Recovery Program Review for Endangered Pallid Sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River Basin

The pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) is one of the most critically endangered species in the United States. Recovery implementation occurs primarily through activities of three workgroups that function in the upper, middle, and lower portions of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The Upper Basin Workgroup (UBW) consists of federal and state agency biologists, state representatives, and university scientists from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. In August 2003, the UBW requested that the Western Division of the American Fisheries Society (WDAFS) review the existing pallid sturgeon recovery effort in the upper basin and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Workgroup. The WDAFS assembled a Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Review Committee to assist the UBW in accomplishing this objective. In total, 52 recommendations were offered to the UBW to address recovery needs, organizational problems, funding shortfalls, and technical concerns. Nine critical recommendations concerning broodstock mating protocols, measures to control pallid sturgeon iridovirus, and habitat restoration are considered the minimum necessary to prevent near-term loss of the species from the upper Missouri River. In addition, the Committee concluded that substantial recovery must occur during the next 5 years to prevent extirpation of the species in the upper basin.

Keywords:

• recovery of endangered species
• pallid sturgeon
• Upper Missouri River Basin

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ken McDonald for his foresight to request an independent peer review of the upper basin pallid sturgeon recovery effort and for his assistance during the review process. Our report benefited from reviews by the WDAFS Executive Committee, WDAFS Environmental Concerns Committee, and Upper Basin Pallid Sturgeon Workgroup members. Funding for this review was kindly provided by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and North Dakota Fish and Game Department.

Notes

*PSIV = pallid sturgeon iridovirus.