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AUTHORS. Scott Ralston, Nick Utrup, Kim Emerson - U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
ABSTRACT. The Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) is a small minnow inhabiting small to mid-size prairie streams in the Midwest and primarily found in the headwaters. Once abundant in the central U.S., the Topeka shiner was federally listed as endangered throughout its range in 1998. Topeka shiners are known to inhabit open pools with clear, cool water and prefer slower moving backwater pools and off-channel habitat. Alteration of streams throughout the range continues to threaten habitat suitability for the species; however, they have shown measurable improvements within a couple years in response to habitat restoration. The US Fish & Wildlife Service, working collaboratively with partners, has developed oxbow/off-channel pool restoration techniques. Since 2015 they have conducted over 60 oxbow restorations in SW Minnesota and monitored these sites, demonstrating a very high degree of success in usage post restoration by Topeka shiners as well as by many other species. Water quality has also been shown to be a great improvement within the restored ponds compared to the adjacent active stream channel. This project has been an important step in refining techniques, improving our monitoring and expanding restoration with a goal toward down listing of an endangered species.
