CORPS PLEDGES TO BALANCE INTERESTS IN MISSOURI RESTORATION: The Army Corps of Engineers "is promising to work with barge companies, farmers and environmentalists" to resolve conflicts over a controversial plan for a "spring rise" needed to restore habitat for the pallid sturgeon, least tern, and piping plover says the St. Louis Post Dispatch 12/15. The Corps' just released draft plan "did not back away" from flow alterations but did stress the need for other changes such as "opening backwaters and removal of old dikes and rock structures." While some fear the elections might halt the new river management plan, the USFWS says "biology doesn't change with a change in administration." HANFORD REACH SALMON REVERSING SEXES: Some 80% of the female wild chinook salmon from the Hanford Reach section of the Columbia River "began life as males" says AP 12/15. Scientists say "sex reversal" revealed by genetic samples may reduce the number of females available to produce eggs and could be related to "water temperature fluctuations caused by hydroelectric dams." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]