Middle Missouri River Research Articles

A filter for characterizing the ridge-drainage continuum in digital elevation models

A “Ridge-Drainage Index” (RDI) is introduced that characterizes landform represented by digital elevation models on a continuum that ranges between ridge crests and summits at one end of its scale to pits, depressions, and drainages on the other. Intermediate outcomes signify ridge flanks, hillsides, or plains-like settings. The RDI quantifies terrain “openness,” but unlike indices similar to the “Sky View Factor” (SVF) which measure vertical angles open to the sky, it does so in the horizontal plane by calculating angles encompassing all lower elevations within a local neighborhood in a raster data structure. Consequently, the RDI describes a dimension of terrain form unlike those yielded by other common filters applied to digital elevation data. The RDI is scale sensitive, with results determined by raster cell size. At a regional scale with low spatial resolutions (e.g., 10-100 m) the RDI is well suited for geomorphological insights about landform through its ability to delineate drainage courses, depressions, ridgelines, and prominences. At the scale of human settlements, with moderately high spatial resolutions (e.g., 0.5-2 m), it can delineate anthropogenic variations in landform where low angles point to such negative features as small pits, trails, ditches, or depressions associated with sunken constructions, to such positive protuberances as small mounds, raised berms, standing stones, or architecture. Yet, high resolution terrain data can exhibit much noise when viewed in the RDI continuum because small height variations caused by hummocky ground, rodent activity, minor erosion, clumps of grass, or other small-scale processes, can be highlighted by the algorithm and introduce noise that detracts from the outcome. Although several procedures may be employed to mitigate such noise, low-pass smoothing filters that generalize terrain appear most effective. Case studies at two prehistoric Middle Missouri River settlements in North Dakota and at Pueblo Bonito, a standing architectural ruin in New Mexico, illustrate its benefits for the visualization of anthropogenic elements using elevation data acquired from a variety of sources, including airborne laser scanning, structure from motion photogrammetry applied to unmanned aerial vehicle imagery, and robotic total stations. A final case study at a prehistoric agricultural field complex in Arizona examines the RDI as a quantitative landform index in a spatial analysis of archaeological location.

Emigration of hatchery‐reared Pallid Sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes and Richardson), through a Missouri River dam

AbstractThe middle Missouri River (MMR; Fort Randall Dam, SD to Gavins Point Dam, NE‐SD) is stocked with hatchery‐reared pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes and Richardson), from upper Missouri River broodstock to aid recovery of this federally endangered species. Emigration of these fish through Gavins Point Dam restores genetic connectivity that likely existed pre‐impoundment but could lead to outbreeding depression in the future. Recapture data of hatchery‐reared pallid sturgeon stocked in the MMR were evaluated to improve understanding of pallid sturgeon emigration. From 2004 to 2015, 219 emigrants were caught: 4 stocked at age ≥2 years and 215 stocked at age ≤1 year. Emigration of the 2001‐2007 year classes stocked at age 1 was a consistent phenomenon and appeared higher than emigration of year classes stocked at ages 2–3. Little evidence suggested emigration was associated with an unusually high‐water event in 2011. The annual emigration probability of individuals stocked at age 1 estimated from multi‐state mark–recapture models was 0.05 [95% confidence interval = 0.04–0.06] for fish ages ≥1 year. This study suggests that alterations to stocking practices (e.g. stocking age) may affect emigration rates and, therefore, connectivity among pallid sturgeon populations.

Base flood estimates compared and linked to engineering modifications of the Missouri River

A novel stage projection method is used to estimate present-day flood levels at 12 sites on the Missouri River, using present-day rating curves and historical discharge estimates. These results are compared to several other flood estimates, including methods based only on historical stage data, and official “100-year” flood (base flood) levels determined from the statistics of discharge. Differences among these estimates vary with location, and their utility depends on river management style. At sites in the upper basin, channel configuration has changed little, but peak discharges have decreased slightly, due to tributary reservoirs and withdrawals. Little difference is seen between the various estimates of flood levels, and historical changes appear to be minimal. In contrast, flow behavior and channel character have been drastically modified along the middle Missouri River by a system of dams and huge reservoirs that were constructed and filled between 1933 and 1964; estimates of flood levels depend on location relative to these facilities. Further downstream, the lower Missouri River is lined with levees and has been transformed into a narrow navigational channel. Results are complex at and above Kansas City, because the channel at many sites has become incised due to decreased sediment loads. Below Kansas City, the water levels of significant floods are now higher than historical values, and official base flood levels are underestimated. Profound changes to the Missouri River have destabilized it in many complex ways, causing it to be less predictable, and many decades or centuries will be required for a new state of equilibrium to develop.

