Endangered Species Keep Missouri River Flows Low

Army Corps of Engineers officials say a couple of endangered shore birds are keeping them from putting as much water in the Missouri River as they need to put into it. Piping plovers and and interior least tern have built nests on the sandbars that have formed as river levels have dropped. Those nests would be inundated – a violation of the Endangered Species Act – if more water is released from upstream dams. And, Corps Spokesman Paul Johnston says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service won’t let the Corps move those nests. Johnston says the Corps is releasing water from the Kansas River system to help flows between Kansas City and St. Louis but admits it’s still a tough situation for barge operators.