KANSAS CITY, MO -- The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) met in Kansas City, Missouri, February 23–26. At its 28th meeting, MRRIC continued to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to develop the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan. The Committee heard presentations on a range of potential management actions that could benefit the three listed species: the least tern, piping plover, and pallid sturgeon. These actions form the basis for alternatives that can be tested using river models.
The Committee discussed a draft adaptive management plan, developed by USACE. The plan lays out a framework through which responses to the results of new research and other scientific information can inform decisions on changes to management actions that might occur once the plan and Environmental Impact Statement are completed. The Committee continued to engage with the Independent Science Advisory Panel and the Independent Social and Economic Technical Review Panel. The panels are assisting the Committee with guidance on scientific and socio-economic components of the plan.
Additionally, the Committee came to a final consensus on a recommendation letter asking the Corps to expedite implementation of reimbursing Committee member travel expenses as stated in Water Resources Reform Development Act of 2014, Section 4013.
MRRIC is a 70-member committee that comprises stakeholders and representatives of Tribal, state and federal governments throughout the Missouri River Basin. This Committee provides recommendations to federal agencies on the current and future activities of the MRRP. The Committee makes its substantive recommendations by consensus.
The Committee meets quarterly at different locations throughout the Missouri River Basin. The next MRRIC meeting will be May 19–21st in South Dakota. For more information on MRRIC, please contact Dr. Michael Mac, Committee Chair, at mrric@usace.army.mil. Information about the Missouri River recovery efforts is available online at https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/mrrp/mrric/ and https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/MRRP/.
About MRRIC
MRRIC was authorized by Congress in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act and was established in 2008 by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). Its duties include providing recommendations to the Secretary of the Army and other Federal agencies, State, and Tribal governments on efforts to recover Endangered Species Act-listed species, mitigate habitat loss, and restore the ecosystem to protect other native species.
MRRIC is supported by the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution and RESOLVE, an independent dispute resolution non-profit organization, and Federal agency staff.