FAILING RIVER: SCIENTISTS HOPE TO HEAL ECOLOGY

Ecologically speaking, the stretch of Mississippi River from St. Louis to Cairo, Ill., is in failing health, a scientist said Monday.

Dr. Ken Lubinski of the U.S. Geological Survey provided an assessment of the river's ecological state during a workshop at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

The workshop was sponsored by the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee, whose members include representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Audubon Society, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The 25 people at the workshop were given the opportunity in a brainstorming session to tell the scientists involved what kind of river they want the Mississippi to be. The workshop was the first of 12 to be held along the Upper Mississippi River, which stretches from St. Paul, Minn., to Cairo.

Monday night's workshop concerned the lower reach of the system from St. Louis to Cairo, the only part that hasn't been dammed. The scientists propose basing their evaluation of the river's ecological health on six conditions:

-- Viable populations of native species and their habitats.

-- The river's ability to recover from disturbances.

-- Its stability.

-- Whether the river is able to sustain its basin.

-- An annual connection between the channel and the floodplain.

-- Whether it meanders over the long term.

In all categories but the river's ability to recover, the scientists say the lower reach is either degraded and declining or highly impacted.

Lubinski said the good news is that this unimpounded section of the river has a greater percentage of wetland acres in its basin than the impounded parts of the Upper Mississippi River do.

Lupinski pointed out that the 10 highest floods at the St. Louis gauge have occurred since 1941. "Something's happening here," he said. "The river is losing its ability to hold water.

Ten years ago Congress decreed that the Upper Mississippi River has two functions: navigational and ecological systems. It allocated $330 million toward restoring and creating habitat along the river.

The message was clear. "This is a river system we're not going to allow to deteriorate anymore," said Ron Yarbrough, a geologist with the Corps of Engineers in St. Louis.

Until very recently, the Mississippi's navigational system was all that concerned anyone. Now questions are being asked about how to restore its ecological health.

"The big question is, Can we do that and still have both?" said Dan McGuiness, director of the Upper Mississippi Campaign for the Audubon Society.

There are people who want to tear out all the locks and dams and levees, and there are others who still don't think the river's ecological health matters, McGuiness said.

"We're trying to find some middle ground," he said.

An Atlas will be compiled based on information gathered in the river study. Information about the group's findings can be obtained by phoning McGuiness at (651) 290-1695. He said his group hopes to devise a 20-year plan for helping the river recover.

But, he said, "It's taken 250 years to do. We're not going to undo it in 20 years."