Fish Management Problems of Large Impoundments on the Missouri River

Abstract

Dam construction on the Missouri River is creating a tremendous fishery resource in the million surface-acres of water being impounded in six large reservoirs. Major management problems include obtaining adequate harvest, developing efficient commercial gear and markets for fish products, and the threatening possibility of over-population of the reservoir with undesirable kinds of fishes. Each reservoir is unique in its basic physical and chemical characterstics and must be managed as a separate entity. Water level manipulation holds considerable promise as a tool of fish population management. Improvements in the physical design of tailwaters areas can improve sport fishing. More basic data on the fish habitat provided by these reservoirs is urgently needed if fish management methods are to be developed in time to make full and proper use of the tremendous fishery resource. At present, state fishery research and management programs are not adequate to deal with the problems at hand and little or no outside assistance has been received.