By Sara QuamThe vitality of a modest little minnow may not seem like much of a concern, but its overall effect on the food chain could be enormous if it becomes extinct.That concern is behind the protection of the Topeka shiner, a small fish that breeds in a few Missouri River outlets, including the Rock River.The Topeka shiner has been listed as an endangered species since 1998.Its well-being is guarded, which means anything done to or around the river or having to do with the water supply is also guarded.For that reason, a few local groups got together this week to look into whether they should work with the federal government to make a specific plan for the Topeka shiner.Rock County Rural Water Director Dan Cook said, "We’re going to take it one step at a time."He said the issue was brought to the forefront of water providers in the region when Lincoln- Pipestone Rural Water said it was short and wanted to buy water from others.Luverne, Adrian and Rock County Rural Water are all possible providers that could sell extra water to the struggling Lincoln-Pipestone system.In order to expand its production for Lincoln-Pipestone, Rock County had to get a permit to expand its operation.That permit was put on hold by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.Part of the problem is that it’s difficult to know exactly where Topeka shiners are and how they will be impacted by any withdrawls from the watershed.One of the Fish and Wildlife Department representatives said at the meeting: it’s not like denying someone a request to cut down a tree that is home to a bald eagle. The meeting explored whether all of southwest Minnesota should develop a Habitat Conservation Plan, which could cost more than $250,000 in research and programming to protect the shiner.That process could also take up to six years, which puts water providers in a bind, especially Lincoln-Pipestone.Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water director Dennis Healy said, "This is going to be a multi-year project and I’d rather put the money to use helping the habitat than to do all this hydrological studying that might not come up with good answers. And we need water within the next 12 months."He said he’d rather assume the shiner is facing worst-case scenarios and work around that, rather than studying to find conditions, when in the end the data may be too vague to form a conclusion.The study will begin this spring, if water levels are low enough in the river for testing, otherwise it will have to wait for late summer.Cook is optimistic the DNR and Fish and Wildlife Service will find a way to let the area use more water without harming the endangered species, Topeka shiner.
