DEVELOPMENT OF A MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR THE
MISSOURI RIVER

Mark Laustrup
USGS-Biological Resources Division, Midwest Science Center, 4200 New Haven
Road
Columbia, MO 65201

For the past 3 years, the National Biological Service (now the USGS-Biological
Resources Division) has funded projects which emphasize joint partnerships with
state agencies.  In 1996, the Midwest Science Center and the Missouri River
Natural Resources Committee  (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota,
North Dakota, and Montana) were successful in receiving funds from the
NBS/BRD State Partnership Program to develop a biological monitoring and
assessment plan for the Missouri River.

The first of six facilitated meetings to create this plan was held in Omaha,
Nebraska, November 5-7, 1996.  The results of the first meeting include the
development of a statement of purpose, the development of a conceptual model of
interaction, the development of an organizational approach to address the resource
issues, and the establishment of guidelines for the development of the plan.  

Additional meetings are being used to develop monitoring and assessment
products for the aquatic, terrestrial, and water quality categories.  Included in the
aquatic category are fish/invertebrates, habitat and physical/chemical processes.  
The terrestrial component includes wildlife, habitat and physical/chemical
processes.  A final  meeting to integrate the aquatic, terrestrial, and water
workgroup products will be held in May, 1997.  The plan will undergo peer
review and will then be provided to the Missouri River Basin Association
(MRBA) by October, 1997.  The MRBA intends to submit the plan to Congress
for funding.

Keywords: Missouri River, monitoring

Mark Laustrup
USGS-Biological Resources Division, Midwest Science Center, 4200 New Haven
Road
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: 573-875-5399 x1703
Fax: 573-876-1896
Email: mlaustrup@msc.nbs.gov

Platform presentation