| Iowa Division |
| Izaak Walton League of America |
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March 2010 IWLA Progress Report
Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study (MRAPS) Summary Meetings
Two public presentations on the findings and recommendations from this winter’s focus groups and tribal meetings on MRAPS were
sponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) in March. Congress directed the COE to conduct a five year review of the Missouri
River’s eight original purposes for the first time since they were established when the 1944 Flood Control Act was passed. This study
will determine if future Congressional changes in those purposes are warranted. The purposes are: flood control, hydropower, water
supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation, water quality and fish and wildlife.
The first presentation was held March 8th in St. Joseph, MO. COE staff and Osprey, an independent facilitation team, provided
background on the study. According to an article in the St Joseph News about 50 people attended this meeting. Some questioned the
direction the COE and Osprey were taking. Osprey presented two possible avenues for the future progress. A consensus group
approach with broad stakeholder involvement or a senior steering committee with representatives appointed by the Governors in the
basin states.
Tom Schrempp of Water District 1 in Johnson County, MO said Osprey presented the consensus approach with all negative aspects while
the steering committee had all positive points. Carla Market, Holt County, MO assessor, told Osprey and the COE that they could be
limiting stakeholder involvement with the steering committee process and that would bypass those who live, work and depend on the
river. The consensus approach drew the ire of a Nebraska farmer who said he wasn’t represented by his state. Steve Johansen, a Rulo,
NE farmer told the audience that groups representing fish, wildlife and the environment have hijacked Nebraska and pushed farmers out
of any state policy representing Missouri River interests. David Humphreys, a Jackson, MS towboat operator said the purpose that
should be most important is navigation because he says it is in the national interest.
The second presentation in Bismarck on March 10th was attended by about 75 people. The COE and Osprey again presented information
from the focus group and tribal meetings. Dennis Donley of Osprey said the findings show “there is a real desire for change in the
basin”. He reported that 83% of those that participated in personal interviews and also 83% of the people that have taken the
electronic on-line survey say that change is needed. Of those responses - 46% say major change is needed in the future. Donley also said
the findings also show that the COE “needs to go the extra mile” in this study. Osprey then outlined the consensus based stakeholder
group and the senior steering committee proposals.
During the public comment period people weighed in on both. Those attending asked for an inclusive process. They all strongly
supported the MRAPS study, the recovery of endangered species, and recreation along the river. One man requested COE employees
running the study to be based throughout the basin not just in Omaha and Kansas City. The COE’s past was mentioned by some, citing a
lack of trust in the COE and wondered if recommendations from the group would ever be implemented. A tribal member said their
tribe has a “bad history” with the COE and is hoping for better involvement in the MRAPS process.
I urged the COE and Osprey to consider a “hybrid” approach between the consensus group and senior steering committee - asking for a
combination of stakeholders and Governor appointed representatives from throughout the basin. I said the clock is ticking on this five
year study and people in the basin want to see something done for the river. I told them the consensus process requires a lot more time
and that it allows for one interest or state to prevent the group from reaching a decision. I suggested that a “super majority” would
enable this group to reach decisions and make recommendations to the COE which then would be forwarded on to Congress for possible
changes in the 1944 Flood Control Act.
Also at the meetings the COE also unveiled the locations of the upcoming MRAPS scoping meetings designed to collect public input on
this study. The 29 scoping meetings will begin in May and conclude in August. The times and exact meeting locations will be announced
in mid April. Some of the MRAP meetings sites will include:
Nebraska – North Platte, Lincoln, Nebraska City
Iowa – Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Des Moines
South Dakota – Mobridge, Rapid City, Pierre, Yankton
More on the authorized purpose study is available at www.mraps.org and take the brief electronic survey on the river’s authorized
purposes by going to www.mraps.ecr.gov
Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC)
MRRIC had an interesting March. Most of the committee’s members serve on Work Groups which are designed to continue working
between the full committee meetings. All six MRRIC Work Groups held numerous conference calls throughout March developing
proposals for MRRIC’s consideration at our next regular meeting, April 27th-29th, in Bismarck. I serve on four of the six MRRIC Work
Groups.
MRRIC held a webinar on March 4th. Joe Cothern of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Kansas City office gave members an
introduction into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA process has been, and will be, used in many of the recovery
and restoration efforts on the river. This webinar helped provide committee members with a better understanding of NEPA.
MRRIC also held its first video teleconference March 24th for information sharing on the Missouri River Recovery Program and on water
quality issues. No decisions were made on the video conference because our charter requires all decisions be made during face to face
meetings. We had nine sites linked up on the video conference. Jim Riis from SD Game Fish and Parks and I attended the conference in
the Capitol Building in Pierre.
MRRIC is a 70 member committee is made up of federal, state, tribal and stakeholders from throughout the basin. Congress tasked
MRRIC with providing guidance to the COE and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on the Missouri River Recovery Program and the
Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan (MRERP). Recovery efforts are underway for three species on the Threatened and
Endangered Species List, the interior least tern, piping plover, and pallid sturgeon. To learn more go to: www.mrric.org
Sioux City Educational Panel
On Sunday, March 7th the League co-sponsored an educational panel at the Betty Strong Encounter Center in Sioux City. This program,
co-sponsored with the Center, looked at the impact of the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project and the reservoir system on the
Missouri River ecosystem. Natural processes such as meander migration and overbank flooding coupled with the loss of more than
500,000 acres of terrestrial and aquatic habitat between Sioux City and St Louis have led to significant reductions in fish and wildlife.
