Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Meeting - Kansas City, Ks.

Oct. 8 meeting in KCK to discuss uses of Missouri River

The Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. | The Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled public meetings in South Dakota and Kansas to kick off a study to compare modern uses of the Missouri River with those that were authorized by the federal Flood Control Act of 1944.

The first meeting will be Oct. 1 in Fort Pierre, S.D., followed by a session Oct. 8 in Kansas City, Kan.

The U.S. House passed a bill earlier this year that included $25 million for the study. Congress would have to approve any changes to the 1944 law.

Downstream and upstream Missouri River basin residents have long been at odds over the corps’ management of the river. Downstream interests want water for barge traffic, while those upstream put a priority on other uses such as recreation and wildlife habitat.

North Dakota hoping to keep more water for recreation

Corps beginning river review process

The Bismarck Tribune

By Brian Gehring

A $25 million study to reevaluate how the Missouri River is managed will begin with a pair of meeting in early October.

The meetings are scheduled for Fort Pierre, S.D., Oct 1 and Kansas City, Kan., Oct 8.

The study is the result of legislation passed at the urging of Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

The study calls for the Corps of Engineers to review the original purposes of the 1944 Flood Control Act that has dictated how the river has been managed for more than six decades.

The eight authorized purposes are flood control, hydropower, water supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation, water quality and fish and wildlife.

In the past, Dorgan has said contemporary uses of the river have changed dramatically and recreation now plays a more important economic role than does downstream navigation.

Don Canton of Gov. John Hoeven's office said the governor has been pressing the corps to review management of the river for years.

He said he expects there will be other meetings scheduled in the basin states in the future.

Canton said the initial meetings will outline how the study will be performed, what will be included and which stakeholders will be included.

"This is a vitally important issue for North Dakota," Canton said.

He said the meetings are the first step in describing the study and how it will be conducted.

Todd Sando of the State Water Commission said staff members from his department will attend the Fort Pierre meeting.

He said it's vital that those involved in Missouri River issues become involved with the study.

"There is a lot at stake," Sando said. "We could lose ground, or we could gain ground."

Dorgan said he expects the initial meetings to describe how the study will be conducted and that other meetings will be scheduled up and down the river.

"The Missouri River and the two reservoirs represent 94 percent of the surface water in North Dakota," Dorgan said. "I'm pleased the meetings are starting."

He said it's been a long process, "But it's an important process."

Dorgan noted a lot has changed along the river since 1944 when the flood control act was adopted.

The goal for this study, he said, should be to determine the how best to manage the river for everyone involved.

How about down-river states end barge traffic and up-river states tear down their damns?

Hank Waters: Tear down Boonville Katy Bridge

The Tribune's View
Katy bridge
Trying to save the old thing
By Henry J. Waters III
Saturday, September 19, 2009

The long-running fight over the Katy railroad bridge spanning the Missouri River at Boonville has taken a new turn. The historic apparatus is abandoned, and its owner, Union Pacific, wants to move the steel to expand its bridge over the Osage River. It had a deal with a salvage company that was put on hold when a lawsuit was filed by then-Attorney General Jay Nixon, who contested the railroad’s claim of ownership and then-Gov. Matt Blunt’s contention the state had none.

Courts several times agreed with Blunt and against Nixon. The process of completing the bridge removal has been moving along, but recently the Missouri Department of Transportation applied for $27 million in federal stimulus money to build the Osage River bridge, potentially ending the need to move the Katy parts and saving the icon.

The U.S. Coast Guard says the abandoned bridge is a navigational hazard with no offsetting purpose now that trains no longer use it. The Katy Trail crosses the river over a nearby highway bridge, and the old railroad bridge could be used again for the trail only after considerable expense for reconstructing and operating its lift mechanism to accommodate both river and trail traffic.

Except for understandable nostalgia, no good argument exists for saving the bridge. The most practical and cost-efficient thing to do is let Union Pacific take the bridge parts to the Osage, thereby preserving river navigation and saving $27 million in stimulus money. Even if state ownership can be regained, logistical and financial hurdles of returning the bridge for trail use are formidable. Chances are even if the bridge is saved, it will merely be an Eiffel Tower of sorts gracing the Boonville waterfront.

