Environmental Defense Welcomes Fish and Wildlife Service Opinion on Missouri River Water Management

(1 February, 2000 ? Washington) Environmental Defense praised the US Fish & Wildlife Service for its statement today that the US Army Corps of Engineers proposal to change Missouri River water management will illegally jeopardize three endangered species in the region, the least tern, piping plover and pallid sturgeon.

“This opinion is no surprise since the Fish & Wildlife Service has repeatedly instructed the Army Corps of Engineers that this change in water management would jeopardize the future existence of three endangered species,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Tim Searchinger.

“The Missouri River represents one of those happy opportunities to save endangered species and improve the economy at the same time,” said Searchinger. “The problem lies in managing a river for a minimal number of barges that produce only $6 million in economic benefits while other uses of the river produce $1.8 billion in benefits. The mistake by the Army Corps of Engineers is to base its decision entirely on special interests instead of the broader public interest.”

The Fish and Wildlife Service wrote yesterday that the proposed Missouri River dam reforms “do not sufficiently reduce the harmful effects to listed species.”

“Higher spring flows and a return to lower summer flows” is essential to the recovery of the Missouri’s ecological health, according to the Service.

Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization based in New York, represents more than 300,000 members. Since 1967, we have linked science, economics, and law to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to the most urgent environmental problems.