Biologists and waterfowl hunters discussed the historic and current hydrology of the river; the loss of wetland connectivity to the river;
and the loss of associated wetland habitats. Van Sterner, Fisheries Management Biologist; Doug Chafa, Missouri Valley Unit Waterfowl
Biologist and Habitat Specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager, Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission; and waterfowl hunters Bill Smith, Sioux City and Stu Maas, Omaha participated in the panel. A lively question and
answer session followed. The Missouri River program was offered as part of the Encounter Center’s Natural World Series in partnership
with the Izaak Walton League. This was the third year the League co-sponsored educational panels at the Center.
Missouri River Association of States and Tribes (MoRAST) Meeting
MoRAST held their 2010 spring meeting in Nebraska City on March 16th. MoRAST was formed by the Governors of Wyoming, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas and the Mni Sose Intertribal Water Rights Coalition to help resolve issues of
concern to basin states and tribes. At this meeting MoRAST elected new officers; Mike Hayden, KS Chairman, Todd Sando, ND Vice-
Chair, Sue Lowry, WY Secretary, Kirk Nelson, NE Treasurer. They also received updates on Missouri River water management, MRAPS,
the Missouri River Recovery Program, and other river issues. They also approved a Congressional Action Plan.
Missouri River Natural Resources Committee (MRNRC) Conference
With a theme of “A Climate for Change” MRNRC held its annual conference and BiOp forum at the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City March
17th-19th. This annual gathering brings together state and federal agencies with fish and wildlife management responsibility along the
Missouri River. Researchers present scientific findings and information from monitoring projects along the river. This year’s conference
was attended by over 270 people from 22 states representing 144 different organizations. Chris Larson of the Iowa DNR served as
Conference Chairman. I was on the planning committee for the conference again this year and helped line up an energy session and a
basin stakeholder listening session for the conference. A lot of information was presented during the sessions on the three endangered
species, restoration efforts, invasive species, and the impacts of Climate Change on the river and its fish and wildlife.
Missouri River Events Update
Coordination continues on three Missouri River Events that will be held in the Yankton area this spring. The planning committee met on
Monday March 22nd at the National Park Service in Yankton. This year over 250 area 7th-10th grade students are expected Friday, May
7th at Riverside Park for the Watershed Education Festival. The students will attend presentations on many issues affecting the
Missouri River. This year the Festival will also expand to an evening session at 7 PM on May 7th at the Summit Activities Center. Vicki
Richmond of Missouri River Relief and Tim Cowman of the Missouri River Institute will be the presenters during the evening session.
The annual Missouri River Clean-up will be held on Saturday, May 8th. The Clean Boat Event, which will educate boaters and anglers
about the threat of invasive species, will be held on Saturday May 22nd. Volunteers are needed for all three events. To help out
contact me at plepisto@iwla.org or go to www.nps.gov/mnrr/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm
Also please save these dates for other Missouri River Events.
Omaha/Council Bluffs Clean-up – May 15th
Sioux City Area Clean-up will be June 12th.
There are a lot of things that you can help with at the clean-ups even if you can’t walk the river banks to pick up trash we need
volunteers for many other tasks. Let me know if you can help.
Missouri River Landowner Conservation Workshop (MRLCW)
The 3rd Annual MRLCW was held yesterday (Wednesday March 31st) in Niobrara, NE. This event had been held in Yankton its first two
years. Theresa Smydra of Missouri River Futures coordinates the workshop. She moved it to this location in hopes of reaching out to
other landowners along the river. This year’s workshop was co-sponsored by the League and the Lewis and Clark Natural Resource
District. The purpose is to bring Missouri River landowners together with federal, state, and non-governmental organizations. It
encourages conversation about conservation programs available to landowners that will benefit their operation and also aid in the
current restoration efforts taking place along the river.
This year we had 36 area landowners from Nebraska and South Dakota attend. The COE, FWS, and the Natural Resource Conservation
Service (NRCS) staff all said they had great conversations with many of the landowners and laid the foundation for possible future
conservation programs on several pieces of property. Smydra also lined up a couple of area landowners to speak at the gathering. They
talked about different things they are doing on their land on the river. I had a table set up and passed out information on the League
and also on the invasive species in the river. The workshop may move to different locations each year from now on to continue
engaging with other landowners along the Missouri River. The hope is to raise their awareness of all the conservation programs that are
available to them.
Remembering Mike Williams
As you know, IWLA National President Mike Williams died on March 2nd. I first met Mike while I was working for Tony Dean and
interviewed Mike for Tony’s radio show. Mike led by example. He was a great supporter of the Ikes’ Missouri River Initiative. He
traveled from Watertown to Yankton to help with our Clean Boat Event and worked the Ikes booth at the Missouri River Outdoor Expo
at Ponca State Park near Ponca, NE. His commitment to the League and conservation was inspiring. Chuck Clayton, Mike and I fished
together at Devils Lake, ND last June for three days. While there, we shot a TV segment with Jason Mitchell about the League’s
conservation efforts and the Tony Dean’s Acres Project, another thing Mike supported. In fact, Mike participated in the Tony Dean
Pheasant Hunt before Christmas where he hunted for two days. At Mike’s funeral, attended by Ikes from all around the country, his
brother Gary Williams read a message Mike had written. In it he said he “is now in a place where the canvasbacks are always flying.”
Like many of you I will miss him and will always remember his love of the outdoors and his desire to pass on that passion to the next
generation.
News and Notes
Corps Cancels March Pulse From: COE
The pulse of water into the Missouri River to benefit the endangered pallid sturgeon was cancelled. The melt of the extensive plains
snowpack in eastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa has raised river levels well above the flow limits, eliminating the
two-day pulse that was scheduled for late March.
