local, State and Federal agencies, Universities, and several non-government groups and businesses to exchange information and results of studies. 

At the conference, four presentations were presented from the Columbia National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.  Clayton gave an oral presentation to a diverse audience that discussed a recently published study on habitat management for a group of native Missouri River fishes.  Clayton also presented on two poster platforms the results of studies on 1) Age and Growth of Missouri River Chubs, and 2) Habitats of Young Sturgeon in Lower Missouri River.  A third poster presentation authored by Patty Herman on Evaluating Wound Treatments of Shovelnose Sturgeon Egg Checks was also presented by Joshua Schloesser. 

Attending meetings like the Midwest is a critical final step in the scientific process to communicate the results of studies.  Studies like those presented by Clayton and Joshua summarize the effort of significant resources in many Field Offices and represent an important tool to help accomplish the Service’s Mission.  Exchanging ideas and results among fisheries biologists is critical for supporting Adaptive Management in programs that rely on new research to guide future management decisions.