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River Projects Threaten Wildlife

© Connie Troutman

I've mentioned before about different situations that can harm wildlife and the way we treat our rivers has the same effect. I'm not speaking of recreational activities but rather how we protect ourselves from the raging waters that can sometimes threaten us. For wildlife the disturbances that humans begin will have a long-term effect on water quality and the much needed nutrients that these animals depend on for survival.

Flood control efforts such as riprap and levees threaten to turn the country's longest free-flowing river into an "armored ditch" that endangers its blue ribbon trout fishery and storied cottonwood gallery, said the nonprofit group American Rivers, which placed the Yellowstone River at No. 5 on its list. The Missouri River has made this list for the 3rd year in a row." (Source: Billings Gazette)

I live along the Yellowstone River which is considered one of the most dangerous rivers for outdoor fun because of the undercurrents. In past years we have come close to the destruction flooding can bring. Many farmers and ranchers have had and seen this destruction and most do try to stop the river with riprap and strengthening existing levees. In most cases it did calm the raging storm that the Yellowstone and other rivers were about to deal out but what has it done to the wildlife?

Bank stabilization projects tend to armor the banks, causing the water to flow faster, increasing erosion and destroying habitat found along meandering waterways, according to federal fish and wildlife officials and others. The water speed eliminates the murky nutrients that enrich riverbed sediment and nourish the fish and wildlife, said American Rivers president, Rebecca Wodder. (Source: Billings Gazette)

A study by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks supports Wodder's claims. According to the study, "the trout populations in the stretch most heavily impacted by bank stabilization and levees dropped by 50 percent during a two-year span," and on the lower Yellowstone "the numbers of some species of warm water fish, particularly the pallid sturgeon, are extremely low." (Source: Billings Gazette)

In order for these projects to occur, The Army Corps of Engineers grants permits for work along the rivers. Many are unhappy with the way the Corps of Engineers is handling the situation. According to Paul Johnston, a spokesman for the Corps of Engineers in Omaha, Neb, denial of permits is rare.

Here is the list of the ten most endangered rivers in 1999.
1. Lower Snake River, Washington