The Missouri River Ecosystem Exploring the Prospects for Recovery (2002) / Chapter Skim
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6. An Alternative for Missouri River Recovery
6. An Alternative for Missouri River Recovery
Pages 113-133
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From page 113... ...
Although these actions are offered as suggestions, management actions of the variety and magnitude offered in this chapter are essential if ecological conditions are to improve. The degree to which the key physical processes overbank floods and cut-and-fi~l alleviation need to be restored in order to significantly improve river ecology is not exactly known.
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From page 114... ...
The recommendation to cast management actions within a basinwide framework is not meant to imply that all actions should be conducted simultaneously across the basin. On the contrary, a more reasoned approach, consistent with an adaptive management paradigm, would be to first identify and implement management actions that appear to offer substantial ecological improvements with minimal disruptions to people and floodplain infrastructure (the "low hanging fruity.
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From page 115... ...
The Corps has also carried out various environmental mitigation activities on the Missouri River mainstem designed to improve habitat and reduce the impacts of the dams on endangered species. In 2002, the Corps plans to evaluate the impacts of increased spring flows from Fort Peck dam on pallid sturgeon recruitment, spawning, and egg maturation.
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From page 116... ...
One proposed mitigation activity worth noting is a substantial release of warm water from Fort Peck Dam in 2002. Recognizing the potential ability of higher and warmer flows to provide hydrologic cues for pallid sturgeon, the Corps has planned a $4.4 million test of flow modifications from Fort Peck Dam.
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From page 117... ...
But to ensure success, such ecosystem restoration actions should be coordinated across the Missouri River basin. Consistent with the adaptive management paradigm, they should be conducted in a stepwise manner so that outcomes can be evaluated and used to help inform future actions.
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From page 118... ...
A better opportunity for restoring riverine processes may be along the Missouri River downstream from the Marias River confluence at Loma, Montana, and along the Marias River itself (Gardner, 1994~. Tiber Dam lies about 80 miles upstream on the Marias River and is already managed to provide effective flows for the Marias (Gardner, 1998)
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From page 119... ...
This portion of the Missouri River has been impacted by cold water released from deep in the reservoir, by the elimination of effective flows, and by channel incision associated with the release of sediment-free discharge from the reservoir. The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission and the Corps of Engineers recently initiated a project to mitigate the cold, deep releases from Fort Peck Dam.
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From page 120... ...
releases from Fort Peck. The Milk River is a small, turbid, river that enters the Missouri River immediately downstream from Fort Peck Dam and provides an additional opportunity for recovering riverine processes.
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From page 121... ...
Moreover, flow enhancement at Fort Peck Dam and at the Milk River dams, in concert with natural flows from the Yellowstone River, would provide substantial ecosystem benefits from the Missouri River-Yellowstone River confluence to the upper end of Lake Sakakawea (Greg Power, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, personal communication, 2000~. Top-width increases could be facilitated by removing existing erosion control devices and by adjusting Missouri River flows downstream from the confluence of the Missouri River with the Yellowstone River.
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From page 122... ...
The greatest constraint to recovering active meandering might be overcome by a program of sloughing easements. The segments were designated the Missouri National Recreational River in 1991, and the National Park Service completed work on a general management plan in 1997.
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From page 123... ...
Segment 13 includes an unchannelized reach from Yankton, South Dakota, to Ponca State Park in Nebraska. The segment has been impacted by the elimination of effective and base flows, by severe channel incision associated with sediment imbalance, and by selective bank stabilization.
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From page 124... ...
The segment was impacted by construction of channel-training structures, including stone hardpoints and revetments, by elimination of effective and base flows, and by extreme channel incision associated with sediment imbalance. This segment is a transition between the unchannelized condition of Segment 13 and the channelized portion of Segment 14.
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From page 125... ...
Land in some of these sites has already been acquired under the existing authority of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Mitigation Project or under Section 1135 of various Water Resources Development Acts. Increased topwidth throughout this extensive segment could provide a substantial increase in available flood storage.
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From page 126... ...
Significant enhancements in river ecology would likely result in marked increases in user-days for recreational fishing, commercial fishing, and hunting. Moreover, additional sand bars would provide excellent opportunities for swimming, camping, and other leisure activities.
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From page 127... ...
The same values would accrue to these downstream segments as in river segments just upstream. There are unmet demands for public fishing and hunting opportunities in and around urban centers like Kansas City,
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From page 128... ...
However, the lack of express authority to practice adaptive management does not preclude the Corps from implementing adaptive management actions ancillary to their general management authorities or pursuant to the protection of endangered species. In fact, and to the Corps' credit, the agency intends to release experimental flows from Fort Peck Dam.
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From page 129... ...
As adaptive management actions are implemented, great sensitivity must be shown to those most at risk from changed operations and a wide range of creative risk minimization options should be explored at all stages of the process. Current project beneficiaries may raise legal objections to any change in the operation of the system, but the ultimate success of these objections is not guaranteed.
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From page 130... ...
The following section provides examples of necessary tradeoffs to improve Missouri River ecology. Ecosystem Services Most tradeoff decisions regarding Missouri River management and dam operations relate to enhancing flows of ecosystem goods and services, which include a greater variety of wildlife of all kinds, including plants, increases in the production of rare and endangered species, and maintaining and improving production (e.g., fisheries, wildlife habitat)
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From page 131... ...
are common and can greatly recluce flood damages. Flood insurance available through the National Flood T _% ~ 1 · · 1 1 1 TO 1 1 TO ~ ~ insurance Program taclmlnlsterecl by the tecleral Emergency Management Agency)
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From page 132... ...
Navigation and Changes in River Flows The future of navigation on the channelized portion of the Missouri River represents a political challenge, as tradeoffs are likely necessary between maintaining full navigation service and reconnecting the river channe! with its floodplain by changing flows at select times of the year.
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From page 133... ...
No one knows exactly what types of management actions must be enacted in order to restore socially-desirable levels of ecosystem benefits. But if further declines in the Missouri River ecosystem are to be halted and reversed, the time for implementing management actions aimed at ecosystem restoration is at hand.
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