The Corps of Engineers is accepting applications for the newly formed Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC), which will advise the Corps on a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries as well as provide guidance on current Missouri River recovery and mitigation activities.  Applications are being accepted until August 22nd and application forms are available online at http://www.moriverrecovery.org.

In a follow-up letter to the Corps’ final 2007-2008 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for the Missouri River Mainstem System, the Council stressed the importance of maintaining minimum release levels to provide adequate fish habitat, removing economic data from the AOP process, devising a special plan to raise the level of the Fort Peck reservoir, and retaining water in the reservoir as the most cost-effective way to control salt cedar. The Corps’ final 2007-2008 AOP, along with their spring meeting presentations are available at http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/aop.html.

In the Council’s response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ draft Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for the Missouri River, satisfying local needs first was stressed as the most necessary management provision. The Council noted that the Corps has once again failed to recognize the importance of irrigation and the increased costs to Montana’s water users as a result of the Corps’ operation of the Fort Peck Dam.