Tributary streams in eastern South Dakota are above flood stage. The magnitude of the March pulse was to be 5,000 cubic feet per
second (cfs) minus the flow on the James River just above its confluence with the Missouri River. The flow on the James River was more
than 20,000 cfs. The Missouri River is above flood stage from the Platte River in Nebraska to the Mississippi River and flows are not
forecast to fall below the downstream flow limits for several weeks.
“The flow limits are safeguards to reduce or eliminate the pulse to ensure that it does not cause downstream flooding of agricultural
land along the river,” said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Water Management office here. “The stream gauge information we are receiving
coupled with forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate that our most prudent action was to eliminate the pulse in March.”
A pulse is also schedule to be conducted in May. River conditions will be evaluated after May 1 to make a determination on the feasibility
and timing of the pulse. You can view daily and forecasted reservoir and river information on the Water Management section of the
Northwestern Division homepage at www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc
Iowa Receives an Additional 10,500 CRP Acres From: IA DNR and the USDA
Iowa producers can enroll up to 10,500 additional acres of cropland into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to benefit upland
game birds and other small birds. “The program is designed to provide much needed habitat and brood rearing areas for quail, pheasant
and songbirds in the state,” said Todd Bogenschutz, a wildlife biologist with the DNR. “At the same time, set aside programs protect the
most vulnerable land from soil erosion and improve water quality for everyone.”
The additional acres were announced by the USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at the national Pheasant Fest in Des Moines.
Producers can sign up at any time at their local U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency. However, the sign up is “first-come, first-served,”
according to Vickie Friedow, of the Farm Service Agency’s conservation and compliance department. “With a limited number of acres
available, I would encourage anyone who is interested to contact their local U.S.D.A. office as soon as possible”.
Eligible areas include cropland and cropland around the edges of existing grain fields. The average width of the enrolled area must be
between 30 and 120 feet wide. At least half of the field must be in crops. To be eligible, the land must have been cropped or considered
cropped for four of the six years from 1996 to 2001. Producers will not be able to enroll land that is used for turn rows, roads, or for
storage of crops or equipment. In addition, cropland adjacent to a stream filter or buffer strip is not eligible.
Annual payments will be based on the average rental rates for the county. A combination of cost-share and incentive programs will pay
up to 90 percent of the cost of establishing the field border. A sign-up bonus of $100 per acre is available. Contracts run for 10 years.
Enrolled areas must be seeded to a combination of native plants including at least four grass species and a combination of at least five
wildflowers and legumes. For technical assistance, landowners can contact their local U.S.D.A. Service Center (http://www.fsa.usda.
gov/ia/) or their local DNR or Pheasants Forever private lands biologists (http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/privatelands/index.html).
Prescribed Burns Scheduled This Spring From: NGPC
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct prescribed burns on wildlife management areas (WMA) this spring when
conditions are favorable. The primary goal of a burn is to reduce invasive species competing with native species. Burning improves the
quality of habitat available to a variety of wildlife.
Areas scheduled for burning, by region, are:
Northeast – George Syas, Wilkinson, Council Creek, Sunny Hollow, Dr. Bruce Cowgill, Don Dworak, Dead Timber State Recreation Area,
Ponca State Park
Southwest – Oxford
South-central – Bittern’s Call, Alexandria, Kissinger Basin
Southeast – Schilling, Gifford Point, Tobacco Island, Hamburg Bend
Water Monitoring Conference From: IA DNR
Water quality professionals and volunteers can learn how Iowans are improving Iowa’s water resources at the DNR’s 10-Year Water
Monitoring Conference and IOWATER Open Forum. The conference will be held April 9 to 10 at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State
University campus in Ames. This year’s conference will address hydrology and water quality, public health, nutrients, community
involvement in water quality protection, biological health and storm water issues.
In addition to concurrent sessions the conference will feature two morning plenary speakers and an evening keynote speaker. The
IOWATER open forum will highlight successes from the program’s 10-year history and discuss the future of the program. In 2009, Iowa
lead the nation in the number of volunteers participating in World Water Monitoring Day with more than 3,000 participants monitoring
nearly 800 sites. For more information on World Water Monitoring Day, visit www.worldwatermonitoringday.org.
Registration for the 10-year Water Monitoring Conference and IOWATER Open Forum is $30 before 5 p.m. April 2 and $35 after. The
registration fee will be waived for IOWATER and AWARE volunteers who are not federal, state or county employees. Registration
information and agendas are posted at www.igsb.uiowa.edu/wqm.
Corps Schedules Meetings to Review River Operating Plan From: COE
Six public meetings will be conducted in April by the COE to review the 2010 Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River main stem
reservoir system. There will be presentations on river and reservoir operations this winter and spring, planned operations for the rest
of the year and an opportunity for people to ask questions and make comments. The meetings will be held:
April 13 11 AM South Sioux City, NE Marina Conference Center, 4th & B Streets
April 13 7 PM Fort Peck, MT Interpretive Center, Lower Yellowstone Rd
April 14 1 PM Bismarck, ND Radisson Hotel, 605 E. Broadway Avenue.
April 14 7 PM Mobridge, SD Wrangler Inn, 820 West Grand Crossing
April 15 1 PM Jefferson City, MO Capitol Plaza Hotel, 415 W. McCarty St
April 15 7 PM St. Joseph, MO Holiday Inn Riverfront, 102 S. Third Street
The 2010 AOP is available on the “Reports and Publications” section of the Water Management website, www.nwd-mr.usace.army.
mil/rcc, and is available in hard copy by writing to: Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616
Capitol Ave, Suite 365, Omaha, NE 68102-4909.
