• Fishery studies on the Nemaha River and tributaries in Nebraska and Kansas for Iowa Tribes
  • Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species Monitoring Program for the Loup and Lower Platte Rivers, Nebraska
  • Assessment, Design and Enhancement of Aquatic Resources of the Santee Sioux Nature Park Development Project, Nebraska
  • Aquatic Ecological Assessments of Whispering Ridge and West Papillion Creeks, Nebraska
  • Aquatic Ecological Assessments of Clear Creek and Williams Fork River, Colorado
  • An Aquatic Ecological Assessment of Sites on Plum Creek and the Niobrara River, Brown County, Nebraska
  • Aquatic and Terrestrial Resource Surveys on Union Pacific Railroad Lands in the Western United States in Support of a Nationwide Eco-Asset Modeling Program
  • A Field Guide to the Riverine Fishes of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Central South Dakota
  • Lake and Fishery Assessments on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North and South Dakota: a Reservation-Wide Comprehensive Lake and Fishery Management Plan
  • Fish Assemblages in Perennial Streams on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, South Dakota: a Resource Restoration and Protection Plan
  • Aquatic Biological Surveys of the Black Buttes Area, Parcel 10, Crook County, Wyoming
  • Mercury Levels in Fish Measured from Selected Lakes on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, South Dakota
  • A Preliminary Investigation of Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation of Freshwater Mussel Tissue, Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, South Dakota
  • Fishery and Aquatic Ecological Assessment of the Taylor River, Gunnison County, Colorado: a Resource Management Plan for Habitat and Fisheries
  • Virgin Creek Habitat Restoration Project, South Dakota: Design, Construction and Preliminary Effects
  • ​Instream and Riparian Habitat Restoration Plan for Selected Reaches of Virgin Creek, South Dakota
  • Spatial Differences of Fish Density, Biomass and Diversity among Sites along the Missouri River above Lake Oahe and on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation
  • Fish Studies on the Middle Rio Grande River, New Mexico, 1995 - 1999.
  • Aquatic Biological Survey of Whitewood Creek and the Belle Fourche River, South Dakota
  • Aquatic Biological Survey of Thompson Creek and Squaw Creek, Custer County, Idaho

SELECT  Project  Experience

ERS personnel have the expertise needed to assess and mitigate impacts to riparian habitat, fish, benthic invertebrates, aquatic vegetation and algae in freshwater systems. We have designed and completed numerous fish population, instream flow, macroinvertebrate, plankton, periphyton, water quality, and habitat studies in streams, rivers and reservoirs in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

ERS ecologists have conducted many investigations in streams and rivers to assess effects of hydropower and water use projects on aquatic habitat, water quality and biological communities. We have assessed stream channel stability and watershed erosion for various mountain and plains ecosystems. ERS scientists have collected, analyzed and interpreted habitat utilization data and developed habitat suitability indices, and have used Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM; PHABSIM) to model physical habitat availability to identify critical stream reaches. Stream temperature models, using SNTEMP, have been used to assess water temperature suitability for various life stages of fish. Results from these investigations were used to identify and recommend instream flows for optimal fish habitat.

Many of our aquatic studies incorporate analyses of water quality, instream and riparian habitat, instream flow, periphyton, macroinvertebrates and fish for support of NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System), NPS (Non-Point Source pollution), NRDA (Natural Resource Damage Assessment), stream use-attainability and classification, and instream flow determination programs. We have also conducted numerous reservoir investigations, incorporating analyses of water quality, sediment and nutrient loading, plankton, and fish populations for support of FERC relicensing and other projects.

Our aquatic ecologists have reviewed and prepared numerous BOs, BAs, EAs, EIRs and EISs for support of NEPA and ESA projects. We have also prepared assessment, mitigation and monitoring plans for FERC relicensing support and tribal programs. Our staff has completed studies assessing impacts of heavy metals and pesticides on aquatic biota in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain areas.

AQUATIC  RESOURCES