3 Dams and River Ecology - Iowa Department of Natural Resources

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Legend X Potential Mussel Priority Dams Fig. 5-3: Segments with Potential for Mussel Recolonization, Species of Greatest Conservation Need Figure 3-c. Dams on river segments with potential for species of greatest conservation need and mussel recolonization. X Emm-3 X X X X X Web-4 Web-5 Web-6 Web-2 Web-1 X X Kos-11 Hum-1 Hum-2 Hum-5 X Wri-1 X Ham-3 Wor-3 Wor-2 Mit-2 Mit-5 Mit-3 Mit-4 Mit-1 How-3 Wor-1 Mit-7Mit-8 Flo-6 How-2 Cer-8Cer-9 Cer-7 Cer-6 Mit-10 Flo-3 Flo-1 Flo-4 Flo-2 Chi-4 Chi-3 Cer-10 Flo-5 But-1 Chi-2 Chi-1 Bre-1 X X X X X X X X XX Fra-3 Fra-2 Fra-1 X X Har-1 Har-2 X X 34 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Har-3 But-7 But-4 But-5 X Gru-3 But-3 X X X Bre-2 X Bla-1 Bla-2 Bla-4Bla-7 Bla-3 Bla-5 Bre-5 Buc-1Fay-7Fay-8 Buc-6 X X X X X Buc-2 Buc-3Buc-4 X Iow-1 X Buc-5 X Lin-5 X X Del-3 Del-2 Del-4 Del-5 XX X X X X X Lin-7 Lin-6 Lin-3 Lin-2 Lin-4 X X Joh-7 X Joh-3 Joh-2 Joh-1 X Jon-3
Iowa endangered fish Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus), Weed Shiner (Notropis texanu), Pearl Dace (Semotilus margarita), Freckled Madtom (Noturus nocturnus), Bluntnose Darter (Etheostoma chlorosomum), Least Darter (Etheostoma microperca) Iowa endangered fresh water mussels Spectacle Case (Cumberlandia monodonta), Slippershell (Alasmidonta viridis), Buckhorn (Tritogonia verrucosa) Ozark Pigtoe (Fusconaia ozarkensis), Bullhead (Plethobasus cyphyus), Ohio River Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia), Slough Sandshell,(Lampsilis teres teres), Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres anodontoides), Higgin’s-eye Pearly Mussel (Lampsilis higginsi). Iowa threatened fish: Chestnut Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon castaneus), American Brook Lamprey (Lampetra appendix), Redfin (formerly “Grass”) Pickerel (Esox americanus), Blacknose Shiner (Notropis heterolepis), Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka), Western Sand Darter (Ammocrypta clara), Black Redhorse (Moxostoma duquesnei), Burbot (Lota lota), Orangethroat Darter (Etheostoma spectabile). Iowa Threatened Fresh water mussels: Cylinder (Anodontoides ferussacianus), Strange Floater (Strophitus undulatus), Creek Heelsplitter (Lasmigona compressa), Purple Pimpleback (Cyclonaias tuberculata), Butterfly (Ellipsaria lineolata), Ellipse (Venustaconcha ellipsiformis). Iowa fish of special concern: Pugnose Minnow (Notropis emiliae), Pirate Perch (Aphredoderus sayanus), In addition, there are three federally endangered aquatic species in Iowa: pallid sturgeon, Topeka shiner, Higgin’s eye mussel. As these species are priorities for federal recovery efforts, US Fish and Wildlife Service is likely to collaborate in species recovery involving fish passage targeted to benefit these species. Two additional mussels, the sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) and the spectacle case (Cumberlandia monodonta), are candidates for federal listing. Special care should be used in dam-related projects not to damage habitat for these listed species as projects are constructed. But overall, improved river connections, longer segments between obstructions, and more diverse habitat than in existing river impoundments are likely to result in benefits for these species. Aquatic life impairments A number of reaches of river in Iowa have been monitored to detmermine whether they support heathly populations 35 of aquatic species. These may include specific listed species, they may document a decline in existing species, or they may indicate a segment is less diverse than would be expected of a more natural reference reach. If they do not attain the aquatic life uses they are designated to support, they are added to Iowa’s Section 303(d) listing of impaired streams for waters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires such lists from all states to comply with Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act. Iowa DNR can remove segments from this listing when credible data can show designated uses are being attained. In some cases, carefully targeted dam mitigations may be able to help achieve this over-arching goal of removing listings. Using GIS coverages, impaired segments were visually compared to areas where a series of dams exists along rivers. A number of segments were identified where (Figure 3-d) dam mitigationpriorities may overlap with de-listing of a section. Where priorities overlap, there is a potential for collaboration with the Iowa DNR’s federally funded Section 319 watershed improvement program. Invasive species priorities While many factors discussed above favor connectivity, dam mitigation projects should not be assumed to automatically be of general benefit to river ecosystems. Invasive animals in Iowa’s streams present a clear and present danger that can quickly displace native species. Asian carp – preventive dams A consensus item among U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, Iowa DNR fish management biologists, and IDNR Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) staff is that certain dams should receive a great deal of scrutiny, research, and planning before a fishpassable connection is re-established to the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, or an Asian-carp- infested interior stream. Generally, these are the tallest dams (generally 10 feet or greater with infrequent submergence) that are farthest downstream on a river. Asian carp, including big head (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are known to inhabit the Mississippi River, Missouri River, and
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