Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Long Term Resource Monitoring
Ecological Status and Trends of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers
Ecological Status and Trends of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers
UMESC Activity Report for October 2025 – April 2026
Publications and Products
Publications and Products
Scientific Investigations Report
Breeding Birds of the Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Forest: One Community in a Changing Forest, 1994 to 1997
Breeding Birds of the Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Forest: One Community in a Changing Forest, 1994 to 1997
Bat Research
White-nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd)
White-nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd)
Conservation of Native Freshwater Mussels
Freshwater mussels are the most imperiled group of animals in North America, with 66% of species at risk.
Freshwater mussels are the most imperiled group of animals in North America, with 66% of species at risk.
UMRR Long Term Resource Monitoring
The LTRM is the Nation's largest river monitoring program with six remote state-operated field stations.
The LTRM is the Nation's largest river monitoring program with six remote state-operated field stations.
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Welcome to the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC). We are proud to be one of the leading research centers conducting ecological research to support the Department of the Interior's and other local, state and federal resource agencies management of natural resources, fish, and wildlife.
News
A Tale of Two Islands and the Future of an Ocean Sentinel Seabird
A Tale of Two Islands and the Future of an Ocean Sentinel Seabird
EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 2
EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 2
Tackling Invasive Mussels with Science and Strategy
Tackling Invasive Mussels with Science and Strategy
Publications
Characterization of the native freshwater mussel assemblage across a reach of the Rappahannock River, Virginia Characterization of the native freshwater mussel assemblage across a reach of the Rappahannock River, Virginia
Native freshwater mussels occur in rivers of all sizes, yet much of the literature focuses on small- to medium-sized rivers, likely because of logistic challenges of sampling deep, fast, and turbid large rivers. As large-river surveys become more common, the information resulting from a systematic sampling design can provide baseline data on population sizes to inform decision making by...
Water quality improvements and hydrogeomorphic change over 20 years contributed to macrophyte community recovery in the Upper Mississippi River Water quality improvements and hydrogeomorphic change over 20 years contributed to macrophyte community recovery in the Upper Mississippi River
Several large rivers across the globe have recently undergone noticeable improvements to water quality. Yet, the cascading ecological consequences for aquatic life, including macrophytes, are largely unknown, owing to the lack of suitable long-term data and the difficulty of modelling community-level responses. Our study leveraged multiple big datasets from 1998 to 2019 within a 400-km...
Assessing low-dose copper treatment for dreissenid mussels: Effects on nontarget organisms Assessing low-dose copper treatment for dreissenid mussels: Effects on nontarget organisms
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), an invasive dreissenid mussel, have been established and caused considerable effects in many North American aquatic ecosystems. In response, copper-based pesticides have been used to manage zebra mussel populations. We evaluated the effects of a low-dose (60 µg Cu/L for 10 d) copper-based molluscicide for zebra mussel suppression on nontarget species...
Science
Rapid Genetic Testing to Identify New World Screwworm
Early detection and rapid response are critical to controlling the spread of New World Screwworm, a blowfly pest that has re-emerged in the U.S. As the USDA leads the federal response, USGS Ecosystems Mission Area scientists are developing and validating a rapid DNA field test that can be used onsite with simple materials and basic training to support surveillance and response efforts.
Improving hydroacoustic techniques to assess invasive carp populations in large rivers
Invasive carp, such as Bighead Carp and Silver Carp, are non-native fish that have been introduced throughout North American waterways, often through human activities. Their ability to rapidly reproduce, outcompeting native fish for food and habitat, can pose a significant threat to local ecosystems. Additionally, their large population numbers can harm commercial and recreational fishing, causing...
Riverine Acoustic Fish Telemetry (RAFT) Network
The Riverine Acoustic Fish Telemetry (RAFT™) Network is a node of the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) and serves as a repository to access and archive acoustic fish telemetry data from projects occurring across the Mississippi River Basin. By sharing the locations of receivers and detections of member transmitters across all receivers in the Network, RAFT provides an avenue for collaboration and...