Range-wide assessment of pallid sturgeonScaphirhynchus albus(Forbes & Richardson, 1905) relative condition

Pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus relative condition has been observed to be declining along the Nebraska reach (rkm 1212.6–801.3) of the Missouri River over the past several years; therefore, pallid sturgeon capture data was synthesized from the entire Missouri and Middle Mississippi rivers to document and compare how pallid sturgeon condition varies spatially and temporally throughout much of their current range. The study area was subdivided into four river reaches based on a priori statistical differences for pallid sturgeon catches from 2003 to 2015. Pallid sturgeon in the Middle Mississippi River (Alton Dam [rkm 321.9]) to the confluence of the Ohio River (rkm 0.0) were in the best condition while pallid sturgeon in the Middle Missouri River (Fort Randall Dam [rkm 1416.2]) to the Grand River confluence (rkm 402.3) were in the poorest condition. Furthermore, pallid sturgeon condition in the Upper Missouri River (Fort Peck Dam [rkm 2850.9] to the headwaters of Lake Sakakawea [rkm 2523.5] and lower Yellowstone River) and the Lower Missouri River (Grand River confluence to the Mississippi River confluence [rkm 0.0]) were significantly less than in the Middle Mississippi River but significantly higher than the Middle Missouri River. Temporally, pallid sturgeon condition was highly variable. Relative condition in the Middle Mississippi River was consistently above average (Kn = 1.1). Comparatively, Kn throughout the Missouri River rarely exceeded “normal” (Kn = 1.0), with Kn in the middle and lower reaches of the Missouri River having declined to the lowest observed. As pallid sturgeon recovery efforts continue, understanding the range-wide differences and effects on condition could be critical, as poor condition may cause maturation delays, reproductive senescence or even mortality, which affects the likelihood of natural reproduction and recruitment.

Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris diet composition during extreme flow events in a large river

ABSTRACTRecord flooding during 2011 caused the middle Missouri River to inundate its floodplain for much of the summer and fall. Subsequently, near-record drought during 2012 confined the river within its channel all year. Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris diet was compared between 2011 and 2012 to assess several aspects of their trophic ecology during two years with overtly different hydrographs. A total of 629 flathead catfish were collected across years and results indicated that stomachs were more full (p < 0.001) and fish were in better condition (p < 0.001) during 2011. Furthermore, empty stomachs were less frequent (p = 0.003) and flathead catfish transitioned to piscivory at smaller sizes during the flood year. Future work to assess the influence of hydrology on large river food webs will help resource managers determine the magnitude and frequency of flooding needed to maintain or enhance large river fisheries.

Population Trends, Bend Use Relative to Available Habitat and Within‐River‐Bend Habitat Use of Eight Indicator Species of Missouri and Lower Kansas River Benthic Fishes: 15 Years After Baseline Assessment

AbstractA baseline assessment of the Missouri River fish community and species‐specific habitat use patterns conducted from 1996 to 1998 provided the first comprehensive analysis of Missouri River benthic fish population trends and habitat use in the Missouri and Lower Yellowstone rivers, exclusive of reservoirs, and provided the foundation for the present Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment Program (PSPAP). Data used in such studies are frequently zero inflated. To address this issue, the zero‐inflated Poisson (ZIP) model was applied. This follow‐up study is based on PSPAP data collected up to 15 years later along with new understanding of how habitat characteristics among and within bends affect habitat use of fish species targeted by PSPAP, including pallid sturgeon. This work demonstrated that a large‐scale, large‐river, PSPAP‐type monitoring program can be an effective tool for assessing population trends and habitat usage of large‐river fish species. Using multiple gears, PSPAP was effective in monitoring shovelnose and pallid sturgeons, sicklefin, shoal and sturgeon chubs, sand shiner, blue sucker and sauger. For all species, the relationship between environmental variables and relative abundance differed, somewhat, among river segments suggesting the importance of the overall conditions of Upper and Middle Missouri River and Lower Missouri and Kansas rivers on the habitat usage patterns exhibited. Shoal and sicklefin chubs exhibited many similar habitat usage patterns; blue sucker and shovelnose sturgeon also shared similar responses. For pallid sturgeon, the primary focus of PSPAP, relative abundance tended to increase in Upper and Middle Missouri River paralleling stocking efforts, whereas no evidence of an increasing relative abundance was found in the Lower Missouri River despite stocking. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Response of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in six reservoirs of the middle Missouri River (USA) to drought conditions and a major flood event