Wide Support for Wilderness in South Dakota-From: SD Wildlife Federation
Over 70 percent of West River voters support more wilderness designation for South Dakota, according to a new poll by the Republican
polling firm Moore Information. The survey found solid support among all political parties and across all age groups. When asked
specifically about the proposal to designate parts of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland as wilderness, nearly six in ten voters expressed
support for wilderness protection there.
“West River voters across the board clearly favor more wilderness in South Dakota,” said Bob Moore, who conducted the survey. “And
the majority of these voters favor giving some areas of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland this ‘gold standard’ of protection. It is
significant that this support can be found among a wide range of diverse interests, including hunters, rock collectors and off-road vehicle
users.”
The poll found that wilderness designation on parts of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland is favored by nearly two-to-one, and is
supported by 66 percent of rock collectors, 63 percent of horseback riders, 60 percent of hunters, 58 percent of snowmobilers, and 52
percent of off-road vehicle users. Support for wilderness protection in this area, which was recently proposed by Senator Tim Johnson,
is backed by 61 percent of voters in Pennington County, versus 34 percent who oppose, and the majority of voters in Custer County - 53
percent, versus 39 percent who oppose.
“Senator Johnson’s proposal to protect the first-ever national grasslands wilderness is a common sense conservation idea that protects
the landscape and ranchers’ existing rights to graze,” said Chris Hesla of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, which commissioned the
poll. “It will ensure that generations of South Dakotans to come will be able to experience the land for hunting, hiking and camping that
our ancestors did. This poll shows that there is much local support behind this initiative and that this is the right thing to do for our
state.” The survey of over 600 voters in western South Dakota was conducted earlier this year.
COE Conducting Riverbed Study From: COE
The Kansas City District COE is conducting a reconnaissance study of the Missouri River Bed Degradation. The study encompasses the
geographic reach of the River from Rulo, NE to the mouth of the river in St. Louis, MO. The Corps of Engineers has determined through
stream gage data and other physical data that there has been a lowering of the riverbed. The bed degradation has affected public
infrastructure, such as water intakes and pipeline crossings; has affected bank stability in certain areas; and potentially could undermine
dikes, revetments and levees designed to support navigation and to provide flood protection. The objectives of the study are to
examine existing data to determine the current condition and potential future condition of the riverbed and to look for opportunities to
reduce the bed degradation and eliminate impacts. This may result in identification of potential alternatives for implementation by
Federal and private entities. The study will make a determination of a Federal Interest in moving forward with a feasibility study by
establishing whether there is an reasonable alternative for implementation. Stakeholder input is needed to help further document the
affected infrastructure, tributary headcuts and to provide ideas regarding potential alternatives. The Corps of Engineers is interested in
hearing from stakeholder community members who are affected and/or are interested in participating in feasibility scoping for the study.
Turkey Hunting Seminar is April 14 in Lincoln-From: NGPC
A turkey hunting seminar is scheduled for April 14 at the Lincoln Izaak Walton League, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission. The 6 p.m. event is open to the first 100 registrants.
Before the seminar, participants may pattern their shotgun and tune up their turkey calls from 4:30-6 p.m. They should bring their
shotgun, at least five rounds of their favorite turkey load and their favorite turkey call. To register, contact Heather Weihe at heather.
weihe@nebraska.gov.
Randall RC&D Prairie Chicken Tour From: Randall RC&D
The first annual prairie chicken dance tour will be as unique as the elusive bird is unique to the prairie. A bus is reserved and will leave
early on Saturday April 17th. Randall RC&D is sponsoring the event with the aim of educating people about this native bird and its
habitat requirements. Sharp-tail Grouse may also be seen on this short one hour viewing tour. Many people have never seen the strange
dance or heard the unique sound males make when courting females on their dancing grounds. South Dakota Game Fish and Parks will
lead the technical part of the tour and will give a short presentation after the tour. To reserve a seat on the bus for this tour contact
the RC&D office at 605-487-7077 extension #4.
Upcoming Schedule (as of 4/1/10)
April
6th - Ikes Staff Call
7th – 8th MRRIC Work Group Meeting – Omaha
12th – MRRIC Agenda Work Group Call
13th – MRRIC MRERP Work Group Call
13th – MRRIC Webinar
14th- Missouri River Institute Symposium – Vermillion
15th – Missouri River Events Planning Committee Meeting – Yankton
20th – DENR Meeting – Pierre
21st- SD Walleyes Unlimited Meeting – Pierre
23-24th IA Ikes Convention – Warren County Chapter - Indianola
26th-29th MRRIC Meeting – Bismarck
30th-5/2 SD Ikes Convention - Yankton
Please let me know if you have any questions or want more information about the items mentioned in this report.
Thank you for your help and support.
Paul Lepisto
Regional Conservation Coordinator
Izaak Walton League
605-224-1770 office
605-220-1219 cell
plepisto@iwla.org
Check out Paul's past reports below:
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study (MRAPS) Summary Meetings
Two public presentations on the findings and recommendations from this winter’s focus groups and tribal meetings on MRAPS were
sponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) in March. Congress directed the COE to conduct a five year review of the Missouri
River’s eight original purposes for the first time since they were established when the 1944 Flood Control Act was passed. This study
will determine if future Congressional changes in those purposes are warranted. The purposes are: flood control, hydropower, water
supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation, water quality and fish and wildlife.
