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Upper Mississippi River System Research

Introduction: The Mississippi River and its floodplain have been greatly modified for multiple uses, including navigation, hydropower, flood control, agriculture, and urban development. These modifications provide benefits to society, but often reduce the well being of fish, wildlife, and other biological resources, many of which are within National Wildlife Refuges or other public lands. Anticipated increases in human encroachment and use could further alter the ecological structure and functioning of the Upper Mississippi. Integrated management of the biological and socio-economic systems within the Mississippi and other large river systems is needed but is hampered by a lack of basic understanding of river ecology. (from UMESCE)

Research is conducted by the natural resource agencies of 5 states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri in addition to at least 3 federal agencies- The US Army Corps of Engineers, USGS-Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, USFWS including  Fishery Resources and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Essential research questions were developed…..

The Center conducts research on ecological processes as affected by human alterations and management actions. Specific research examines the effects of navigation and impoundment on riverine fishes, traces the sources and flows of energy supporting biological production in rivers, evaluates the effects of water-level management on riverine biota and navigation, and characterizes the dynamics of river hydrology and biota.

There is a wide assortment of research information for the Upper MIssissippi River available on the web for example: A listing of all UMESC Projects on the Upper Mississippi River http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/rivers/upper_mississippi/umr_umesc_projects.html. The intention is to provide a coordinated list of  what research has been conducted by which agency to answer essential research questions. Areas of research indentified on the UMESC site include:

Aquatic sciences including: •	Fish: •	Native Mussels: •	Effects of Contaminants: •	Nutrients Loading and Effects: •	Productivity Pathways River Inventory and Monitoring Terrestrial sciences Invasive species Ecosystems and habitat Science applications to resource management Technical programs

The following examples are what is avaialable on factsheets from UMESC Aquatic systems-Pathways of Biological Production Large rivers are among the most biologically productive and diverse of aquatic ecosystems and also provide important economic, recreational, andaesthetic values. Biological production is the amount of plants and animals produced, and diversity is the number of species present. Biological production and diversity provide value to society,through fishing, bird-watching, and waterfowl hunting. Aquatic plants take up excess nutrients–such as nitrate and phosphorus–from agricultural and urban runoff, and some of those plants are the food base for waterfowl and fish. The walleye caught by an angler or the duck bagged by a hunter is the end result of a complex series of processes that provide the energy needed for these animals to grow and survive. To conserve these valued resources, it is important to Large rivers support production of valuable fishes, including the lake sturgeon, above. We are presently studying what habitats support fishes in the deep channels of large rivers and factors that may be affecting their abundance.The floodplains of large rivers provide a complex mix of aquatic and terrestrial habitats that support high biological diversity and production of plants, fish, birds, and mammals. We are presently studying factors that affect fish production in both the deep channels and in backwaters, or off-channel, areas. understand the energy sources and pathways, or food webs, that result in high biological production and diversity in large rivers.

http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/documents/fact_sheets/bio_production.pdf

At Risk Riverine Fishes

Paddlefish and lake sturgeon were common components of fish communities in the large rivers of the Mississippi River drainage before 1900. Overharvest and human alteration of rivers have resulted in significant declines in paddlefish and lake sturgeon populations. Construction of dams on rivers has especially affected these species by altering traditional river habitats and disrupting spawning migrations. Paddlefish have been extirpated from four states and Canada. Eleven of 22 states within what remains of its range now list the paddlefish as endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern. Similarly, lake sturgeon is listed as a species of special concern throughout most of its native range.

http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/documents/fact_sheets/paddlefish_lake_sturgeon.pdf