Large river systems are valuable national resources that provide numerous benefits to travel, shipping, recreation, and fish and wildlife. However, efforts to expand one of the uses frequently come in direct conflict with one or more of the othersThis guide attempts to bring together all scientific data that are available on techniques that have been or can be used to offset or reduce the impacts of development and maintenance of Upper Mississippi River System or other large river systems. Decision makers are thus provided an objective descriptin of options now at their disposal when they attempt to weigh the merits of defects associated with a particular action.

In this edited work, international experts in fisheries management and ecology review and appraise the status of river fisheries, assessment methodology, constraints on development, issues and options regarding management and associated problems in both temperate and tropical countries. Recommendations are made to improve management and an attempt is made to provide guidelines for formulating policy, for planning methodology and for evaluating future activities. Assessment of fish community structure and dynamics. Factors constraining stock recruitment. Fish habitat requirements. Instream flow needs. Impact of water resource schemes. Rehabilitation of river fisheries. Enhancement of fish stocks. Exploitation of stocks. Management of migratory fish stocks. Conservation of endangered species. Integrated river management. Bioeconomic issues. Legislation. Multinational management of rivers. Case studies.