Missouri River Planning Recommendations

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_ 1 Navigation - Recommendations _ The MRBA recognizes-that the•highest priority for the navigation industry, which include_ s barge and tei'fiinal operators and shippers, is #o receive longterm reliable flows in the river channel. In order to plan and schedule business activitiesfor any given upcoming navigation season, river users need to know with as much lead time as possible how, long.. the season twill be -and how deep the channel will be. The lack of reliable flows is one.:reason shipping tonnage is so far below anticipated levels, and building more reliability into the -flows will help the industry enhance ',the economy of the region. - Navigation representatives want to enhance, shipping on the Missouri River.However, they do not -want to do so at the expense of other uses of the river. Indeed, the members of the Navigation Com- mittee support measures to enhance fish and wildlife habitat, recreation; and other uses of the river, provided 1) those measures are supported byaffected landowners and; 2) the measures will not damage the integrity of the navigation channel. There is usually enough. water 'in the systern to support a full navigation season with full flows. Uhfortunately; there have-been and will be times when drought limits the amount of water available for :navigation, recreation, fish: and wildlife, and other uses of the river. Listed below are some reconi- mendations for the Corps'that will help build. reliability inta.the system, give the river users as much business planning lead time. as possible, mi_nirnize conflicts between navigation and other uses of the' river, and enhance the region's economic base. ■ When low flows are going and the opening date for the extraordinary events. `If there is, to adversely affect navigation, navigation season should be enough water and suitable the Corps of Engineers should March; 2 at-Sioux City and weather to open the season meet with all affected interests,. March 16 at the•river's mouth. early, the U.S. -Coast Guard including navigation, 'to deter-, , The Missouri River Basin should participate in the mine whether to shorten the -Association that the early opening of the river. to season or reduce flows, and -by amount: of available water navigation. how much. It is important to depends upon the. snowpack, navigators to be a part of the - and that snowpack levels are E The Corps, in partnership n-ni - decision- making and con- impossible to accurately deter - with navigators and fish and cation process: Therefore, mine -early in the year. How - wildlife officials' should initiate navigators should identify and ever, MRBA recommends that an "avoid and minimize" communicate industry needs to the Corps should announce the` program on the lower Missouri the -Corps.: ` navigation season length and River. The purpose of the _ supporting flows no later than -program would be to -help the E When there is enough .water March 1 of every year, and navigation industry operate to meet the needs of all uses, earlier if possible. Once the. with minimal. impact on the the Corps.should-commit as: Corps has announced an open7 river's fish and wildlife re- early as possible to flowS-that ing date, it should stick to that sources and habitat. The pro would support a A foot draft;. date unless• it is'precluded by gran should include, among 3