Nothing wrong with that, particularly if the bridge could be saved without spending another $27 million in stimulus money, but we should worry at least a bit about how these funds are handed out. When the Osage bridge can be built otherwise, it will be hard to make the case for a stimulus grant.

Despite our hopes and wishes, it’s time to let the old bridge go.

HJW III

Makes a good point on cost. How much is it worth to separate Katy Trail traffic from vehicular traffic?

N.D. Wildlife Society wants section 108 study

Missouri River study offers opportunities
Columbia Daily Tribune
Saturday, September 19, 2009

Editor, the Tribune: I listened to the testimony in July between Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota regarding the need for the Section 108 study of Missouri River management and priorities authorized in the 2009 omnibus spending bill. Both senators missed an opportunity to point out the increase in benefits for all states in the basin from modernizing operations and priorities of the 65-year-old Flood Control Act that dictates river management. The ongoing debate has been focused on upper basin versus lower basin, which misses the true opportunities for the river and its users. The 108 study offers a clear opportunity to look beyond the scheme set up in the 1944 act and improve upon it for all the states by using modern, sustainable management.

The river has changed greatly in the past 65 years, and so have the contemporary uses. There is great potential for the states to increase benefits and solve problems with more contemporary management. Among issues that could be looked at are a long-term sustainable water supply, incorporating contemporary sediment management, improved protection from summer flooding through channel reconfiguration and flow management, adjustments to address climate change effects on flow, and the increasing need for recreation opportunities.

Residents of the basin need to engage in a public discussion to move river management into the 21st century.

Al Sapa, North Dakota Chapter
The Wildlife Society 2009 Grimsrud Drive
Bismarck, N.D.

Hank Waters: Is another study on river flow necessary?

The Tribune's View
River study
Redundant?
By Henry J. Waters III
Friday, September 18, 2009

Sen. Claire McCaskill tried to remove from the proposed budget of the Army Corps of Engineers $25 million earmarked for another study of water flow in the Missouri River. She said it was unnecessary because the same study had been finished in 2004 at a cost of $35 million, nothing of substance had changed and another study would not end debate over river policies anyhow. But the Senate did not even take up her measure and passed the funding bill 85-5.

The problem seems to be a grand slurry of complacency and dissatisfaction with current corps policies. Upstream senators want another study they hope will show rules need to be changed, allowing them to retain more water in their dams for recreation and tourism. They believe traditional policies calling for seasonal releases of water to float downstream barge traffic are outdated, citing today’s diminished reliance on river transport.

Downstream senators like Kit Bond are willing to fund another study, perhaps hoping it will justify more favoritism for downstream interests. He’s in no mood to fight over a piddling $25 million most of his colleagues obviously want to spend, and another study will preserve the status quo for a while.

Making waves in the middle are scientists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who so far are prevailing with insistence on water flow policies that favor propagations of endangered species, like the now famous pallid sturgeon.

Everybody wants to meddle with the river. For years navigation interests had their day. The Missouri River was incessantly channelized, making freight-moving easier but causing damage in every other way. Finally, when the river was so recognizably impaired and downstream commercial transportation less important, the upstream dam tenders and the sturgeon lovers gained clout.

Shall we continue to dance? Indeed, we shall. I hope the Corps of Engineers learns how to do some fancy tap steps. They’ll be flitting hither and yon among the more ponderous heavy steppers, needing to protect their toes.

HJW III

Plovers take a dive

Summer hatch dips for 2 endangered birds
Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Reproduction of 2 endangered birds on the Missouri River system took a dive this summer.

The Army Corps of Engineers is required to provide nesting habitat for piping plovers (PLOH'-vers) and least terns. It monitors their populations and nesting success.

Some shoreline habitat vanished when Lakes Oahe and Sakakawea (suh-kah-kuh-WEE'-uh) filled this year. Thunderstorms also killed chicks on sandbars below Yankton.

