Pallid Sturgeon Habitat Surveys in the Powder River, Montana, 2025

The Powder River from Broadus, Montana to Terry, Montana was surveyed from June 13-19, 2025 to map the range of habitats, including spawning habitats available to be used by the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). Pallid sturgeon typically occupy the Powder River in the spring to early summer in years when flows are high. We surveyed potential spawning habitats and quantified the physical characteristics of the river channel and flow; depth, velocity and dominant substrates. We used single-beam sonar to measure depth, an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) to measure velocity, and physical sampling and visual surveys to document substrates. A real-time kinematic Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) network virtual reference station subscription was used for positioning. Single beam depths and water surface profile was mapped over most of the 240-kilometer (150-mile) long survey. ADCP transects were driven in reciprocal cross-sections located approximately every 15 miles. Discharge during the survey ranged between 633-1040 cubic feet per second at the USGS streamflow gaging-station 6324500 Powder River at Moorhead, Montana and 758-2140 cubic feet per second at the USGS streamflow gaging-station 6326500 Powder River near Locate, Montana. This dataset includes: A 240-kilometer (150 mile) longitudinal profile of depth, water surface elevation, and bed elevation surveyed in June of 2025. Velocity data includes a shapefile of summarized ADCP data points and raw ASCII ADCP data from transects. Substrate information is provided in a shapefile noting dominant substrate in 100-meter increments along the 240-kilometer survey.