OMAHA, Neb. - The 2024 test flow from Fort Peck Dam was the first in a series of test flows intended to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion.
The test flow began April 26 with an initial flow peak in early May and a second flow peak in late June. Following the second peak there still was no indication of spawning by the three female pallid sturgeon present downstream of the dam. Because there had been no indication of spawning behavior following completion of the second peak or from fish assessments via ultrasound conducted July 2-3, normal operations resumed resulting in a small change in releases from 8,000 cfs to 9,000 cfs.
Monitoring continued, however, and one female was recaptured and reassessed on July 30 and still had not spawned. Another of the female pallid sturgeon was recaptured on July 31 and it was determined via ultrasound that it had spawned. This is only the second known spawning event downstream of Ft. Peck Dam.
Currently, the United States Geological Survey is reviewing telemetry data to narrow down location and timing of this spawning event and based on an initial review spawning may have occurred near Wolf Point in late July. Crews have not yet relocated the third female pallid sturgeon to determine if it had spawned.
Information collected during the test flow will be used to assess the relation of the pallid sturgeon responses, including this spawning event, to the test flow.
Crews will now be sampling for any progeny that may have been produced from this spawning event. Monitoring of fish response and monitoring for potential impacts continue despite return to normal operations and both will be used to inform future test flows.
Release no. 24-017