 n order to conserve water in compliance with the Master
Manual utilized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, water has been released from the
Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota at a rate of
25,000 cubic feet per second for the past
several weeks. Because of the conservation measures, which are being taken primarily because of drought conditions throughout the Midwest, the amount of water released at the dam is 6,000 to 8,000 cubic feet per second less than average for this time of year.
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Stern
Drive KILLER: Rock dikes, like this one near Omaha, Nebraska,
pose a huge danger to boaters who do not follow river
navigation rules. |
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Because of the reduced water levels in the Missouri River, barge traffic on the river is being strictly monitored. A Corps of Engineers
spokesman has stated that the drought is the main reason why such drastic measures have to be taken. With the reduced water levels, it has become necessary to limit the amount of barge traffic on the river, such as reduced loading and passing of barges, in the interest of marine safety. This will be difficult on marinas, especially the river regions from Sioux City, Iowa, downriver to Omaha, Nebraska, where there is a large amount of recreational boating. No specific restrictions have been issued from the Corps regarding allowing barges and recreational boating on the river.
The low river levels cause rock dikes and sandbars to be more prominent, which makes boating more dangerous. Recreational safety should always be observed. With the dikes more exposed because of the shallow water , people who are not familiar with the river should take extra precautions so they do not hit some of the dikes and sandbars.
According to Jerry Meyerpeter, owner of Jerry's Prop and Marine in Council Bluffs,
Iowa, "This year has seen more boaters than ever before out there". This has resulted in an increase in lower-unit and prop damage over previous years. "I wanted to scale back my volume of repairs this year to do more fishing...but there is so much prop and
stern drive repair business coming my way...it has to be a combination of low water and just plain bad river boating sense." Jerry laments, "I guess if this continues (more boats on the river with less water) I'll have to delay my retirement!"
When the water level is as low as it is now, the river can be very hard to read. Boaters MUST stay in the channel when underway - or suffer the consequences.
Although water conservation measures are being taken to ensure there is enough water in the Missouri River, the results are causing controversy among those who rely on the river for their economic survival. Irrigation is obviously one of the biggest uses for the river water at the present time just because of the drought. The low water levels are also causing difficulties with industries and municipalities needing the river for their own water supplies and intakes for power plants. It's been reported that some areas are starting to begin localized dredging to try to solve the problem.
While the low water levels are causing concern for people living along the river, it is unknown when the water flows from Gavins Point Dam can be increased. It depends on when it starts raining at a normal frequency once again. At least there has been a lot of flow from tributaries into the Missouri River.
Along with the water conservation measures that are a part of the Master Manual utilized by the Corps, water levels are low so the Corps can be in compliance with the
Endangered Species
Act of 1973. Presently, water levels of the river are traditionally lowered at or near this time to ensure that the endangered
least tern and
piping plover's river side nest eggs are not killed by water pressure or high water levels. Their nesting season lasts until mid-August.
The Corps of Engineers has been rewriting the Master Manual, it's procedures guidebook for management of the Missouri River and its six main-stem dams, for almost 13 years. It has studied the issue, sought public comment up and down the Missouri River, met with concerned river interest
groups and river associated businesses, been sued by several affected states and threatened with additional lawsuits.
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