The 369-page opinion essentially describes actions the corps must take to avoid jeopardizing the future existence of three species of fish and birds on the federal endangered species list. Those actions include increasing flows in the spring or creating a spring rise to mimic the river's historic flow pattern, considered essential by biologists for the species, and a period of lower summer flows. Also included are shifts in how water is stored in six upstream reservoirs and habitat restoration initiatives. But the spring rise and summer low spelled out in the draft have drawn considerable opposition from farmers and those who navigate the river. Farmers fear the higher spring flows will keep them from planting fields along the river.
Navigators see a summer low as dooming Missouri River shipping.
Typically, federal agencies do not collect public comment on opinions, said Paul Johnston, a corps spokesman in Omaha. In this case, the corps decided to take input based on a request from the entire congressional delegation from the state of Missouri, several American Indian tribes and the Missouri River Basin Association, a coalition of eight states and nearly 30 tribes. The comments will be passed to the Fish and Wildlife Service, which is due to complete a final opinion by Nov. 1. The corps plans to prepare a new draft of a plan for managing the Missouri River in the spring with a final revised Missouri River Master Manual to be adopted by March 2003. The master manual serves as the corps guidebook for river operations.