We assessed if the qualitative and quantitative aspects of plankton composition in reservoirs of the middle Missouri River were influenced by hydrologic variability. Phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in six reservoirs of this highly regulated system were sampled between 2004 and 2011 during historic drought, subsequent recovery, and a 100-year flood event. The reservoir system encompasses a broad latitudinal gradient of decreasing depth, decreasing water residence time and increasing trophic state. Phytoplankton communities of the upper three reservoirs were co-dominated by planktonic and meroplanktonic diatoms during the drought, recovery, and flood periods, but the proportion of more silicified meroplanktonic diatoms increased in the lower three reservoirs as water residence time decreased. Peak phytoplankton biovolume usually occurred during spring/early summer and was associated with increased hydrologic inflows and outflows. Zooplankton biomass of the reservoir system was dominated by Daphnia spp., but all zooplankton groups decreased as inflows and outflows accelerated during the recovery and flood periods. Rotifer abundances were higher under turbulent conditions associated with dam operations. Canonical correlation analyses suggested that temperature, water residence time, station depth, and water clarity explained more variance in the structures of phytoplankton and zooplankton communities than bioavailable nutrient parameters.

Movements of white‐tailed deer in riparian habitat: Implications for infectious diseases

AbstractMovements of male white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are of great concern with respect to spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) across landscapes because most yearlings males disperse and adult males have higher prevalence of CWD than do females and younger deer. We radiocollared and monitored 85 male white‐tailed deer in the middle Missouri River Valley of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, USA from 2004 to 2008. Average size (±SE) of fixed‐kernel annual home ranges (95%) and core areas (50%) for resident deer were 449 (±32) ha and 99 (±7) ha, respectively. Resident deer exhibited a high‐degree of fidelity to their home ranges. Mean overlap between consecutive annual home ranges and core areas was 81% and 74%, respectively. Average dispersal distance was 17.7 ± 4.5 km (range = 3–121 km) for 22 radio‐marked and 6 ear‐tagged yearlings. Mean spring dispersal distance (25 km) was 150% greater than fall (10 km). Dispersal direction from Desoto National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR) was bimodal on a northwest to southeast axis that followed the Missouri River corridor. Of 22 yearlings that dispersed, 18 (82%) established adult home ranges within the river valley. Dispersal movements of yearling males represent the greatest risk for rapid spread of diseases from infected source populations. Disease management efforts in riparian habitats should target male fawns and yearling males for removal in areas within or immediately adjacent to river corridors. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Seasonal resource selection by blue suckers Cycleptus elongatus

Telemetry data were used to quantify seasonal resource selection and rank‐preferred habitat types for blue suckers Cycleptus elongatus in the middle Missouri River and its tributaries, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, U.S.A. Habitat diversity required by C. elongatus to complete its annual life‐history cycle was evident by interseasonal variation in habitat selection. Tributaries and unchannelized portions of the middle Missouri River system were selected during the inferred spawning season (spring), habitats along shorelines in the channelized middle Missouri River were selected for postspawning (summer) and areas of reduced current were generally selected for the period preceding spawning (autumn). This study provides insight into mature C. elongatus behaviour throughout its annual life cycle. Furthermore, these results document the interseasonal variability in habitat selection of C. elongatus and highlight the need for development of habitat selection models for other imperilled fish species in aquatic systems affected by anthropogenic developments.

Seasonal use distributions and migrations of blue sucker in the Middle Missouri River

Abstract – Blue suckers, Cycleptus elongatus, are a highly mobile species speculated to have spring spawning migrations. However, previous studies have not quantified seasonal migrations of blue suckers. Use distributions were calculated at 90% and 50% for three seasons to identify geographic space‐use requirements of blue suckers. Mean 90% use distributions (±SE) varied from 8.1 km (±5.3 km) in summer to 78.6 km (±9.9 km) in fall to 174.9 km (±13.1 km) in spring. The great space‐use requirements of blue suckers in fall and spring indicate that the species makes substantial upstream migrations in fall and also preceding spawning in spring, then return to a core area postspawning. The broad geographical range occupied by blue suckers throughout their life‐history cycle emphasises the need for interjurisdictional management of the species and highlights potential detrimental effects of blocking fish passage.

