SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a new Missouri River habitat for the endangered pallid sturgeon fish and sandbar construction for two endangered bird species.
The plan comes after three years of study by scientists, hydrologists and other specialists, according to the Sioux City Journal (https://bit.ly/2hEJsuY ). It seeks to use the latest scientific data to help the recovery of the pallid sturgeon, least tern and piping plover over the next 15 years.
Aaron Quinn, a Corps environmental resource specialist, said the plan incorporates new information gleaned since 2003 about species management.
Some stakeholders who are familiar with the plan its the recommendations aren’t necessary. Bill Beacom of Sioux City, a member of an advisory group that consults with the Corps, said the tern and plover numbers are recovering.
“This proposal does not lead to recovery, it leads to status quo,” said Beacom, a retired river boat captain and member of the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee, which represents various interests throughout the river basin. “The most important thing to know about it is it’s not necessary. The bird population is growing by itself.”
The Corps’ plan does not include artificially raising river levels in spring or fall, but does call for the continued study into whether a one-time increase could be used as a spawning cue for the sturgeon and what effect it might have.
The plan does not replace the Master Water Control Manual, which guides the Corps’ operation of the system of dams and reservoirs to balance the needs of the Missouri River system’s authorized purposes of flood control, hydropower, recreation, irrigation, navigation, water supply, environmental preservation and water quality control.
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Information from: Sioux City Journal, https://www.siouxcityjournal.com
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