The "Mighty Mo," America's longest river, flows past communities in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri – plus it receives water from Wyoming, Colorado and Minnesota. The Izaak Walton League is working with
partners throughout the region to make sure this amazing waterway stays healthy. Here's what happened along the river in September.
Drought Expected To Expand
Over 80 percent of the Missouri River basin is abnormally dry or in drought. The most intense conditions are in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. Wildfires, fueled by excessively dry vegetation, are impacting people and property. The extended forecast has dry conditions persisting or worsening through November.
The updated runoff forecast for the upper basin is 23.8 million acre feet (MAF). That would be 92 percent of the 25.7 MAF average. Currently, water in the reservoir system is below the base of the flood control zone and pool levels are expected to drop the rest of the year. Early projections have stored water about 4.7 MAF below the base of flood control zone at the start of the runoff season on March 1.
In mid-September releases from Fort Peck and Garrison dams were reduced. The lack of water in the system prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to set winter releases from Gavins Point at 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), the minimum allowed in the Corps’ Missouri River Master Manual.
The Corps will release the 2025 draft Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for the Missouri River Reservoir System. They will host a series of AOP meetings in late October. I’ll review the draft and submit comments, and I’ll attend the AOP meeting in Fort Pierre on October 29.
Recovery Committee Discusses Plans and Projects
The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) met in Sioux Falls September 17-19.
MRRIC is a 70-member congressionally authorized federal advisory committee made up of stakeholders and representatives of Tribal, state and federal governments throughout the basin.
The committee provides recommendations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on current and future management actions of the Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP). The recovery actions are required for the endangered pallid sturgeon and the threatened piping plover.
At the meeting we discussed the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project’s Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project, revisions to the Science and Adaptive Management Plan, the new Biological Assessment for lower river pallid sturgeon, and the Fort Peck Test Flow for recovery of the upper river pallids.
I was reappointed to another three-year term on MRRIC. I’ve been on the committee since its inception in October 2008. I’ll continue representing conservation and environmental organizations. I was endorsed for this new term by the League's Nebraska and South Dakota divisions.
Learn more about MRRP.
League Participates in Missouri River Expo
The Nebraska Division again had a booth at the Missouri River Outdoor Expo in Ponca State Park near Ponca, Nebraska, September 21-22. The event, now in its 19th year, is one of the largest expos in the Midwest. The weekend featured over 100 outdoor activities, including fishing, kayaking, archery, camping skills and outdoor cooking demonstrations.
Working with Division members, we helped kids and adults build more than 550 birdfeeders out of plastic beverage bottles. We handed out information on the League, invasive species materials from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and over 600 Izaak Walton League reusable tote bags. Thanks to the Nebraska Ike members for their hard work at the expo.
Zebra Mussels Found in Two Additional Lakes
South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks confirmed that Pelican Lake near Watertown, as well as Bullhead Lake in Marshall County, are infested with zebra mussels. The highly invasive shellfish were found attached to swim buoys at the Pelican Lake Recreation Area and on rocks in Bullhead Lake.
This is another reminder to always take the three simple steps; clean, drain, and dry all your equipment every time you come off the water. This will stop the spread of invasive plants or animals to other waters. The future health of our lakes, rivers and streams - and our outdoor recreation - is in our hands.
Sign Up for New Missouri River Newsletter
This is the final issue of the Missouri River Initiative newsletter. If you want to stay up to date on Missouri River issues and other resource topics, please sign up for a new version of this newsletter. The new newsletter won’t be sent monthly, but rather on an as-needed basis. I’ll keep you updated on the Missouri River Recovery Program, the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC), the Lewis and Clark Lake Sediment Management Plan, and other topics.
My contact information will also change. Please start using this email in October: pauldonna2@pie.midco.net. My cell number remains the same: 605-220-1219. Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks and So Long
It’s been an honor to work and represent the Ikes on Missouri River issues for over 17 years. I’m retiring from full-time work. I’ll stay involved, in a limited capacity, on some river-related issues. I’ve enjoyed working with many of you on outreach and education events, Missouri River cleanups, and other topics.
I’m really looking forward to spending a lot of time on the water, in the field, and in the woods. A sincere, heartfelt thank you for your financial and personal support of the Missouri River Initiative. I’ll treasure the friendships and partnerships developed over the years. Please continue, or get, involved in local, state, regional and national resource issues. I hope our paths cross in the future. Take care, and thanks again for everything.
Top photo: Shoreline of the Missouri River. Photo credits: Paul Lepisto.