07-09-2010, 04:21 PM
[center][center]Just to let you know what is being said about migratory species in general is being said about backwater, sand bars, islands and chute habitats.
[center]Send your support and tell them to Restore the River!
[center]
[center]STATEMENT FOR MRAPS, JULY 2010
I wish to thank those of the entire, overarching MRRIC process … for their time and efforts being put forth in what could be considered North America’s largest restoration and recovery project. However, I am here on behalf of over 4k waterfowlers from the region who could not be here.
I am requesting that MRAPS include in the study process, studies of past and future negative recreational economic impacts as it is associated with the degradation of the river, the “Big River” channel and the surrounding flood plain.
Nobody at this table, or any other “acronym committee” associated with the MRRIC process, can provide factual information or data on the negative impacts of the degradated river / river channel to rural (or outdoor) recreational opportunities & recreational development decisions or rural recreational supported community businesses, based on past and present management strategies of the Missouri River as carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers.
To be useful for MRAPS, a study should look into the negative recreational economic impacts of the overall Missouri River Valley flood plains of IA & NE … “Bluff to Bluff”. Native (or “altered”) hydrology function is the important connecting factor to these problematic issues.
I further ask that the MRAPS group also conduct a study that looks into past and future impacts associated with state, federal and county conservation board migratory waterfowl habitat facility management areas that have been impacted by the degradation of the river & river channel / hydrology function associated to the river.
What is the cost in lost / poor recreational opportunities because of the degradation of the Missouri River & River Channel?
What is the extent of the probable negative impacts to migratory habitat management decisions in relation to channel and river degradation?
What are the negative impacts to (outdoor) recreational project developments that are based on decisions that where highly influenced by hydrology issues associated with the degradation of the river and river channel? Should not the Corps of Engineers and the MRRIC process and stakeholders recognize that the areas from the river bank to the bluffs on both sides are also legitimate parts of the riverine system?
How can we mitigate these impacts to seasonal migratory habitat out in the flood plains of IA & NE?
How shall the burden be allocated -- in responsibility, financial cost & physical support -- by all stakeholders directly and indirectly contributing to the issue?
In the past and presently, IA & NE recreational waterfowling habitat management professionals of state, federal and county facilities have always shouldered the burden financially to maintain quality and migratory habitat conditions in the fall for public use and to also attend to our migratory species needs --- the tens … perhaps hundreds … of other species besides waterfowl.
10 times out of 10 … migratory habitat management decisions are highly influenced by the condition of the river. However, it is my view that the degradation and continued degradation of the Missouri River channel has in fact, seriously and negatively impacted migratory habitat conditions and decisions of said facilities. To not address these issues will ultimately lead to and continue migratory habitat management problems that may be, in many cases, degraded beyond current management abilities of respective state and county waterfowl habitat management professionals. States and Counties by themselves, cannot generate enough resources to offset the negative effects associated with the degradation of the River & Channel.
Quite frankly, they alone cannot produce enough money to plug “the drain” caused by the degraded riverbed. Ultimately this leads to further migratory habitat loss which ultimately effects rural (outdoor) recreational waterfowling opportunities, project developments and the business communities of our rural towns who depend on recreational commerce.
MRAPS must include these issues into it's studies to properly assess / determine priority classification status/ranking amongst designated or authorized uses. To not include them in the study process clearly would provide those engaged in the process, public, state, federal, tribal or other stakeholders with potentially false and certainly, inaccurate data & analysis to which future management strategies of the Missouri River Restoration and Recovery process may be negatively impacted beyond it's present geological and hydrological state and further, these adverse habitat conditions may well become financially irreversible.
If that is allowed, we very well could be looking at adding more endangered species to the list associated to the Missouri River or worse, adding many to the extinction category.
Respectfully,
William J. Smith
Sioux City Iowa
President of:
Mo. Valley Waterfowlers Association
5309 hwy 75n lot 44
51108
[url "mailto:FHD101@AOL.COM"][#0000ff]FHD101@AOL.COM[/#0000ff][/url]
712-253-0362 C
712-239-0891 H
[center]Send your support and tell them to Restore the River!
