Fish Indicators of Ecosystem Health: Upper Mississippi River System

Abstract

Following the UMRRAnalysis Team’s recommendations, our reportdescribesthe development of backwater assemblage and migratory fish indicators and their responsessince the beginning of the UMRR LTRMdata collection. The data used for these indicators are summarized aspool-wide totalsfrom the UMRR LTRMelement. In addition, we also present a practical solution to the problem of determining reference condition in the absence of true reference sites in navigable rivers by using an internal quantitative baseline condition determined by a long-term UMRR Fish Indicators data trend at the reach-scale.Lastly, we outline our recommendation for the development of indicator that evaluates the young-of-the-year fish assemblage.