A final count showed 425 plover chicks and 278 tern chicks survived. Plover reproduction was down 37% from last year. Tern reproduction fell 28%.

The birds have already gone south for winter.

Corps spokesman on river: "We’ve got a long way to go yet."

Public meetings first step in Missouri River plan

By Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton

September 11, 2009

Ten public meetings were held over the past six weeks to get public input in developing what’s being called the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration plan and environmental impact statement. Paul Johnston, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, says the public meetings were the first of many steps in a very large project. “

The team moved up and down the river,” Johnston says. “The idea was to get a very, very clear idea of what is important to people and then use that to shape the scope of this study.” It’s a huge study, encompassing 2,000 miles of river in seven states. Johnston says restoring the river’s ecosystem will be a long-term process.

“It took many years to get the Missouri River in the condition it’s in today,” Johnston says, “and it’s going to take many years to change it so the economic input remains the same and at the same time, enhance the environmental quality. We’ve got a long way to go yet.” Johnston says the series of public meetings that’s just concluded likely won’t be the last ones held on the project.

He says, “We’ll take all the notes and start trying to develop a scope and we’ll bounce that off of the various stakeholders and I suspect after we get done with that, we’ll probably hold another round of meetings to say, okay folks, this is how we think we’re gonna’ progress.” This project, sponsored by the Corps and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is one of several ongoing restoration projects on the Missouri.

River restoration meeting held in Omaha

Public meetings held to get opinions on Missouri River Restoration

By: Mike Bell

Posted: 9/8/09

UNO's Thompson Alumni Center hosted public meetings on Thursday to gather citizen input concerning the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan.

The plan, a restoration effort to repair damage to the Missouri River's ecosystems, is being developed by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Twenty-nine Native American tribes and many state agencies are partaking in this effort, as well.

"The ultimate goal of the project right now is to see what it takes to restore the river and its tributaries," said Wayne Nelson-Stastny, a coordinator with the Wildlife Service.

Nelson-Stastny said the study was taking cultural factors into account as well as scientific ones. The plan's mission involves working with others to protect both the wildlife and resources of a vast section of our country.

The area impacted by the plan includes one-sixth of the U.S., and will take at least eight years to develop. Another 30 to 50 years are needed to implement the federal project. Funding for the project is 100 percent federal.

"Your generation will reap the benefits of our work," Nelson-Stastny said.

Participation was a point that was stressed throughout the meeting.

"This study is in its very early stages. We want to make sure the public's input is gathered and considered before moving forward with this effort," said Dave Crane, environmental resources specialist with the Corps.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency. The Corps has already helped in development of the MRERP by instigating the Mitigation Project in March 2008 to acquire land needed for fish and wildlife habitats from Sioux City, Iowa, to St. Louis.

The Corps is currently seeking public input and critiques on the MRERP as to what course of action to take. Feedback can be given at the MRERP Web site.

Social, economic and cultural issues including flood risks, recreational uses, power production from dams and agricultural use are being considered.

"If you're passionate about the Missouri River or just have an interest, please come by and help us make this plan for the future of the Missouri River ecosystem," Crane said.

People can suggest natural resources to be addressed, such as endangered species and culturally significant plants and fish.

Corps Project Manager Randy Sellers told the crowd he was there to listen to their ideas.

"We understand that many people have their own vision as to what the river should look like 50 years from now," Sellers said. "The enemy of good science is perfect science, so we are going to learn from your ideas through adaptive management."

He said the plan must be more than just economically and technologically feasible and must stay close to what citizens desire.

"We are truly working to make this a collaborative effort," he said.

Corps begins reducing dam releases for winter

Corps adjusting dam releases on Missouri
Sep 4 2009 10:51AM
Associated Press

Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The Army Corps of Engineers says it will be adjusting releases at Missouri River dams this month to start positioning the reservoirs for hydropower generation this winter and spring snow melt runoff next spring.

