Thanks to all of you for making this happen!

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2002

Contact:
Chad Smith, 402-477-7910
Eric Eckl, 202-347-7550

Conservation Groups deliver comments to the Corps of Engineers
Conservationists predict 50,000 will urge Corps to adopt "Flexible Flow"

(Omaha, NE) - American Rivers made a special delivery to the Corps of
Engineers today - boxes full of public comments calling on the agency to
adopt the "Flexible Flow" management plan for its six Missouri River dams.
The Corps is accepting public comments through Thursday, February 28th on
options to restore more natural seasonal water levels that would improve the
Missouri's health, save endangered species from extinction, and boost
outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities along the river.

"The Missouri River belongs to the American people, and a whole lot of them
believe that it's time to restore the river for everyone to enjoy and
benefit from," said Chad Smith, director of American Rivers' Nebraska Field
Office in Lincoln. "What we are delivering today is just a portion of the
total."

Smith delivered 15,000 comments in support of the "Flexible Flow"
alternative. Another 25,000 comments have already been delivered and
conservationists predict that more than 50,000 people will submit comments
before the deadline. Since August, local and national conservation
organizations have reached out to the public and assisted concerned citizens
who wished to express their views. As they spoke at hearings and wrote their
cards, letters, and e-mails, many citizens did more than just cast their
vote for their preferred option - taking the time to speak their hearts and
minds about the future of America's longest and most historically
significant river.

"[T]he best possible use of the river is as a historical, cultural,
recreational parkway," said Duane Kelley of Kansas City at hearing in
Nebraska City, NE, on November 8th, 2001. "Personally, I think that GP2021
comes the closest, is the most preferable for me, because it comes the
closest to being a natural river and I think that is the most valuable use
of the river."

"I live in rural Missouri about fifty miles east of Kansas City...I urge the
Corps of Engineers to adopt the flexible flow alternative, to use adaptive
management, and to do whatever else is required to restore the health of the
Missouri River ecosystem and signature species now, before it is too late,"
wrote Jeff McFadden from Richmond, MO in formal comments.

"Without attempting to revise the water flow, three species will definitely
die," wrote Jane Gressang of Iowa City, IA. "Businesses are created and
destroyed every year as people's interests and way of life changes.  It is a
risk that any business owner necessarily takes, and the government should
not artificially support businesses [the barge industry] when it means
destruction of life."

"As a taxpayer concerned about the environment and governmental efficiency
at a time when the government is heading back into a deficit, I would like
to see a sensible rule set under which endangered species would be protected
and human recreation and business would be abetted at the same time," wrote
Cary Honig of Providence, RI.

"People all over America are currently preparing to celebrate the
bicentennial of this historic journey, some by retracing Lewis and Clark's
footsteps to see what they saw," wrote Jenni Brecht of Charlottesville, VA.
"Please adopt the "flexible flow alternative" and allow the Missouri River
to become more like it was when Lewis and Clark first viewed it two hundred
years ago."

Missouri River Basin organizations encouraging comments
Sierra Club - Northwest Iowa Group
Sierra Club - Living River Group
North Dakota Wildlife Federation
Sierra Club - Thomas Hart Benton Group (Kansas City)
Iowa Environmental Council
Audubon Society of Omaha
Sierra Club -Iowa Chapter
Nebraska Wildlife Federation
Sierra Club - Nebraska Chapter

National Organizations encouraging comments
Defenders of Wildlife
Environmental Defense
National Wildlife Federation
National Audubon Society
Garden Club of America
Public Interest Research Group
Endangered Species Coalition

Members of the public can file comments until February 28th, 2002.

For more information, point your browser to www.savethemissouri.org or
http://www.americanrivers.org/missouririver/default.htm



Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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