[center]
[center]STATEMENT FOR MRAPS, JULY 2010
I wish to thank those of the entire, overarching MRRIC process … for their time and efforts being put forth in what could be considered North America’s largest restoration and recovery project. However, I am here on behalf of over 4k waterfowlers from the region who could not be here.
I am requesting that MRAPS include in the study process, studies of past and future negative recreational economic impacts as it is associated with the degradation of the river, the “Big River” channel and the surrounding flood plain.
Nobody at this table, or any other “acronym committee” associated with the MRRIC process, can provide factual information or data on the negative impacts of the degradated river / river channel to rural (or outdoor) recreational opportunities & recreational development decisions or rural recreational supported community businesses, based on past and present management strategies of the Missouri River as carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers.
To be useful for MRAPS, a study should look into the negative recreational economic impacts of the overall Missouri River Valley flood plains of IA & NE … “Bluff to Bluff”. Native (or “altered”) hydrology function is the important connecting factor to these problematic issues.
I further ask that the MRAPS group also conduct a study that looks into past and future impacts associated with state, federal and county conservation board migratory waterfowl habitat facility management areas that have been impacted by the degradation of the river & river channel / hydrology function associated to the river.
What is the cost in lost / poor recreational opportunities because of the degradation of the Missouri River & River Channel?
What is the extent of the probable negative impacts to migratory habitat management decisions in relation to channel and river degradation?
What are the negative impacts to (outdoor) recreational project developments that are based on decisions that where highly influenced by hydrology issues associated with the degradation of the river and river channel? Should not the Corps of Engineers and the MRRIC process and stakeholders recognize that the areas from the river bank to the bluffs on both sides are also legitimate parts of the riverine system?
How can we mitigate these impacts to seasonal migratory habitat out in the flood plains of IA & NE?
How shall the burden be allocated -- in responsibility, financial cost & physical support -- by all stakeholders directly and indirectly contributing to the issue?
In the past and presently, IA & NE recreational waterfowling habitat management professionals of state, federal and county facilities have always shouldered the burden financially to maintain quality and migratory habitat conditions in the fall for public use and to also attend to our migratory species needs --- the tens … perhaps hundreds … of other species besides waterfowl.
10 times out of 10 … migratory habitat management decisions are highly influenced by the condition of the river. However, it is my view that the degradation and continued degradation of the Missouri River channel has in fact, seriously and negatively impacted migratory habitat conditions and decisions of said facilities. To not address these issues will ultimately lead to and continue migratory habitat management problems that may be, in many cases, degraded beyond current management abilities of respective state and county waterfowl habitat management professionals. States and Counties by themselves, cannot generate enough resources to offset the negative effects associated with the degradation of the River & Channel.
Quite frankly, they alone cannot produce enough money to plug “the drain” caused by the degraded riverbed. Ultimately this leads to further migratory habitat loss which ultimately effects rural (outdoor) recreational waterfowling opportunities, project developments and the business communities of our rural towns who depend on recreational commerce.
MRAPS must include these issues into it's studies to properly assess / determine priority classification status/ranking amongst designated or authorized uses. To not include them in the study process clearly would provide those engaged in the process, public, state, federal, tribal or other stakeholders with potentially false and certainly, inaccurate data & analysis to which future management strategies of the Missouri River Restoration and Recovery process may be negatively impacted beyond it's present geological and hydrological state and further, these adverse habitat conditions may well become financially irreversible.
If that is allowed, we very well could be looking at adding more endangered species to the list associated to the Missouri River or worse, adding many to the extinction category.
Respectfully,
William J. Smith
Sioux City Iowa
President of:
Mo. Valley Waterfowlers Association
5309 hwy 75n lot 44
51108
[url "mailto:FHD101@AOL.COM"][#0000ff]FHD101@AOL.COM[/#0000ff][/url]
712-253-0362 C
712-239-0891 H