Releases will be reduced from both Fort Peck and Garrison Dams this month as irrigation below the dams comes to an end, but with local runoff the two reservoirs will remain about level through September.

The corps says Lake Oahe will continue to fall as the annual drawdown is done to position it to capture next year's runoff.

Jody Farhat with the corps says the adjustments are normal for this time of year.

After years of drought, the forecast for Missouri River basin runoff this year is 33.4 million acre feet, 35 percent above normal. Lake Oahe crested near 1,614 feet in June and Lake Sakakawea at 1,842.6 feet in August, well above last year's levels.

Mo. legislature bans wrong plastic

Analysis: Mo. bans wrong plastic from rivers Sunday, August 23, 2009 By CHRIS BLANK Associated Press Writer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) A law that takes effect this week could make criminals out of those who bring Tupperware onto many of Missouri's rivers.

Lawmakers intended to reduce floating debris and pollution from abandoned foam coolers in the state's waterways. But they confused their plastics, and instead of banning Styrofoam, they criminalized the plastic containers found in many kitchens but seldom used to ferry beer and soda down a river.

The mix up means boaters and river floaters can still use foam coolers without fear. But someone who brings dishwasher-safe containers risks up to a year in jail.

The problem arises because Styrofoam is a brand name, and so lawmakers who may have been a bit rusty with their chemistry attempted to name the plastic used to make the foam coolers. But instead of restricting coolers made from polystyrene, they banned polypropylene containers.

And there's a big difference between the two.



Polystyrene commonly called Styrofoam was created by the Dow Chemical Co. more than a half-century ago. Styrofoam was used for life rafts by the U.S. Coast Guard starting in 1942 because the plastic is buoyant and insulating. It's blue and now frequently used in home insulation.

The variety used to make white foam coffee cups and coolers the target of the legislation is called ''expanded polystyrene'' and is a little different from the Styrofoam developed by Dow Chemical.

Missouri lawmakers banned neither of those foams. Instead, their legislation goes after a commonly used plastic found in dishwasher-safe containers, hinges and auto parts because it is strong and handles high temperatures. It's also a fiber used to insulate clothes and in the turf of some miniature golf courses.

That leaves the Missouri State Water Patrol at the ready for any polypropylene coolers that might come down river but unable to take any action against the ubiquitous white foam ones.

''Our officers will be taking no enforcement on that,'' Water Patrol spokesman Sgt. Jerry Callahan said.

The legislation that will turn kitchenware into contraband also seeks to curb lewdness and drinking and applies to all rivers in the state except for the Mississippi, Missouri and Osage which form the Lake of the Ozarks. The measure creates a misdemeanor for possessing on rivers beer bongs, alcohol funnels and containers that hold more than 4 gallons of alcohol. Violators face a fine of up to $1,000 and a year in jail.

The alcohol restrictions which are not affected by the plastic mix up were included in a broad crime bill and take effect Friday.

Sen. Delbert Scott, the main proponent of the restrictions, said he was not aware of the error and blamed a federal rule from which the state borrowed. Scott, whose large western Missouri district includes several waterways, said in December that he wanted to limit ''high-octane, get-me-drunk-fast-on-purpose paraphernalia'' because of increased rowdiness on popular rafting streams in the Ozarks.

''When you depend on the federal government to write the stuff, that's what happens. It gets screwed up,'' said Scott, R-Lowry City.

But the federal government appears to have done a little better in chemistry.

Missouri's legislation was modeled after federal regulations in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways that cover the Current and Jacks Fork rivers in southeast Missouri. The national park has banned foam containers within 50 feet of the river since May 2007.

The 2009 version of the national park's regulations avoids any confusion over what plastic is allowed by banning it all: Styrofoam, foam coolers and the plastic used for dishwasher-safe containers. And a January 2007 news release announcing the impending restriction refers to ''polystyrene'' coolers typically known as Styrofoam.

Both Missouri and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways include an exception for anglers from their plastic restrictions. In the national park, anglers may use foam containers for bait, and on other Missouri rivers, they can use whatever kitchen container they want to hold worms and minnows.