Request a speaker Issue summary Because of potential for damage to bottomland hardwoods in the Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area, the Army Corps of Engineers will use the original water control plan for Clearwater Lake at Piedmont, Mo., instead of a proposed new plan. Since the new plan could cause significant changes to the environment of the wildlife management area, the National Environmental Policy Act blocks its implementation unless an Environmental Impact Statement is prepared to ensure adequate environmental safeguards are put in place. Corps and AGFC officials met March 30 and agreed to return to the original regulating plan until further studies can be funded and better solutions found. Under the old plan, the Corps will regulate releases to a river stage of 11.5 feet at Poplar Bluff from December 1 until March 31. We are currently reprogramming funds to initiate detailed surveys and data collection.
Future actions are dependant on the available funding.
By late 1999, a draft environmental assessment was completed and sent to other agencies for comment. AGFC asked the Corps to return to the original water control plan. The two agencies agreed to conduct some tests to see what affect the proposed new plan would have on the hardwoods, however, extended drought made the tests impossible. Then earlier this year, appropriate water conditions finally occurred. Corps personnel were able to visit the wildlife management area and confirm that significant amounts of tree roots were flooded and could, under certain conditions, remain flooded long enough to damage or destroy the trees at the regulating stages under the new plan.