Conservation Groups Deliver Comments to Corps of Engineers, Predict 50,000 Will Urge Corps to Adopt 'Flexible Flow' 2/25/2002
From: Chad Smith, 402-477-7910, or Eric Eckl, 202-347-7550, both for American Rivers OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 25 -- American Rivers made a special delivery to the Corps of Engineers today - boxes full of public comments calling on the agency to adopt the "Flexible Flow" management plan for its six Missouri River dams. The Corps is accepting public comments through Thursday, February 28th on options to restore more natural seasonal water levels that would improve the Missouri's health, save endangered species from extinction, and boost outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities along the river. "The Missouri River belongs to the American people, and a whole lot of them believe that it's time to restore the river for everyone to enjoy and benefit from," said Chad Smith, director of American Rivers' Nebraska Field Office in Lincoln. "What we are delivering today is just a portion of the total." Smith delivered 15,000 comments in support of the "Flexible Flow" alternative. Another 25,000 comments have already been delivered and conservationists predict that more than 50,000 people will submit comments before the deadline. Since August, local and national conservation organizations have reached out to the public and assisted concerned citizens who wished to express their views. As they spoke at hearings and wrote their cards, letters, and e-mails, many citizens did more than just cast their vote for their preferred option - taking the time to speak their hearts and minds about the future of America's longest and most historically significant river. "(T)he best possible use of the river is as a historical, cultural, recreational parkway," said Duane Kelley of Kansas City at hearing in Nebraska City, NE, on November 8th, 2001. "Personally, I think that GP2021 comes the closest, is the most preferable for me, because it comes the closest to being a natural river and I think that is the most valuable use of the river." "I live in rural Missouri about fifty miles east of Kansas City...I urge the Corps of Engineers to adopt the flexible flow alternative, to use adaptive management, and to do whatever else is required to restore the health of the Missouri River ecosystem and signature species now, before it is too late," wrote Jeff McFadden from Richmond, MO in formal comments. "Without attempting to revise the water flow, three species will definitely die," wrote Jane Gressang of Iowa City, IA. "Businesses are created and destroyed every year as people's interests and way of life changes. It is a risk that any business owner necessarily takes, and the government should not artificially support businesses (the barge industry) when it means destruction of life." "As a taxpayer concerned about the environment and governmental efficiency at a time when the government is heading back into a deficit, I would like to see a sensible rule set under which endangered species would be protected and human recreation and business would be abetted at the same time," wrote Cary Honig of Providence, RI. "People all over America are currently preparing to celebrate the bicentennial of this historic journey, some by retracing Lewis and Clark's footsteps to see what they saw," wrote Jenni Brecht of Charlottesville, VA. "Please adopt the "flexible flow alternative" and allow the Missouri River to become more like it was when Lewis and Clark first viewed it two hundred years ago." Missouri River Basin organizations encouraging comments: -- Sierra Club - Northwest Iowa Group -- Sierra Club - Living River Group -- North Dakota Wildlife Federation -- Sierra Club - Thomas Hart Benton Group (Kansas City) -- Iowa Environmental Council -- Audubon Society of Omaha -- Sierra Club -Iowa Chapter -- Nebraska Wildlife Federation -- Sierra Club - Nebraska Chapter National Organizations encouraging comments: -- Defenders of Wildlife -- Environmental Defense -- National Wildlife Federation -- National Audubon Society -- Garden Club of America -- Public Interest Research Group -- Endangered Species Coalition Members of the public can file comments until Feb. 28. For more information, point your browser to www.savethemissouri.org or http://www.americanrivers.org/missouririver/default.htm |