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Heavy rain and runoff from an above-average snowpack are posing problems for portions of the Missouri River basin. Once again, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has needed to increase water releases from Garrison Dam in North Dakota. The elevated releases are equivalent to twice the long-term summer average. Lake Sakakawea behind Garrison Dam is the largest of six Missouri River reservoirs and it is in the Corps’ Exclusive Flood Control Zone. Water released from Garrison will be temporarily stored in Lake Oahe before being permanently released downstream. Water storage is expected to peak in mid-July. Due to heavy rains causing high flows in the lower basin, the Corps temporarily reduced releases from Gavins Point Dam on the South Dakota-Nebraska border. Flooding occurred on some Missouri River tributaries in South Dakota and Iowa, and flooding is thought to have caused a train derailment and oil spill into the Little Rock River near Doon, Iowa. Rains also caused some cities and livestock facilities in northern Iowa to discharge untreated or partially treated wastewater. Higher flows and reservoir levels can cause hazards, such as floating logs, for boaters and anglers. Some boat ramps have been closed due to the high water. People are urged to be alert when on the river or the reservoirs this summer. In June, the League urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) not to proceed with a sandbar project in the Missouri River north of Bismarck. The project would construct 24 acres of sandbar habitat for the least tern and piping plover, two federally listed bird species. Estimated cost of the project is $2 million. The League asked the Corps not to construct the sandbar now because of the large amount of habitat that already exists in that reach of the Missouri River. More sandbar habitat is also being created by the river with high water releases from Garrison Dam. We also expressed concern over the high cost of the project and apprehension over how long this mechanically created habitat would last given river flows, wind, and ice conditions. If the project moves forward, the Corps would issue a contract later this year and construction would begin in fall 2019. The president’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget request is only $10 million for the Missouri River Recovery Program. Given that limited amount, we requested that the Corps reallocate funds from this project to other Missouri River recovery efforts. The Corps will review comments received on the proposed project and decide how to proceed later this year. The League recently hosted two Save Our Streams (SOS) training workshops in South Dakota. SOS Coordinator Samantha Briggs led sessions in Sioux Falls and Watertown on June 23 and 24 (respectively). Through this program, the League trains volunteers to test the water quality in local streams using physical, chemical, and biological monitoring techniques. The results provide volunteers with a clear picture of local water quality over time and, if needed, ways to restore the water body to good health. About 30 people participated in the two training sessions. To learn more about the League’s landmark Save Our Streams program, visit iwla.org/sos. To schedule a training in your community, email sos@iwla.org. Members of the Rapid City Chapter and League staff hosted a booth at the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department’s 7th annual Outdoor University on June 23. Outdoor University is a hands-on, try everything type of event that gives people of all ages the opportunity to experience canoeing, kayaking, archery, fishing, fly tying, and other outdoor activities. About 350 people attended this year’s event. League staff also made a presentation on the League, including our Missouri River Initiative and Clean Water Challenge. The event enabled us to talk with many people about the League and the issues we care about. The South Dakota Habitat Conservation Foundation is looking to reenergize how it operates. The Foundation’s board of directors discussed possible new methods in a planning session in Oacoma, South Dakota, that was attended by numerous conservation groups, including the League. The Foundation is a private nonprofit organization established to improve habitat and water quality in the state, created based on recommendations from the 2013 Governor’s Habitat Summit on increasing pheasant numbers. The Foundation’s board manages an endowed fund for habitat enhancement projects. In 2016, the board awarded 12 grants totaling nearly $612,000. Since then, no projects have been funded and no additional funding has been raised. The Foundation wants to find permanent funding mechanisms for habitat projects and develop a broader base of support. Members of the League’s South Dakota Division expressed disappointment in the Foundation’s lackluster performance to date. The Division had provided funds to get the Foundation started, and division leaders plan to stay involved with the Foundation as it moves forward. The Lake Yankton Outdoor Festival and Homestead Day was held on June 9. League staff helped organize the event. Over 1,100 people took advantage of 29 hands-on exhibits, including archery, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water safety, a fish tank, and a presentation with birds of prey. The goal of the event is to get families more engaged in outdoor activities. The Missouri River Invasive Species Awareness Event is ongoing. On June 2, Fran Serr of the Yankton Chapter and League staff contacted nearly 200 boaters and anglers at recreation areas near Gavins Point Dam. Invasive species, including zebra mussels and Asian carp, are present below the dam and zebra mussels have infested Lewis and Clark Lake above Gavins Point. Invasive species displace native fish, wildlife, and plant communities and disrupt the food chain Once an invasive species is introduced into an area, it is nearly impossible to eradicate. But there are three simple steps to combat this threat. Every time you come off the water; clean, drain, and dry all of your equipment. This ensures you’re not spreading invasive species to other water bodies. Over 30 kids fished the Missouri River, many for the first time, during this year’s Kids Fishing Event on June 9. The event was held in Pierre on Lake Sharpe. About 20 local anglers donated their time, boats, and equipment to introduce a new generation to angling. The kids were able to learn about fishing and what they need to do to catch fish. During the event, kids won prizes and had the opportunity to see a variety of booths and exhibits. League staff helped organize this effort and also had a booth with information on the League. Attendance was down this year because of many other activities happening on the same date and a lack of promotion. Organizers will discuss ways to get more kids to participate in the event next year. For more information or questions about the topics in this e-newsletter, please contact: Paul Lepisto Photo credits: Paul Lepisto, Jim Fenton, Mary Robb, Bill Englehart © 2018 Izaak Walton League of AmericaAll rights reserved. |