U.S. Department of Defense
Date of this Version
2006
Abstract
In 2003, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued an Amended Biological Opinion (2003 Amended BiOp) on the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps’) Missouri River System operations. Among other actions, the 2003 Amended BiOp called for bimodal spring pulse releases from Gavins Point Dam for the benefit of the listed pallid sturgeon. Working with the USFWS, Tribes, states, and other basin stakeholders, the Corps has developed technical criteria for the bimodal spring pulse releases which, under the terms of the 2003 Amended BiOp, are to be implemented by March 2006. By my approval of the attached Memorandum of Decision, the Corps is including these technical criteria in Revision 1 to the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Master Water Control Manual (Master Manual). In addition to the spring rise technical criteria in Chapter 7 and Appendix I, Revision 1 also includes an update of Appendix A.
Public participation in the soon-to-be-established Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee will be critical to efforts to recover these protected species. The Corps is dedicated to this effort and is committed to serve the Nation and its citizens in protecting one of our National Treasures, the Missouri River. We are also committed to working with all basin interests, including Tribes, states, and interested public and private groups, to assure that the implementation of the water control plan, as presented in this Master Manual, as well as any future changes, are coordinated with the basin. The Corps looks forward to our participation in this regional partnership in carrying out our stewardship responsibilities to the Nation and the region in the regulation of the Missouri River Mainstem System.
Comments
Published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District (2006) 1-432