By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – The Army Corps of Engineers has released its latest plan for managing the Missouri River.
The plan includes no significant flow level changes in the coming year, and instead focuses on new drought conservation measures that save water in upstream reservoirs.
Eric Eckl is a spokesman for the environmental group American Rivers.
"The Corps declined to make any significant changes in the way it's running the river to improve its recreational appeal or its habitat for fish and wildlife," Eckl said. "And basically what we're seeing from the Army Corps is a dereliction of duty to manage the river for interests of the public at large and the long-term health of the river itself."
A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered the Corps of Engineers to present a final master manual for the operation of the Missouri River by March 19.