Southeastern Fishes Council
SFC Regional Reports
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1999 Report of Region 5 - Northwest
Arkansas
The White River Navigation Project was reauthorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 and proposes to construct and maintain a 200 foot wide by nine foot deep navigation channel from the mouth upstream to Batesville, AR (approximately 255 river miles). A notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was published by the Corps of Engineers in the Federal Register (Volume 64, No. 5, p. 1181) on January 8, 1999. Corps Waterways Experiment Station personnel spent several weeks in the field in late 1998 gathering data to assess the possible impacts of the navigation project on littoral and demersal fishes, including paddlefish and sturgeon. A preliminary report regarding this field work is expected in the near future. In October 1998, a group of regional biologists was hosted by the Arkansas office of The Nature Conservancy at a working session to review the proposed navigation project, outline concerns, and formulate research needed to adequately address the impacts of the proposed navigation project.
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Entergy, Inc. is in undergoing FERC relicensing of its Remmel Dam/Lake Catherine hydroelectric facility on the Ouachita River in central Arkansas. Field surveys were conducted by consultants in summer and fall 1998 to gather information on faunal components and hydrologic conditions in a 25 mile reach of the river downstream of Remmel Dam. A Technical Advisory Group is working with Entergy and FERC to assess historic impacts of the facility to the river and recommend "conditions" for the relicensing. Re-regulating pools (weirs) and altered flow regimes are being considered. This reach of the Ouachita River provides habitat for Crystallaria asprella and the undescribed longnose darter form which inhabits the Ouachita River drainage. Also, Alabama shad (Alosa alabamae) have recently been discovered in good numbers in this reach of river.
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Henry Robison completed a status review of the Strawberry River orangethroat darter (Etheostoma spectabile fragi) funded by the Fish and Wildlife Service, and he reports that the subspecies is doing well in the headwater tributaries to the Strawberry River.
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Personnel from the Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and Fish and Wildlife Service conducted two weeks of visual population assessments for Percina pantherina in the Mountain Fork and Cossatot rivers during 1998. Numbers were down and were attributed to recent drought conditions in Arkansas.
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Missouri
The Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) has been listed as a federally protected endangered species. In Missouri, the species occurs within three, 4th order drainages including the Moniteau Creek drainage, Turkey Creek drainage, and Sugar Creek drainage. The Missouri stronghold for the species is Moniteau Creek, and a significant portion of the drainage is in public ownership. The Turkey Creek population is in a more urbanized area between Columbia and Jefferson City and is threatened by airport expansion and urban development. Confined animal feeding operations and non-point siltation problems are considered the primary threats to recovery of the species.
The goldstripe darter (Etheostoma parvipinne) is at the northern extent of its range along Crowley's Ridge in Missouri, and it is relatively rare within the state. Missouri Department of Conservation biologists have been working with a railroad which parallels the ridge to modify culverts to allow fish passage. Upstream migration of E. parvipinne to spawning habitat in many streams is currently blocked by improperly constructed culverts.
As reported last year, the Corps of Engineers has proposed the New Madrid Floodway project to reduce flooding in Mississippi River tributaries in the bootheel of Missouri. The project has two components to reduce the magnitude and duration of floodwaters behind the levees: 1) construction of pumping stations and 2) dredging of Mississippi River tributaries such as St. John's Bayou. Surveys to assess impacts rediscovered the golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus) which was thought to be extirpated in Missouri. Concerns regarding de-watering of riverine fishes spring spawning sites in bottomland hardwood wetlands are being discussed between the Fish and Wildlife Service and Corps of Engineers. Mitigation proposals from the Corps have been elevated to the FWS Region 3 director for reviewed and negotiation.
The Missouri River "benthic fishes" project continues. This cooperative research project involving six U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coop units and numerous other state and federal cooperators includes surveys for benthic fishes and analysis of age/growth and population structures along 2300 miles of the Missouri River. Five doctoral candidates are involved with the project, and annual reports are available by request from Galat at David_Galat@muccmail.missouri.ed.
A Mississippi River "benthic fishes" project was initiated during 1997 and continued during 1998. One hundred five sites were sampled in a 20 mile reach of the river during June and November 1998. Sampling methodology included primarily trawling in water from 2-12 meters deep. Significant numbers of sicklefin chub (67 individuals) and sturgeon chub (54 individuals) were encountered as well as a young of year pallid sturgeon (79 mm TL). For specific information, contact Dave Herzog, Missouri Department of Conservation (573-243-2659; David_Herzog@usgs.gov).
There has been a recent report of an unidentified taxon of cavefish near Columbia, MO which is a range extension of approximately 100 miles to the north for cavefish in Missouri. Doug Noltie, U. of Missouri, is attempting to isolate and identify the cavefish. As of this writing, no additional information is available.
Missouri Department of Conservation biologists are working with Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel to strengthen guidelines and regulations regarding sand and gravel operations in the state. Recent court decisions regarding the "Tulloch Rule" involving Section 404 of the Clean Water Act have weakened the regulatory position of agencies monitoring instream sand and gravel operations.
John L. Harris
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