Catfish Fish are Jumping “For Joy” on the Mississippi River

Photos courtesy of the author.

As a fisheries biologist for 32 years in Illinois, there are few songs that actually I can relate to my job. The Doobie Brothers classic “Black Water” is one of those tunes. In my experiences on the river, I have not encountered “catfish jumping,” but they may start “jumping for joy” with the ongoing investments being made on the Upper Mississippi River (UMR).

After decades of river modifications, siltation and habitat loss, the Upper Mississippi River has now become a major focus of ecological restorations in the Midwest. Not only is critical habitat on the river being saved and restored through the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Habitat and Restoration and Enhancement Programs, but these projects also promote a healthier and more resilient Upper Mississippi River ecosystem. Currently, 56 projects have been completed on the UMR, with another 30 being active and 18 projects that are in preliminary stages of review.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has also initiated the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainably Program (NESP) ecosystem restoration component. The purpose of this program is to ensure the environmental sustainability of the existing UMR and Illinois Waterway System through the implementation of ecosystem restoration projects. Twenty-three NESP restoration projects are currently proposed. Each of these projects will include different approaches to improve, expand and protect various habitats in the UMR.

Some of the proposed features may include island building, construction of fish passages, floodplain restoration, water level management, topographical diversity, and dam and levee modification to benefit the environment. Examples of current projects that I am involved with and excited to see come to fruition are the Lock and Dam 22 Fish Passage Project and the Quincy Bay Habitat Rehabilitation Project. These projects were specifically selected to benefit fish and additional aquatic life along the Mississippi River. Each of these programs, along with their respective descriptions and locations, are accessible at:

• https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Stewardship/Upper-Mississippi-River-Restoration/Habitat-Restoration/
• https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Stewardship/Upper-Mississippi-River-Restoration/Habitat-Restoration/Rock-Island-District/Quincy-Bay/
• https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Rock-Island-District/Programs/NESP/
• https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Rock-Island-District/Programs/NESP/LD22-Fish-Passage/

Being able to witness the current investments made in the Mississippi River has me, as a fisheries biologist, “jumping for joy.” In my three decades of working on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers I have seen many changes. Most changes have negative impacts on the aquatic fauna in the river, such as the expansion of nonnative species, including the invasive silver, bighead, black and grass carps, as well as zebra and quagga mussels.

The loss of quality habitat and water depth due to siltation has made it more difficult to assess the river fish populations. Over my tenure I have learned that river fish can be resilient to these adverse changes. Recent fish surveys continue to indicate stable and healthy fish populations within the river. Sport fish, such as bluegill, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappies and catfish, have remained steady in historic survey locations.

The forage fish that sportfish rely on as food have also been prevalent in annual surveys on the river. Encountering species such as shovelnose sturgeon, blue suckers, northern pike and paddlefish have become more common in the expanded fish survey locations.

These data and observations indicate that, with appropriate habitat project planning, the river fish are poised to take advantage of newly enhanced areas and to continue thriving, providing outdoor opportunities along the Mississippi River for many generations. For all these reasons it has the catfish “jumping for joy” on the Mississippi River.

---

Matt O’Hara began his “river” career at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), Illinois River Biological Station in 1991. Prior to his river career, he obtained a B.S in Biology from Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri and completed an internship with the Illinois Department of Conservation. After a 19-year career with INHS as a Large River Ecologist, in 2010 he accepted a position with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Aquatic Nuisance Species Program as the Aquaculture Program Coordinator. In 2012, O’Hara was promoted to the Invasive Carp Program as the Project Leader. He coordinated and assisted with the IDNR efforts in protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp. Currently he holds the position as a Mississippi River Fisheries Biologist for Pools 18-22. O’Hara enjoys working on the Mississippi River and its issues, including habitat projects, fish passage and invasive species. O’Hara lives in Beardstown with his family and enjoys fishing and hunting on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.