The Environment and the River

Past

Present

Future
The Corps’ actions and intentions specific to operation and maintenance of the inland waterway navigation system imposed on the rivers have shaped a non-sustainable status for natural resources.

We feel that the Corps needs to seriously work towards a plan that will rectify the problems associated with the Administration’s FY 2003 dramatic budget cuts in funding for the Environmental Management Program.

The Clean Water Act was introduced 30 years ago to ensure our nation would have swimmable and fishable waters by 1985. This has yet to occur.  

 

These rivers are internationally significant flyways for waterfowl and songbirds. 144 species of fish swim these waters. The basin provides habitat for the world's most diverse population of fresh water mussels (37 species!), which are an unrecognized but vital part of the ecosystem and are an economic resource if managed properly.

There are real and critical environmental impacts to the ecosystem from navigation that require thorough NEPA analysis and response in the manner of up-front mitigation and restoration activity. The Upper Mississippi River Illinois Waterways Rehabilitation and Expansion Study will hopefully outline mitigation programs and identify restoration needs.

The public still demands the Clean Water Act live up to its name, and we find it implorable that the Bush Administration is proposing to cut enforcement budgets when 35% of our rivers, 44% of our estuaries, and 45% of our lakes are STILL too polluted for safe fishing or swimming.

 We hope that the new generation of engineers to use alternatives to the traditional structural features to sustain backwater habitats. For example, intensive native plantings is an alternative for bank stabilization and sedimentation control compared to the rip rap that they find cheaper and easier to use. Purchasing agriculture lands vs. building levees should be expanded. Planting buffer zones and trees on the borders of agriculture land to slow erosion and chemical run-off into the backwaters, vs. mainly building settling ponds and letting the un-sustainable farming techniques run the land. The backwaters of the Mississippi have not been receiving the attention they deserve: with proper management, they can be the Everglades of the Midwest. The Division should be encouraging engineers to be creative in using non-structural features and demonstrate to Congress the appropriateness of directing funds into such innovative programs that will reverse the negative habitat impacts and restoring the area to a sustainable and productive ecosystem.

Returning the rivers to a more natural process, insisting on obtaining clean waters, and normal rates of sediment will help us get to a more sustainable future.