Managing the Missouri River

The Missouri is America's longest river; its basin spans 10 states. But human engineering has compromised its magnificent habitats and the wildlife that depend on them. To promote positive change, the League launched its Missouri River Initiative in 2007.

The League is working with federal and state agencies and private stakeholders to assess the environmental challenges facing the river and find solutions that work for the region’s ecology and economy. These solutions include restoring the river’s natural flows wherever possible, restoring backwater habitat, and increasing opportunities for recreation. Paul Lepisto, the League’s Regional Coordinator for the Missouri River Initiative, spoke to the motivation behind the initiative: “The current activities, policies, and practices involving navigation, agriculture, energy, and development have altered river flow regimes impacting the well-being of the river. We want to protect and enhance a productive river environment for everyone—individuals, families, and businesses—in the region.”

Promoting recreational use of the Missouri is an excellent way to increase river stewardship, so the League worked with colleagues and stakeholders to obtain a National Water Trail Network listing for a stretch of the river from Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, SD, to Sioux City. Attracting paddlers from across the country to the Missouri will benefit local economies.

Results of 2012 Budget Battle: Epic flooding along the Missouri River in 2011 caused billions in property damage and disrupted the lives of thousands of residents. Unfortunately, some in Congress are trying to use this disaster to undermine long-standing efforts to restore fish and wildlife and critical habitat throughout the river basin. The League worked hard to blunt these efforts, and with the help of our members and other state, regional, and national organizations, we won a partial victory in the final 2012 budget bill.