Competition Potential between Saugers and Walleyes in Nonnative Sympatry

AbstractSauger Sander canadensis populations throughout North America have exhibited declines over the past few decades. Various factors may be contribute to the reduced population abundance of saugers in the middle Missouri River of Montana, including interspecific competition with walleyes Sander vitreus. We compared the seasonal migrations, habitat use, and diets of both species in the middle Missouri River to assess competition potential. Before the presumed spawning period, 96% of saugers and 57% of walleyes migrated as far as 264 kilometers downstream. After spawning, both species returned to previously occupied river reaches and demonstrated site fidelity during the nonmigratory season. Habitat use by saugers and walleyes was similar at three hierarchical spatial scales. Diet overlap was high during the spring and summer and moderate during autumn. Resource overlap of saugers and walleyes in the middle Missouri River of Montana suggests that the competition potential between these species is high, which may preclude the recovery of native sauger populations where resources are limiting.

Multidimensional prospecting in North American Great Plains village sites

AbstractGeophysical survey results are described for four prehistoric and historic fortified earthlodge settlements located in the Middle Missouri River basin of North and South Dakota, USA. One impetus for this work is the upcoming bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804–1806 that used the Missouri as its route of travel. Celebrated as an event that helped to open the American West to Euroamerican settlement, tourism at archaeological parks is expected to markedly increase. Multidimensional geophysical surveys were used to pin‐point cultural anomalies for archaeological excavation and interpretation, but more importantly, the wide‐area mapping of the subsurface at these villages allowed visualization of their structure and organization, yielding many new insights. At Menoken Village (AD 1240) previously unknown houses, oval in form, were revealed magnetically owing to their intense burning, as was an intravillage trail system seen in resistivity data. At Whistling Elk Village (AD 1300) the first glimpse of the nature of this deeply buried settlement was achieved by resistivity and conductivity surveys, with magnetic indications that half of the houses had been burned. The geophysical evidence also hints at a second village, much more compact, that may lie within the primary settlement, supporting an attack theory established by limited excavation evidence. At Huff Village (AD 1450) the magnetometry survey revealed the presence of vast numbers of previously unsuspected food storage pits outside of the numerous dwellings that lie within this settlement. At Mitu'tahakto's (1822–1861), an early historic Mandan/Arikara settlement, resistivity and GPR surveys discovered the presence of new and overlapping houses, and magnetometry indicated large differences in the number of iron artefacts between households, pointing to possible variations in access or status. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Native grasslands and the stabilization of earthwork archaeological sites on the middle Missouri River, North Dakota

Site condition and management practices at six Missouri River archaeological sites are reviewed and the condition of the sites compared between observations in 1993 and 1998. Earthwork sites in a cover of prairie or pasture grasses that have been mown for interpretation purposes have become more infested with ground squirrels. Tall prairie or shrubland obscures site features but these animals are less numerous on sites with such cover. One mown site in an urban area had no ground squirrels, suggesting that the animals had been removed by local urban dwellers or their cats and had no chance to re-invade. The long-term stability of archaeological sites can best be achieved by allowing native prairie grasses to grow tall, leaving only small samples of the site area open, or by control of ground squirrel numbers.

Myths and Traditions of the Arikara Indians.

When trappers and fur traders first encountered the Arikara Indians, they saw a settled and well-organized people who could be firm friends or fearsome enemies. Until the late eighteenth century the Arikaras, close relatives of the Pawnees, were one of the largest and most powerful tribes on the northern plains. For centuries Arikaras lived along the middle Missouri River. Today, they reside on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Though much has been written about the Arikaras, their own accounts of themselves and the world as they see it have been available only in limited scholarly editions. This collection is the first to make Arikara myths, tales, and stories widely accessible. The book presents voices of the Arikara past closely translated into idiomatic English. The narratives include myths of ancient times, legends of supernatural power bestowed on selected individuals, historical accounts, and anecdotes of mysterious incidents. Also included in the collection are tales, stories the Arikaras consider fiction, that tell of the adventures and foibles of Coyote, Stuwi, and of a host of other characters. Myths and Traditions of the Arikara Indians offers a selection of narratives from Douglas R. Parks's four-volume work, Traditional Narratives of the Arikara Indians . The introduction situates the Arikaras in historical context, describes the recording and translation of the narratives, and discusses the distinctive features of the narratives. For each story, cross references are given to variant forms recorded among other Plains tribes.

