On July 12, 2001, numerous agricultural, navigational, utility, industrial and business-related entities united to form the Coalition to Protect the Missouri River (CPR). CPR was created to protect and support responsible management of Missouri River resources and the maintenance of congressionally authorized purposes of the river including flood control and navigation.

Between 1988 and 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) considered changes to its guidance document, the Missouri River Master Water Control Manual (Master Manual). Potential changes in the quantity and timing of flows from the Upper Basin (Montana, North and South Dakota) and revisions to drought conservation measures were extremely controversial.  It was anticipated that flood control and inland agricultural drainage, river commerce on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, municipal drinking and wastewater operations and electric power generation in the Lower Basin (Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa) would be adversely impacted by such revisions. Revisions to the Master Manual were completed on March 19, 2004. CPR continues to counter the negative effects of the Master Manual revisions through a variety of means.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has long demanded flow changes (i.e. summer low flows and artificial “spring rises”) in its 2000 and 2003 Amended Biological Opinions to address the needs of three threatened or endangered species (piping plover, interior least tern and pallid sturgeon). Currently, summer low flows have been addressed through mitigation efforts that have created additional shallow water habitat through mechanical means in a quantity sufficient to equal that thought to be achieved by a summer low flow. Artificial “spring rises” were mandated in March and May of 2006. Due to low storage in the Missouri River Mainstem reservoir system, the March rise was cancelled. The May “spring rise” is anticipated to occur despite ongoing opposition by stakeholders in the Lower Basin.

In the meantime, the Corps has forged ahead with efforts to create the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC). The purpose of this new group of Missouri River Basin stakeholders would be to bring diverse stakeholders together to advise the Corps and USFWS on future Missouri River management decisions. The U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution and CDR Associates have been engaged by the Corps to facilitate the MRRIC process.

Notwithstanding the complexity of these issues and the ongoing contention among diverse stakeholders, a balanced and common sense approach to Missouri River management that addresses endangered species’ needs without adversely affecting human interests must be identified.