The first presentation was held March 8th in St. Joseph, MO. COE staff and Osprey, an independent facilitation team, provided
background on the study. According to an article in the St Joseph News about 50 people attended this meeting. Some questioned the
direction the COE and Osprey were taking. Osprey presented two possible avenues for the future progress. A consensus group
approach with broad stakeholder involvement or a senior steering committee with representatives appointed by the Governors in the
basin states.
Tom Schrempp of Water District 1 in Johnson County, MO said Osprey presented the consensus approach with all negative aspects while
the steering committee had all positive points. Carla Market, Holt County, MO assessor, told Osprey and the COE that they could be
limiting stakeholder involvement with the steering committee process and that would bypass those who live, work and depend on the
river. The consensus approach drew the ire of a Nebraska farmer who said he wasn’t represented by his state. Steve Johansen, a Rulo,
NE farmer told the audience that groups representing fish, wildlife and the environment have hijacked Nebraska and pushed farmers out
of any state policy representing Missouri River interests. David Humphreys, a Jackson, MS towboat operator said the purpose that
should be most important is navigation because he says it is in the national interest.
The second presentation in Bismarck on March 10th was attended by about 75 people. The COE and Osprey again presented information
from the focus group and tribal meetings. Dennis Donley of Osprey said the findings show “there is a real desire for change in the
basin”. He reported that 83% of those that participated in personal interviews and also 83% of the people that have taken the
electronic on-line survey say that change is needed. Of those responses - 46% say major change is needed in the future. Donley also said
the findings also show that the COE “needs to go the extra mile” in this study. Osprey then outlined the consensus based stakeholder
group and the senior steering committee proposals.
During the public comment period people weighed in on both. Those attending asked for an inclusive process. They all strongly
supported the MRAPS study, the recovery of endangered species, and recreation along the river. One man requested COE employees
running the study to be based throughout the basin not just in Omaha and Kansas City. The COE’s past was mentioned by some, citing a
lack of trust in the COE and wondered if recommendations from the group would ever be implemented. A tribal member said their
tribe has a “bad history” with the COE and is hoping for better involvement in the MRAPS process.
I urged the COE and Osprey to consider a “hybrid” approach between the consensus group and senior steering committee - asking for a
combination of stakeholders and Governor appointed representatives from throughout the basin. I said the clock is ticking on this five
year study and people in the basin want to see something done for the river. I told them the consensus process requires a lot more time
and that it allows for one interest or state to prevent the group from reaching a decision. I suggested that a “super majority” would
enable this group to reach decisions and make recommendations to the COE which then would be forwarded on to Congress for possible
changes in the 1944 Flood Control Act.
Also at the meetings the COE also unveiled the locations of the upcoming MRAPS scoping meetings designed to collect public input on
this study. The 29 scoping meetings will begin in May and conclude in August. The times and exact meeting locations will be announced
in mid April. Some of the MRAP meetings sites will include:
Nebraska – North Platte, Lincoln, Nebraska City
Iowa – Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Des Moines
South Dakota – Mobridge, Rapid City, Pierre, Yankton
More on the authorized purpose study is available at www.mraps.org and take the brief electronic survey on the river’s authorized
purposes by going to www.mraps.ecr.gov
Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC)
MRRIC had an interesting March. Most of the committee’s members serve on Work Groups which are designed to continue working
between the full committee meetings. All six MRRIC Work Groups held numerous conference calls throughout March developing
proposals for MRRIC’s consideration at our next regular meeting, April 27th-29th, in Bismarck. I serve on four of the six MRRIC Work
Groups.
MRRIC held a webinar on March 4th. Joe Cothern of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Kansas City office gave members an
introduction into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA process has been, and will be, used in many of the recovery
and restoration efforts on the river. This webinar helped provide committee members with a better understanding of NEPA.
MRRIC also held its first video teleconference March 24th for information sharing on the Missouri River Recovery Program and on water
quality issues. No decisions were made on the video conference because our charter requires all decisions be made during face to face
meetings. We had nine sites linked up on the video conference. Jim Riis from SD Game Fish and Parks and I attended the conference in
the Capitol Building in Pierre.
MRRIC is a 70 member committee is made up of federal, state, tribal and stakeholders from throughout the basin. Congress tasked
MRRIC with providing guidance to the COE and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on the Missouri River Recovery Program and the
Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan (MRERP). Recovery efforts are underway for three species on the Threatened and
Endangered Species List, the interior least tern, piping plover, and pallid sturgeon. To learn more go to: www.mrric.org
Sioux City Educational Panel
On Sunday, March 7th the League co-sponsored an educational panel at the Betty Strong Encounter Center in Sioux City. This program,
co-sponsored with the Center, looked at the impact of the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project and the reservoir system on the
Missouri River ecosystem. Natural processes such as meander migration and overbank flooding coupled with the loss of more than
500,000 acres of terrestrial and aquatic habitat between Sioux City and St Louis have led to significant reductions in fish and wildlife.
Biologists and waterfowl hunters discussed the historic and current hydrology of the river; the loss of wetland connectivity to the river;
and the loss of associated wetland habitats. Van Sterner, Fisheries Management Biologist; Doug Chafa, Missouri Valley Unit Waterfowl
Biologist and Habitat Specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager, Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission; and waterfowl hunters Bill Smith, Sioux City and Stu Maas, Omaha participated in the panel. A lively question and
answer session followed. The Missouri River program was offered as part of the Encounter Center’s Natural World Series in partnership
with the Izaak Walton League. This was the third year the League co-sponsored educational panels at the Center.
