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This is the VOA Special English Environment Report.
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Last month a judge ordered theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers to begin to lower water levelsalong the Missouri River. The federal judge threatened hundreds ofthousands of dollars of fines each day the corps did not obey.Environmental groups want the water lowered by dams to protect somekinds of birds and fish.
But the army engineers, who operate the dams, say they must keepthe water deep enough for shipping. A judge in Nebraska late lastyear ordered them to do that. The engineers say the ruling lastmonth to lower the river or face huge fines conflicts with thatorder.
Last week, still another judge blocked the fines temporarily.That judge is to decide all the current legal actions concerningwater levels on the Missouri River.
The Missouri is the longest river in the United States, at alittle more than four-thousand-kilometers. It begins in Montana andflows through North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. It endsin Missouri, where the waters enter the Mississippi River.
For many years, the Army Corp of Engineers has operated majordams along the Missouri. Environmental groups want the engineers tochange the way they operate the dams.
Two kinds of birds on the federal list of endangered species liveon small islands of sand in the river. These sandbars are underwaterduring nesting season under the current rules for the dams. Thecorps established these guidelines in nineteen-seventy-nine. At thattime, the birds and a species of fish also at issue were not yet onthe endangered list.
Last year the National Research Council said the dam system hashurt the ecosystem. The council is a private group that advisesCongress. Scientists called for some natural river flow to bere-established to help repair damage. But their report also calledfor a balance between environmental and economic goals.
Critics of lowered water levels include shipping companies andfarmers. These critics say the first job of the Army Corps ofEngineers is to support shipping on the Missouri. They say changescould lead to flooded crops and homes.
The army engineers have been working on a new water-control planfor fourteen years. They say the plan will be ready next year.
This VOA Special English Environment Report was written by CatyWeaver.