The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska Applauds Agreement to Help Restore Missouri River

Water Resources Development Act Authorizes Restoration Projects in Missouri River Basin

OMAHA, Neb.—November 9, 2007—The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska today applauded Congress for passing the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA). One of the components of the legislation is the Missouri River Recovery and Mitigation Program, which authorizes the use of Missouri River mitigation funds for projects across the entire river basin. WRDA also will establish a Missouri River Implementation Committee (MRRIC) consisting of federal agencies, states, Indian tribes and stakeholders to provide guidance on restoration plans and activities throughout the Missouri River Basin.

“WRDA is crucial to conservation in Nebraska and shaping future restoration efforts in the Missouri River Basin,” said Mace Hack, director of The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska. “We want to thank Nebraska’s Congressional delegation for their support of WRDA. Senators Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel as well as U.S. Reps. Lee Terry of Omaha, Adrian Smith of Gering and Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln all helped pass WRDA.”

The Missouri River Mitigation Program was authorized in 1986 to restore natural areas to mitigate for the loss of fish and wildlife habitat due to past channelization efforts.

“The current program has already restored more than 30,000 acres, but WRDA’s passage will allow us to do more to improve the health of the river and its tributaries so that we can provide environmental and economic benefits for Nebraska,” said Jason Skold, Missouri River program manager for the Conservancy. “The ability to take an ecosystem approach and the formation of a stakeholder based implementation committee are very important advancements in this basin.”

WRDA is the principal legislative act authorizing all Army Corps of Engineers projects and programs including locks and dams for inland waterway navigation, dredging of harbors, flood control and ecosystem restoration. This legislation also authorizes billions of dollars for projects and programs to restore wetlands, streams, floodplains and coasts. There are several new ecosystem restoration authorities created in this bill that will provide useful tools for restoring our nation’s aquatic ecosystems.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.