Missouri River Planning Recommendations

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other things, mooring cells that this expense also covers -the representative to meet with the F allow barge operators to. tie up _ cost of maintaining the. bank small committee of barge boats . in the water at terminals stabilization project on1he operators. All concerns about rather than against the banks. lower Missouri River (autho- safety and maintenance of the - - The Mississippi River has an sized by the Missouri River channel should be funneled - avoid and mime program in, - Bank Stabilization and Navi- through the committee. The place that could'serve as a gation Act)..flank stabilization Corps should inventory the model for the Missouri.-The projects provide millions. of - number and type of safety and MRBA and the Corps should dollars of benefits. to,the lower maintenance, complaints it organize ,a committee represent- basin in. addition to naviga =. receives and better communi- Ing navigation, fish and wild - lion; and thesebenefits need cate its-rationale for decisions life, and agricultural interests,.,,,, to be figured into the equation about money spent on or that will work with the Corp.to when Operation & Mainte- withheld from safety.and - develop suggestions for an . nance =(O &M) expenses•on the maintenance concerns. These avoid and minimize 'program - lower Missouri River are channel improvements should similar to the one on the Missis- calculated. Therefore the be "a high level funding priority sippi River. The same 'commit-.. Missouri River Basin Associa= = tee. could advise the Corps on, tion recommends that the ■ The Corps, and Congress' z -„ structural 6hanges to the system Coipsidentify separately and should acknowledge that - would provide environs publish 'both O &M expenses navigation benefits accrue from _that mental as well as navigation for maintenance of the naviga - both the national and regional x benefit's_ . �' lion channel and maintenance economic activities. An evalua -- - - o I the bank stabilization Lion of national economic: g ' ■ The Corps should conduct , structures. This change reflects - impact is appropriate for large _ its operation and maintenance reality. and is an adjustment to scale expenditures of federal (O &M) activities, on the naviga- the characterization of ex- money.:However; changes in lion channel to provide envi- . penses, notnecessarily a Missouri River. operations will ronmental benefits and the change in the overall budget.-. -cerfainly-impact regional, _ economic. returns that come The Corps' annual February economies as well, This is both . with enhanced wildlife habitat budget summary document a regional and national issue . in "the river corridor. The Corps _ should reflect these. changes. ' -and decisions should be based could use notched dikes, wing on both regional and national _ - dike modifications, and other ■ Tg enhance safety and to economic impacts. engineering solutions to- protect prevent groundings, the Corps.r and I enhance in- channel aquatic should work with the U.S. ■ . As part of its operation and. habitat. It should not do this at Coast Guard to mark the maintenance practices, the the expense of navigation or nadf�gation channel with buoys Corps should determine if flood protecti on for private_ in places where channel, "authorizing legislation allows it -t property along the river.. Good location is 'difficult for - naviga- to :and, if so, promptly remove communication and technology tors to determine. The - Corps- rip rap that has fallen into the y ; transfer botween Corps division should also repair and im- river at terminal ports and and district offices will help - prove the structures that . - stabilize the banks there. This . build upon existing successes - in' stabilize_ the river. Many of the will improve the .operatingt this area. Monitoring may be river's dikes, wing -dams, and -, - efficiency of the terminals along necessary to :determine the closing structures are in - the lower river. If the Corps = effects. of the engineering disrepair. The eorps should lacks such authority- the asso- changes. use existing O &M money to - . ciation should help the CorpsYY improve structures while also acquire it._ _ ■ The Corps' budget contains improving the r'iver's wildlife aline item. expense-for mainte- habitat. To.implement this _ `■ The navigation industry, - - nance of the Missouri. River- recommendation, the Coast and -the Corps should work navigation channel. In reality; Guard should appoint a together to identify and support