Changing prehistoric Settlement along The middle Missouri river:

Archaeologists have proposed three alternative explanations for the expansion and shifts of sedentary villagers along the Middle Missouri during the period AD 900 to 1550: 1) intensification of exc...

Armoring and Sorting Simulation in Alluvial Rivers

Formulations for bed armoring and hydraulic sorting of bed sediments in alluvial streams are developed, and an application to Missouri River bed evolution is presented. A relation for the areal coverage factor for armoring on a plane bed is first formulated as a function of degradation depth and bedmaterial characteristics, and is then modified by introducing correction factors for the effect of bed forms and the stochastic nature of sediment motion. For the simulation of hydraulic sorting, bed sediments are assumed to be mixed homogeneously in a mixed‐layer depth approximately equal to average bedform height, and the composition of mixed‐layer materials is adjusted to satisfy the continuity equation for each sediment size fraction. These formulations are applied in a 20‐year simulation of bed degradation in the middle Missouri River reach downstream of Gavins Point Dam. It is found that the simulated bedsediment composition, including the two‐layer structure comprising the top armor coat and the underlying finer sediments, is in good agreement with the observed Missouri River bed characteristics.

Simulation of Missouri River Bed Degradation

The future course of bed degradation in the middle Missouri River has been predicted using numerical simulation techniques. The simulation required development of the new Total Load Transport Model (TLTM), which incorporates the interdependence of friction factor and sediment transport through data‐based empirical relations. TLTM was implemented in a mathematical simulation model called IALLUVIAL, which computes quasi‐steady water and sediment flow in natural rivers having nonuniform bed sediments. IALLUVIAL also incorporates bed‐sediment sorting and armoring, which are processes of fundamental importance to the future course of Missouri River degradation. IALLUVIAL was first validated through simulation of the 1960–1980 severe degradation in the Missouri River between Sioux City, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. Subsequently IALLUVIAL was used to predict 1980–2000 degradation for several river‐management scenarios. The simulations suggest that the worst of the degradation is now over, and that it is the channelization, rather than upstream regulation, which is primarily responsible for the degradation. A companion paper describes the details of IALLUVIAL's armoring and sorting simulation procedures.

The Sport Fishery of the Unchannelized and Channelized Middle Missouri River

Abstract A catch survey of 502 km of the Missouri River was conducted from July 1, 1972 to June 30, 1973. The study area encompassed the Gavins Point Dam tailwaters (6.4 km), 84 km of unchannelized river and 412 km of channelized river. The fishery supported 412,660 angler hours (98,252 angling days) valued at $720,047. Anglers averaged 0.47 and 0.33 fish/h for annual catch and harvest rates, respectively. Catch rate includes fish not kept. The greatest angling effort and harvest occurred in the tailwaters, but the unchannelized river supported the highest annual catch and harvest rates. 0.72 and 0.50 fish/h. The unchannelized river also exceeded the channelized river in angler-hours/km, number of fish caught/km, weight harvested (kg/km), and average size of creeled fish. Sauger, channel catfish, and white bass were the most abundant species creeled in the unchannelized river compared to carp, channel catfish, and freshwater drum in the channelized section. The harvest rates indicated that the standing cr...

Holocene Stratigraphy and Archeology in the Middle Missouri River Trench, South Dakota

Shoreline erosion along man-made lakes in North Dakota and South Dakota has led to the discovery of stratified preceramic cultural remains in an area where previously few such materials have been found. One important exposure, the Walth Bay site, contains a 7000-year sequence of alluvial and eolian deposition capping an abandoned Missouri River terrace. Three distinct soil profiles are associated with successive Late Paleo-Indian, Plains Archaic, and Plains Village Tradition occupations.

The Cheyennes: Indians of the Great Plains

This case study traces the Cheyenne Indians from their first contact with the French explorer LaSalle in 1680. The book then follows their exodus from Minnesota under pressure from the Sioux, Cel, and Ojibwa; their attempt to gain a foothold in eastern South Dakota and the middle Missouri River; and their final movement into the high western plains in the first half of the 19th century.