Lower Missouri River Ecosystem

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Lower Missouri River Ecosystem USFWS Field Stations Eight field stations are located within the ■ Improve Fish and Wildlife Resources ecosystem: 5 National Wildlife Refuges; 1 on Mainstem Missouri River Fishery Resources Office; 1 Law Enforce- Mainstem channel improvements ment Office; and 1 Ecological Services require an understanding of the history Office. of the Missouri River. Since first described by Lewis and Clark in the Partners 19th Century, the river’s braided Iowa Department of Natural Resources, channel has undergone dramatic Missouri Department of Conservation, change as a commercial waterway for Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the transportation of industrial and U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation agricultural products. Today’s river Service, U.S. Environmental Protection is a straightened channel paralleled Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and by a network of levees that enhance U.S.G.S. Environmental Sciences Center. agricultural and urban floodplain landuse. The team’s focus include Ecosystem Description stream flows that emulate patterns The Lower Missouri River Ecosystem of previously unaltered conditions, encompasses all of the Missouri River sandbar and island replenishment Basin that drains portions of Iowa and or nourishment, side channel Missouri. re-connection, shallow backwater restoration, floodplain reforestation The ecosystem includes portions of such and the return of quality water that contributing drainages as the Little supports a diverse population of fish Sioux, Platte, Nishnabotna, Grand, and other aquatic life. Chariton, Gasconade and Osage Rivers. The flat-to-rolling topography once fea- ■ Improve Fish and Wildlife Resources tured forested uplands, native prairie on in Contributing Watersheds deep, loam soils, and floodplains domi- States and tribes have reviewed water nated by soft and hardwood forest. quality information for tributaries Agriculture is the predominant land use in within the Missouri River Basin and the Lower Missouri River Ecosystem. identified those in immediate need of attention. Most problems result from Historically, the Missouri River and its water quality deterioration due to floodplain featured a variety of habitats accelerated sedimentation, high including braided channels, sloughs, is- nutrient loading or other non-point lands, sandbars, backwater areas, and source contamination. other natural floodplain communities. The river and its contributing watersheds The team recognizes the adverse fish supported abundant populations of native and wildlife impacts associated with river fishes, furbearers and other mam- land uses that result in water quality mals, waterfowl and a host of wetland and degradation. Opportunities for bottomland bird species. improved land stewardship on privately-owned lands is supported Landscape Priorities by the team through technical and Two landscape priorities have been habitat restoration assistance. The identified by the Lower Missouri River team also supports long-term land Ecosystem team. The priorities center protection measures. around Regional Resource Conservation Priority species and were developed with a Contacts recognition that landscape scale change Tom Bell, Team Leader, 573-876-1826; requires the collaboration of all conserva- Dan Stinnett, Biologist, 612-713-5412. tion partners in the ecosystem. Web Address Lower Missouri River ecosystem: http://midwest.fws.gov/ecosys/lowmiss Great Lakes - Big Rivers Region.

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BIG RIVER ECOSYSTEM: Program 2
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