Missouri River Association of States and Tribes (MoRAST) Meeting
MoRAST held their 2010 spring meeting in Nebraska City on March 16th. MoRAST was formed by the Governors of Wyoming, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas and the Mni Sose Intertribal Water Rights Coalition to help resolve issues of
concern to basin states and tribes. At this meeting MoRAST elected new officers; Mike Hayden, KS Chairman, Todd Sando, ND Vice-
Chair, Sue Lowry, WY Secretary, Kirk Nelson, NE Treasurer. They also received updates on Missouri River water management, MRAPS,
the Missouri River Recovery Program, and other river issues. They also approved a Congressional Action Plan.
Missouri River Natural Resources Committee (MRNRC) Conference
With a theme of “A Climate for Change” MRNRC held its annual conference and BiOp forum at the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City March
17th-19th. This annual gathering brings together state and federal agencies with fish and wildlife management responsibility along the
Missouri River. Researchers present scientific findings and information from monitoring projects along the river. This year’s conference
was attended by over 270 people from 22 states representing 144 different organizations. Chris Larson of the Iowa DNR served as
Conference Chairman. I was on the planning committee for the conference again this year and helped line up an energy session and a
basin stakeholder listening session for the conference. A lot of information was presented during the sessions on the three endangered
species, restoration efforts, invasive species, and the impacts of Climate Change on the river and its fish and wildlife.
Missouri River Events Update
Coordination continues on three Missouri River Events that will be held in the Yankton area this spring. The planning committee met on
Monday March 22nd at the National Park Service in Yankton. This year over 250 area 7th-10th grade students are expected Friday, May
7th at Riverside Park for the Watershed Education Festival. The students will attend presentations on many issues affecting the
Missouri River. This year the Festival will also expand to an evening session at 7 PM on May 7th at the Summit Activities Center. Vicki
Richmond of Missouri River Relief and Tim Cowman of the Missouri River Institute will be the presenters during the evening session.
The annual Missouri River Clean-up will be held on Saturday, May 8th. The Clean Boat Event, which will educate boaters and anglers
about the threat of invasive species, will be held on Saturday May 22nd. Volunteers are needed for all three events. To help out
contact me at plepisto@iwla.org or go to www.nps.gov/mnrr/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm
Also please save these dates for other Missouri River Events.
Omaha/Council Bluffs Clean-up – May 15th
Sioux City Area Clean-up will be June 12th.
There are a lot of things that you can help with at the clean-ups even if you can’t walk the river banks to pick up trash we need
volunteers for many other tasks. Let me know if you can help.
Missouri River Landowner Conservation Workshop (MRLCW)
The 3rd Annual MRLCW was held yesterday (Wednesday March 31st) in Niobrara, NE. This event had been held in Yankton its first two
years. Theresa Smydra of Missouri River Futures coordinates the workshop. She moved it to this location in hopes of reaching out to
other landowners along the river. This year’s workshop was co-sponsored by the League and the Lewis and Clark Natural Resource
District. The purpose is to bring Missouri River landowners together with federal, state, and non-governmental organizations. It
encourages conversation about conservation programs available to landowners that will benefit their operation and also aid in the
current restoration efforts taking place along the river.
This year we had 36 area landowners from Nebraska and South Dakota attend. The COE, FWS, and the Natural Resource Conservation
Service (NRCS) staff all said they had great conversations with many of the landowners and laid the foundation for possible future
conservation programs on several pieces of property. Smydra also lined up a couple of area landowners to speak at the gathering. They
talked about different things they are doing on their land on the river. I had a table set up and passed out information on the League
and also on the invasive species in the river. The workshop may move to different locations each year from now on to continue
engaging with other landowners along the Missouri River. The hope is to raise their awareness of all the conservation programs that are
available to them.
Remembering Mike Williams
As you know, IWLA National President Mike Williams died on March 2nd. I first met Mike while I was working for Tony Dean and
interviewed Mike for Tony’s radio show. Mike led by example. He was a great supporter of the Ikes’ Missouri River Initiative. He
traveled from Watertown to Yankton to help with our Clean Boat Event and worked the Ikes booth at the Missouri River Outdoor Expo
at Ponca State Park near Ponca, NE. His commitment to the League and conservation was inspiring. Chuck Clayton, Mike and I fished
together at Devils Lake, ND last June for three days. While there, we shot a TV segment with Jason Mitchell about the League’s
conservation efforts and the Tony Dean’s Acres Project, another thing Mike supported. In fact, Mike participated in the Tony Dean
Pheasant Hunt before Christmas where he hunted for two days. At Mike’s funeral, attended by Ikes from all around the country, his
brother Gary Williams read a message Mike had written. In it he said he “is now in a place where the canvasbacks are always flying.”
Like many of you I will miss him and will always remember his love of the outdoors and his desire to pass on that passion to the next
generation.
News and Notes
Corps Cancels March Pulse From: COE
The pulse of water into the Missouri River to benefit the endangered pallid sturgeon was cancelled. The melt of the extensive plains
snowpack in eastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa has raised river levels well above the flow limits, eliminating the
two-day pulse that was scheduled for late March.
Tributary streams in eastern South Dakota are above flood stage. The magnitude of the March pulse was to be 5,000 cubic feet per
second (cfs) minus the flow on the James River just above its confluence with the Missouri River. The flow on the James River was more
than 20,000 cfs. The Missouri River is above flood stage from the Platte River in Nebraska to the Mississippi River and flows are not
forecast to fall below the downstream flow limits for several weeks.
“The flow limits are safeguards to reduce or eliminate the pulse to ensure that it does not cause downstream flooding of agricultural
land along the river,” said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Water Management office here. “The stream gauge information we are receiving
coupled with forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate that our most prudent action was to eliminate the pulse in March.”
