Side-scan surveys.—Surveys were conducted in coastal rivers
near the freshwater–saltwater interface where sturgeon
have been observed (Moser and Ross 1995; Collins et al.
2000; Peterson et al. 2008). Repeated side-scan sonar surveys
were performed over 3 d at each of the six rivers. The three
sampling days were as close as possible, often consecutive, in
order to reduce the chance of movement between sites, as
needed to minimize violations of the population closure
assumptions of these methods. Riverine survey reaches began
downstream in tidal portions of elevated salinity (>15 mg/L)
and ranged upstream a distance of at least 30 km inland on the
main stem or to a point where river depths were too shallow to
effectively operate the side-scan sonar. The total distance surveyed
in each river varied, ranging from 40 to 80 km because
of braids and side channels. Full details regarding survey
methods were provided in Flowers and Hightower (2013).