Missouri farmers stop state's effort to release floodwaters for wetlands

WOOLDRIDGE, Mo. -- As the swollen Missouri River continued to peak eastward across the state Friday, some residents of a mid-Missouri town worked do undo a state agency's effort to release floodwaters to promote birds and plants in a wetland habitat.

Farmers in Wooldridge, a tiny town about 15 miles west of Columbia, prevented the state Department of Conservation from allowing floodwaters to pour into low-lying land owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the department.

Mike Schroer, the department's wildlife regional supervisor, said the agency wanted to let just a small amount of water into a wetland habitat. Levees had cut the area off from the Missouri River, Schroer said, and water needed to preserve the wetlands can only be let in when the river is high. He estimated that 5 acres of the 4,000-acre river bottom would have been flooded.

But town residents objected and stopped water from entering the pipe about 15 minutes after it was opened, and the agency said it had no plans to try again.

John Clay, whose farm is protected by the levee, said two area residents were standing guard to prevent state officials from reopening it.

"This could not be acceptable, and there can be no good reason to do this at this point in time with the river flooding," he said.

Schroer said the state was not pursuing charges against the residents and hoped to hold a meeting in coming weeks so all parties know what to expect if the situation arises again.

Missouri River levee breaks this week have flooded farms, highways and railroad tracks, and left dozens of homes surrounded by water. Rivers breached or topped dozens of levees across the state, officials said. Several hundred people have evacuated their homes, and many local roads were closed, but no injuries or deaths had been reported from the flooding by Friday afternoon, and it appeared many areas would fare much better than had been feared days earlier.

Meanwhile, a barge from Glasgow got loose on the river early Friday, but Capital Sand Co. was able to catch it near Hartsburg, the Jefferson City Police Department said. The plan was to tie up the barge in Jefferson City until the river recedes. Earlier, Excel Marine helped the water patrol corral another piece that broke off from the same barge, which housed a defunct restaurant. The Highway Patrol said the first hunk traveled about 12 miles down the river and the second traveled about 73 miles.

Sen. Kit Bond returned to Missouri on Friday to get an update from emergency officials in Jefferson City, then tour the river via helicopter.

"When you have an event like this, you realize how quickly that river can rise," Bond said.

State Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Reynolds told Bond that officials would begin assessing damage early next week, after floodwaters recede. About 100 National Guard members are helping respond to the floodwaters, which had closed U.S. 24 west of Brunswick and parts of U.S. 65, state officials said.

Officials in Chariton County, which includes Brunswick, said the Grand River was expected to crest Friday afternoon and the levees should hold. People were sandbagging some low-lying spots. Some basements had water in them, but no serious damage or injuries were reported.

"We're actually holding pretty good," Sheriff Chris Hughes said.

The Chillicothe School District's administration building was damaged by flooding, but water levels had started falling, state emergency officials reported.

Although the river crests were lower than forecast in many areas, residents remained anxious. Many were here for the 1993 floods, among the most costly in U.S. history.

"We were fortunate that a majority of counties made a lot of improvements since '93," National Guard Col. Glenn Hagler said.

The rain-swollen rivers and streams that make up the Missouri River system are causing damage in different spots as the water makes its way eastward toward St. Louis, where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi.

Northwest Missouri sustained some of the worst damage.

Big Lake, in Holt County, saw several area levees breach. Most of the 32 rescues the Missouri State Water Patrol has conducted since flooding began have been in the Big Lake area. About 500 homes in Big Lake were affected by flooding.

Inmates from St. Joseph prison and National Guard members filled sandbags to protect a water treatment plant, schools and an ethanol plant near Craig. Friday, officials said it looked like the levee would protect the area but likely would need serious repair after the floodwaters recede.