The article below is from the Iowa Farm Bureau website.   I thought it might 
be of interest to those on this listserve.    It certainly got my attention!

Cindy Hildebrand

***
Midwest coalition formed to protect Missouri River

Leaders of 20 major Midwest agriculture, business, utility, industrial and 
navigation entities recently announced the formation of the Coalition to 
Protect the Missouri River (CPR). 

The coalition was created to represent the diverse interests of organizations 
that support responsible management of Missouri River resources. CPR opposes 
any major changes in the management of the river that adversely affect 
congressionally authorized uses.

Coalition members include the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Missouri 
Farm Bureau.

“The cooperation of such a diverse group of organizations speaks clearly to 
the importance of future river management decisions,” said U.S. Sen. 

Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Mo.). “CPR comes forward as a unified voice of 
strength for Missouri and Midwest river interests.”

NCGA Director of Production and Marketing Paul Bertels agreed. “This issue 
must not be overlooked,” he said.

“It is vital to the corn growers in this area that something be done to 
ensure a spring rise does not happen,” he added.

Randy Asbury, executive director of CPR, challenged the federal government to 
apply common sense to the Missouri River. CPR opposes the “spring rise/split 
navigation” recommendation advanced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS).

“While we are opposed to a ‘spring rise/split navigation’ season, we support 
habitat restoration for endangered or threatened species so long as it does 
not place humans or their livelihood in jeopardy,” Asbury said.

CPR believes the legal and scientific shortcomings of the USFWS Biological 
Opinion overlooks proven species habitat restoration alternatives that can 
provide desired species habit without jeopardizing people who live near and 
depend on the river.

The new coalition is asking business people, conservationists, 
environmentalists, farmers and others to join their grassroots effort to 
protect the Missouri River. CPR is also setting up a Missouri River Legal 
Defense Fund.

For more information on the Missouri River and the spring rise, visit the 
NCGA Web site at www.ncga.com.  
    
***


Cindy Hildebrand
[log in to unmask]
Ames, IA  50010


"One way to open your eyes to unnoticed beauty is to ask yourself, 'What if I 
had never seen this before?  What if I knew I would never see it again?'"  
(Rachel Carson)