October 2, 2002

"Spring Rise" will not happen in 2003 - Corp's river operating plan available for public review and comment

he Army Corps of Engineers and the Fish and Wildlife Commission have agreed not to initiate the controversial "Spring Rise" releases that were to take place next year. The corps stated that there will not be sufficient water as expected in the Missouri River system available in 2003. This is due to several years of lower than normal northern snow pack moisture sources and long-term drought conditions suffered by all northern Missouri River Basin states. 

The agreement puts an end to the contentious negotiations between the two federal agencies and probably will speed the arrival of a court battle over changing dam operations to rescue endangered wildlife. The joint decision marks the first formal confirmation that no change is likely in 2003. 

The corps says it plans to maintain normal spring releases sufficient for lower Missouri River barge navigation downstream between Sioux City and the river mouth at St. Louis next year. The agreement marks a victory for the state of Missouri, which has fought against the seasonal shifts in large measure out of fear that states upriver could lay claim to more water for their reservoirs. 

In the announcement, the corps acknowledges it will be unable to complete its new "master manual" for river operations by next spring. The Fish and Wildlife Service has insisted for more than a decade that seasonal shifts in water volume are necessary to mimic the river's natural ebb and flow that enabled wildlife to thrive. Those changes were to be part of the new master manual.

The corp's plan for this next spring should be welcome news for all local area river related businesses, marinas and recreational boaters who annually depend on the "normal" increased Gavins Point Dam releases to raise river levels sufficient for safe river depths and adequate marina service operations. This includes resident boat slips, boat ramps, internal marina navigation and river access channel depths.

Normal winter dam releases are decreased by the corps in late fall to an average minimum of 13,000 cfs (cubic foot per second). At this point the river flow and water depth decreases dramatically. All local area marinas, with the exception of Omaha's N. P. Dodge Park marina, literally "dry up". This off-season time is used by marina owners to perform needed dock maintenance and silt deposit removal from slips and river access channels. Silt deposits build up naturally in the marinas due to the heavy sediment suspension levels in the Missouri River. "Too thick to drink...to thin to plow". 

Every following Spring season, usually around April, Gavins Point Dam releases are incrementally increased to flow at around 25-27,000 cfs to meet seasonal lower Missouri River minimum navigation requirement obligations. This did not happen according to the script in 2002. 

Springtime drought conditions caused increased exposed river sandbar conditions in an area between Gavins point dam and Yankton, SD. The federally protected least tern and piping plover birds took advantage of the sandbar abundance and set a record nesting season. These birds build their nests in the sand by the river's edge. Consequently, the corps was prevented by a Fish and Wildlife Service lawsuit from increasing dam output on schedule to meet the minimum seasonal barge navigation requirments until the eggs hatched and the fledgling period was over. Consequently, barges were stranded, towboats ran aground and the barge industry suffered a tough year.