A pulse is also schedule to be conducted in May. River conditions will be evaluated after May 1 to make a determination on the feasibility
and timing of the pulse. You can view daily and forecasted reservoir and river information on the Water Management section of the
Northwestern Division homepage at www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc
Iowa Receives an Additional 10,500 CRP Acres From: IA DNR and the USDA
Iowa producers can enroll up to 10,500 additional acres of cropland into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to benefit upland
game birds and other small birds. “The program is designed to provide much needed habitat and brood rearing areas for quail, pheasant
and songbirds in the state,” said Todd Bogenschutz, a wildlife biologist with the DNR. “At the same time, set aside programs protect the
most vulnerable land from soil erosion and improve water quality for everyone.”
The additional acres were announced by the USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at the national Pheasant Fest in Des Moines.
Producers can sign up at any time at their local U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency. However, the sign up is “first-come, first-served,”
according to Vickie Friedow, of the Farm Service Agency’s conservation and compliance department. “With a limited number of acres
available, I would encourage anyone who is interested to contact their local U.S.D.A. office as soon as possible”.
Eligible areas include cropland and cropland around the edges of existing grain fields. The average width of the enrolled area must be
between 30 and 120 feet wide. At least half of the field must be in crops. To be eligible, the land must have been cropped or considered
cropped for four of the six years from 1996 to 2001. Producers will not be able to enroll land that is used for turn rows, roads, or for
storage of crops or equipment. In addition, cropland adjacent to a stream filter or buffer strip is not eligible.
Annual payments will be based on the average rental rates for the county. A combination of cost-share and incentive programs will pay
up to 90 percent of the cost of establishing the field border. A sign-up bonus of $100 per acre is available. Contracts run for 10 years.
Enrolled areas must be seeded to a combination of native plants including at least four grass species and a combination of at least five
wildflowers and legumes. For technical assistance, landowners can contact their local U.S.D.A. Service Center (http://www.fsa.usda.
gov/ia/) or their local DNR or Pheasants Forever private lands biologists (http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/privatelands/index.html).
Prescribed Burns Scheduled This Spring From: NGPC
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct prescribed burns on wildlife management areas (WMA) this spring when
conditions are favorable. The primary goal of a burn is to reduce invasive species competing with native species. Burning improves the
quality of habitat available to a variety of wildlife.
Areas scheduled for burning, by region, are:
Northeast – George Syas, Wilkinson, Council Creek, Sunny Hollow, Dr. Bruce Cowgill, Don Dworak, Dead Timber State Recreation Area,
Ponca State Park
Southwest – Oxford
South-central – Bittern’s Call, Alexandria, Kissinger Basin
Southeast – Schilling, Gifford Point, Tobacco Island, Hamburg Bend
Water Monitoring Conference From: IA DNR
Water quality professionals and volunteers can learn how Iowans are improving Iowa’s water resources at the DNR’s 10-Year Water
Monitoring Conference and IOWATER Open Forum. The conference will be held April 9 to 10 at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State
University campus in Ames. This year’s conference will address hydrology and water quality, public health, nutrients, community
involvement in water quality protection, biological health and storm water issues.
In addition to concurrent sessions the conference will feature two morning plenary speakers and an evening keynote speaker. The
IOWATER open forum will highlight successes from the program’s 10-year history and discuss the future of the program. In 2009, Iowa
lead the nation in the number of volunteers participating in World Water Monitoring Day with more than 3,000 participants monitoring
nearly 800 sites. For more information on World Water Monitoring Day, visit www.worldwatermonitoringday.org.
Registration for the 10-year Water Monitoring Conference and IOWATER Open Forum is $30 before 5 p.m. April 2 and $35 after. The
registration fee will be waived for IOWATER and AWARE volunteers who are not federal, state or county employees. Registration
information and agendas are posted at www.igsb.uiowa.edu/wqm.
Corps Schedules Meetings to Review River Operating Plan From: COE
Six public meetings will be conducted in April by the COE to review the 2010 Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River main stem
reservoir system. There will be presentations on river and reservoir operations this winter and spring, planned operations for the rest
of the year and an opportunity for people to ask questions and make comments. The meetings will be held:
April 13 11 AM South Sioux City, NE Marina Conference Center, 4th & B Streets
April 13 7 PM Fort Peck, MT Interpretive Center, Lower Yellowstone Rd
April 14 1 PM Bismarck, ND Radisson Hotel, 605 E. Broadway Avenue.
April 14 7 PM Mobridge, SD Wrangler Inn, 820 West Grand Crossing
April 15 1 PM Jefferson City, MO Capitol Plaza Hotel, 415 W. McCarty St
April 15 7 PM St. Joseph, MO Holiday Inn Riverfront, 102 S. Third Street
The 2010 AOP is available on the “Reports and Publications” section of the Water Management website, www.nwd-mr.usace.army.
mil/rcc, and is available in hard copy by writing to: Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616
Capitol Ave, Suite 365, Omaha, NE 68102-4909.
Wide Support for Wilderness in South Dakota-From: SD Wildlife Federation
Over 70 percent of West River voters support more wilderness designation for South Dakota, according to a new poll by the Republican
polling firm Moore Information. The survey found solid support among all political parties and across all age groups. When asked
specifically about the proposal to designate parts of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland as wilderness, nearly six in ten voters expressed
support for wilderness protection there.
