Missouri River Planning Recommendations

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Fish and'Wildlife Recommendations The Missouri- River Basin Association has developed-the following list of recommendations to help :recover, the threatened' and endangered species in the basin „prevent future listings of additional'threatened or endangered.species in the - basing and en- . hance the overall condition of -the riverine ecosystem. One concern of those who support the fish community in the river system: is ahe basin's water quality The Environmental Assessment Plan developed by the Missouri River Natural Resources CornTittee (MRNRC) will help determine-any changes to, water quality and is an important component of any plan to support the basin's fish and Wildlife. The suggestions below rely primarily upon land acquisition -and engineering to accomplish basinwide fish and wildlife objectives: The land acquisition projects -will be from willing sellers only, and all the suggestions below will be implemented in away that will'protect nearby private property rights. and productive farmland. The recommendations below will also achieve these objectives Without destroying the navigation channel or other economic - uses-of the river system: Indeed, the' basin's fish and wildlife representatives support such activities as navigation and bank stabilization as long as those activities are compatible with the conservation, restoration and enhancement of fish - and wildlife resources: ■ State and federal, agencies; flooclplain that needs to be ■ State and federal agencies in conjunction with private acquired to. help recover the •sbould.acquire a network of landowners, should develop, rive-r's-threafened and endan- public lands distributed- along and implement a- strategic plan gered species; and other the upper and lower Missouri for habitat acquisition and species at-risk. An estimate-of: River; acid should restore or restoration that prioritizes the quantity and,types of enhance those.lands to.*' o improve efforts as follows: a) prevents habitats to -be restored and, fish and - wildlife,habitat, recce - extinction of threatened and acquired (sandbars, backwaters, ational values, and flood stor endangered species; b) prevents chutes, etc.) should also be age: These agencies should further decline of fish and determined. target acquisition to lands that' wildlife that-are at risk; and c). are flood.prone or that are- . ensures that native Missouri' ■ , Congress should reautho - poorly drained, and ensure River fish and wildlife re 'rize and` extend the authoriza- restoration (e.g., chute restora- sources are sustained in perpe- tion period for the Missouri tion, levee removal) does not tuity. The plan could be facili ; River Bank Stabilization and harm adjacent private property. r tated by MRBA. The MRNRC -Navigation Fish and Wildlife Areas targeted for acquisition could provide expertise to the Mitigation Project. Congress will be identified in the strate- process, as could the Fish and should. increase the targeted gic restoration plan discussed in Wildlife Service and other acreage and the authorized the_first bullet in this section. agencies. The Corps could funding on a pe-rnianentbasis - provide - input and help with for the program. Congress - ■ In order to avoid confusing implementation of _tlae strategic should also direct the Corps to . potential participants in their plan: The plan should deter-, prioritize this program in its programs, federal and state mine a rough percentage of the 'yearlybudget. - - agencies should establish d _ 7