The vision of the Missouri River Recovery The vision of the Missouri River Recovery Program is to create a sustainable Program is to create a sustainable ecosystem supporting thriving populations ecosystem supporting thriving populations of native species while providing for of native species while providing for current social and economic valuescurrent social and economic values

MT

WY

NE

COKS

SD

ND

MO

IA

Missouri River Recovery Area

BSNP Fish & Wildlife Mitigation

Headwaters to the mouth and tributaries

NE, IA, KS, MO

Missouri River Recovery Program

• 10 States• 2,300 miles of river• 530,000 square miles• 6 main stem reservoirs

Native American Sovereign Nations within the Missouri River Basin

Piegan Blackfoot Chief, August 1833, C. Bodmer

Ecological ChallengesOne of the most regulated rivers in One of the most regulated rivers in the US the US 500 500 –– 755 miles inundated under 755 miles inundated under reservoirs. 750 miles channelized.reservoirs. 750 miles channelized.3 million acres of habitat altered3 million acres of habitat altered51 of 67 native fish species listed 51 of 67 native fish species listed as rare or decreasingas rare or decreasingAquatic insects reduced ~ 70%Aquatic insects reduced ~ 70%80% reduction in Piping Plover 80% reduction in Piping Plover habitathabitat

Endangered Species

• Biological Opinion issued by USFWS in 2000 and Amended 2003.

• Found operation of the system jeopardized continued existence of the pallid sturgeon.

Pallid Sturgeon

Interior Least Tern

Piping Plover

Goals & ObjectivesRecovery of Species per Recovery of Species per BiOpBiOp and Recovery plans and Recovery plans ––

Piping Plover - 850 adults for 10 years, 10 yr running average fledge ratio of 1.22Interior Least Tern – 900 adults for 10 years, 5 yr running average fledge ratio of 0.94Pallid Sturgeon – successfully breeding pop.

Shallow Water HabitatShallow Water Habitat -- 19,565 acres by 2020 19,565 acres by 2020 Emergent Sandbar HabitatEmergent Sandbar Habitat –– 11,878 acres by 201511,878 acres by 2015Floodplain HabitatFloodplain Habitat -- 166,750 acres acquired by 2040166,750 acres acquired by 2040

Formulation of System Plan –BiOp Reasonable and Prudent Alternative

Adaptive ManagementScience basedValues Integration—MRRIC

Flow ModificationFort Peck & Gavins Point Dam

Unbalanced Intrasystem RegulationHabitat Creation, Restoration & Acquisition

Emergent Sandbar Habitat (ESH), Shallow Water Habitat (SWH), Cottonwoods

Intensive Research and MonitoringPallid Propagation Support

Interagency and Stakeholder Involvement

USACE and USFWS - LeadershipInvolvement includes

13 Federal Agency28 tribes8 states

Water Resources Development Act of 2007 created - Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC)

Authorization and FundingEstimated $3.1 Billion to fully implement Estimated $3.1 Billion to fully implement BiOpBiOpand Mitigation Activitiesand Mitigation ActivitiesAnnual Funding Annual Funding

FY04--$13MFY05--$27MFY06--$54.5MFY07--$85MFY08--$50.2MFY09--$57.8 M

Majority of funding to Habitat Construction and Majority of funding to Habitat Construction and Land AcquisitionLand Acquisition

Monitoring and Adaptive Management

Directed in Directed in BiOpBiOp to use M&AMto use M&AMIntegrated Science Program est. Integrated Science Program est. Species monitoring:Species monitoring:

Adult birds & Nesting Success (Fledge ratios)Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment & Habitat Use

Focused Research and Special StudiesFocused Research and Special StudiesMonitoring Habitat Restoration SitesMonitoring Habitat Restoration SitesAdaptive Management Program Under DevelopmentAdaptive Management Program Under Development

Lessons LearnedIncreased efficiency in implementing habitat projectsIncreased efficiency in implementing habitat projectsNew information on listed and other native speciesNew information on listed and other native species

Habitat use, distribution, foraging, and productivity for Tern and Plovers documented Terns and Plovers use created habitat in high numbers with successActual pallid sturgeon spawning sites identifiedPallid Sturgeon are using constructed habitats

Established successful hatchery propagation program Established successful hatchery propagation program

Program ChallengesCompleting Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Completing Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan (MRERP) Plan (MRERP) –– further define basin restoration further define basin restoration needsneedsRestudy of Missouri River Purposes (Fall 2009) Restudy of Missouri River Purposes (Fall 2009) Navigation, Flood Control, HydroNavigation, Flood Control, Hydro--Power, Irrigation, Water Supply, Power, Irrigation, Water Supply, Water Quality, Recreation, Fish and WildlifeWater Quality, Recreation, Fish and Wildlife

Funding Funding –– Min Min BiOpBiOp Compliance Compliance estest $70 million/yr$70 million/yr

Success to DateOver 50,000 Acres floodplain land Over 50,000 Acres floodplain land acquired acquired ~5,000 acres of shallow water habitat ~5,000 acres of shallow water habitat restored including creation of over restored including creation of over 36 chutes and 7 backwaters36 chutes and 7 backwaters~ 500 acres of emergent sandbars ~ 500 acres of emergent sandbars restored to provide nesting habitatrestored to provide nesting habitatOver 200,000 pallid sturgeon Over 200,000 pallid sturgeon juveniles stockedjuveniles stocked