“West River voters across the board clearly favor more wilderness in South Dakota,” said Bob Moore, who conducted the survey. “And
the majority of these voters favor giving some areas of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland this ‘gold standard’ of protection. It is
significant that this support can be found among a wide range of diverse interests, including hunters, rock collectors and off-road vehicle
users.”
The poll found that wilderness designation on parts of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland is favored by nearly two-to-one, and is
supported by 66 percent of rock collectors, 63 percent of horseback riders, 60 percent of hunters, 58 percent of snowmobilers, and 52
percent of off-road vehicle users. Support for wilderness protection in this area, which was recently proposed by Senator Tim Johnson,
is backed by 61 percent of voters in Pennington County, versus 34 percent who oppose, and the majority of voters in Custer County - 53
percent, versus 39 percent who oppose.
“Senator Johnson’s proposal to protect the first-ever national grasslands wilderness is a common sense conservation idea that protects
the landscape and ranchers’ existing rights to graze,” said Chris Hesla of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, which commissioned the
poll. “It will ensure that generations of South Dakotans to come will be able to experience the land for hunting, hiking and camping that
our ancestors did. This poll shows that there is much local support behind this initiative and that this is the right thing to do for our
state.” The survey of over 600 voters in western South Dakota was conducted earlier this year.
COE Conducting Riverbed Study From: COE
The Kansas City District COE is conducting a reconnaissance study of the Missouri River Bed Degradation. The study encompasses the
geographic reach of the River from Rulo, NE to the mouth of the river in St. Louis, MO. The Corps of Engineers has determined through
stream gage data and other physical data that there has been a lowering of the riverbed. The bed degradation has affected public
infrastructure, such as water intakes and pipeline crossings; has affected bank stability in certain areas; and potentially could undermine
dikes, revetments and levees designed to support navigation and to provide flood protection. The objectives of the study are to
examine existing data to determine the current condition and potential future condition of the riverbed and to look for opportunities to
reduce the bed degradation and eliminate impacts. This may result in identification of potential alternatives for implementation by
Federal and private entities. The study will make a determination of a Federal Interest in moving forward with a feasibility study by
establishing whether there is an reasonable alternative for implementation. Stakeholder input is needed to help further document the
affected infrastructure, tributary headcuts and to provide ideas regarding potential alternatives. The Corps of Engineers is interested in
hearing from stakeholder community members who are affected and/or are interested in participating in feasibility scoping for the study.
Turkey Hunting Seminar is April 14 in Lincoln-From: NGPC
A turkey hunting seminar is scheduled for April 14 at the Lincoln Izaak Walton League, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission. The 6 p.m. event is open to the first 100 registrants.
Before the seminar, participants may pattern their shotgun and tune up their turkey calls from 4:30-6 p.m. They should bring their
shotgun, at least five rounds of their favorite turkey load and their favorite turkey call. To register, contact Heather Weihe at heather.
weihe@nebraska.gov.
Randall RC&D Prairie Chicken Tour From: Randall RC&D
The first annual prairie chicken dance tour will be as unique as the elusive bird is unique to the prairie. A bus is reserved and will leave
early on Saturday April 17th. Randall RC&D is sponsoring the event with the aim of educating people about this native bird and its
habitat requirements. Sharp-tail Grouse may also be seen on this short one hour viewing tour. Many people have never seen the strange
dance or heard the unique sound males make when courting females on their dancing grounds. South Dakota Game Fish and Parks will
lead the technical part of the tour and will give a short presentation after the tour. To reserve a seat on the bus for this tour contact
the RC&D office at 605-487-7077 extension #4.
Upcoming Schedule (as of 4/1/10)
April
6th - Ikes Staff Call
7th – 8th MRRIC Work Group Meeting – Omaha
12th – MRRIC Agenda Work Group Call
13th – MRRIC MRERP Work Group Call
13th – MRRIC Webinar
14th- Missouri River Institute Symposium – Vermillion
15th – Missouri River Events Planning Committee Meeting – Yankton
20th – DENR Meeting – Pierre
21st- SD Walleyes Unlimited Meeting – Pierre
23-24th IA Ikes Convention – Warren County Chapter - Indianola
26th-29th MRRIC Meeting – Bismarck
30th-5/2 SD Ikes Convention - Yankton
Please let me know if you have any questions or want more information about the items mentioned in this report.
Thank you for your help and support.
Paul Lepisto
Regional Conservation Coordinator
Izaak Walton League
605-224-1770 office
605-220-1219 cell
plepisto@iwla.org
Check out Paul's past reports below:
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
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| Missouri River Contributors |
Thanks to the following Iowa Chapters that have contributed to the Missouri River fund:
Ames Chapter, Ames
BF Carroll Chapter, Bloomfield
Davenport Chapter, Davenport
Des Moines Chapter, Des Moines
Ding Darling Chapter, Des Moines
Emerson Hough Chapter, Newton
Mahaska County Chapter, Oskaloosa
Ottumwa Chapter, Ottumwa
Additional thanks to the following individuals for their contribution to the Missouri River fund:
Ronald C. & Jeanne Hodges
Marion & Marj Striegel
Jay & Anita Samuelson
Charles Eldridge
Ames Chapter, Ames
BF Carroll Chapter, Bloomfield
Davenport Chapter, Davenport
Des Moines Chapter, Des Moines
Ding Darling Chapter, Des Moines
Emerson Hough Chapter, Newton
Mahaska County Chapter, Oskaloosa
Ottumwa Chapter, Ottumwa
Additional thanks to the following individuals for their contribution to the Missouri River fund:
Ronald C. & Jeanne Hodges
Marion & Marj Striegel
Jay & Anita Samuelson
Charles Eldridge