Corps of Engineers begins reduction of Missouri River

WASHINGTON -- The Army Corps of Engineers has begun dropping Missouri River water levels and will be in compliance with a federal judge's order by Tuesday evening.

The corps said Monday it had slowed water releases from 26,000 cubic feet per second, or cfs, to 25,000 cfs, which is the minimum needed for navigation.

The agency said it will continue gradual reductions until it reaches 21,000 cfs, the amount ordered by a federal judge to protect endangered and threatened bird and fish species. Releases will drop to that level as scheduled this evening, corps spokesman Homer Perkins said.

There were no barge tows on the Missouri River on Monday, he said. The agency warned barge operators last week to secure their vessels.

"They could see what was coming and tried to make arrangements around that," Perkins said.

The corps plans to begin increasing releases on Friday and will be back at minimum navigation levels by Sept. 1.

The corps initially refused to follow the order from U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler in Washington because the agency said it was under conflicting orders from a Nebraska federal judge to provide enough water for shipping.

Missouri River litigation was recently reassigned to a third judge, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson in Minnesota. Magnuson said last week that there was no conflict and that the order to drastically cut releases remained in effect. He has scheduled a status conference for Sept. 8.

Conservation groups are suing to force the Missouri to ebb and flow more naturally to encourage spawning and nesting to help sturgeon and shorebird species on the government's threatened and endangered lists. They say the corps is violating the Endangered Species Act by blocking the flow changes.

Barge and farming interests say the corps has an obligation to provide enough water for barges.

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On the Net:

Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Region: http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/

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