Working with private landowners and INHF, RIFO identified oxbow wetland habitats that had been impacted by accelerated sedimentation rates and ultimately were isolated from the adjacent stream systems. Existing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Iowa Department of Natural Resources data indicate that Topeka shiners require ephemeral and perennial floodplain wetlands uniquely spaced within a watershed. The constructed projects are the beginning efforts to restore floodplain wetlands throughout the North Raccoon and Boone River watersheds. These restored wetlands may ultimately be a key step in the recovery of this endangered species within its Iowa distribution.

The Rock Island Field Office, IHHF and Iowa DNR plan to use these projects as demonstration sites to show other landowners in the watershed how they can work with various partners to restore wetlands. In another coordinated effort, RIFO and the Iowa DNR Landowner Incentives Program staff will host a Topeka shiner restoration workshop in June 2005. This workshop will be tailored to private lands biologists from both state and federal agencies and use the demonstration projects as case examples.

Floodplain wetlands in the form of pothole or meander scars offer a variety of habitat for stream fish. Predominantly these habitats serve as spawning, rearing and foraging habitats and are only utilized seasonally. However, Topeka shiners may use these habitats for entire life cycle development. The nearly obligate spawning relationship with the orangespotted sunfish allows Topeka shiners to spawn with and utilize sunfish nests to aerate their eggs. Topeka shiners also have the ability to survive extremely low oxygen levels and ordinarily high water temperatures, which allows them to inhabit these wetlands annually. These adaptations, with a little help from ground water discharge, give the shiner an edge in an otherwise hectic environment.

The benefits of this project do not just end with the Topeka shiner, as ephemeral wetlands produce abundant quantities of food for amphibians, reptiles, and migrating birds, especially waterfowl. Even small sites, much less than an acre, can produce hundreds of frogs, toads and salamanders. These wetlands will provide habitat for the endangered Topeka shiner and other fish of the adjacent streams, as well as for reptiles, amphibians and birds with similar habitat requirements. Wetlands also provide water quality benefits and will improve water quality in these watersheds which are primarily agricultural.

For more information about these or other recovery efforts in the Iowa range of the population please contact Kraig McPeek (309) 793-5800 ext 210 or Kraig_McPeek@fws.gov