Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) … · 2018-09-05 · 601 E 12th Street...

601 E 12th Street • Kansas City, Missouri 64106 • 816-389-3837 • [email protected] • www.MRRIC.org

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Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) Post-Plenary Communications Materials

October/November 2017

Table of Contents Highlights and Accomplishments from MRRIC’s October 31 – November 2, 2017 Plenary Meeting .......2

News Releases ...................................................................................................................................6

Missouri River Recovery Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement Process Flow Chart ..... 10

Status of the Species ........................................................................................................................ 11

Upcoming Meetings & Webinars ...................................................................................................... 13

About the Missouri River Implementation Committee (MRRIC) ......................................................... 15

Summary of MRRIC’s Key Accomplishments ..................................................................................... 18


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Highlights and Accomplishments from MRRIC’s October 31 – November 2, 2017

Plenary Meeting Kansas City, Missouri

The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) met in late October and early November 2017 to learn more about and discuss the next steps in the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan development process. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provided Committee members a copy of the Biological Assessment for the Operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System, the Operation and Maintenance of the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, the Operation of the Kansas River Reservoir System, and the Implementation of the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan that was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on October 30. The Biological Assessment will inform the Biological Opinion, which the USFWS expects to complete in early 2018. The Committee also kicked off its initial run of Adaptive Management implementation by holding inaugural meetings for the Bird, Fish, and Human Considerations Teams on Monday, October 30. The Teams are made up of agency experts and MRRIC members, alternates and appointed experts. The teams have the opportunity to learn about and discuss the implications of the science informing the Corps’ management actions. MRRIC is a 70-member committee made up of federal, state, tribal, and stakeholder representatives from throughout the basin, which extends over 529,350 square miles and affects the lives of millions of people. Established in the fall of 2008, MRRIC serves as a collaborative forum developing a shared vision and comprehensive plan for the recovery and restoration of the Missouri River ecosystem. Substantive Decisions

The Committee reached final consensus on the following recommendations:

To the USACE (Available at the following link: https://community.apan.org/wg/mrric/m/mrric-documents-2017/213559) o When using the word “channel” in the Final EIS/AMP, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(USACE or Corps) should clarify the definition in the context that it is being used. o The USACE should develop criteria for use in the discussion of the Missouri River

Recovery Program 5-year Strategic Plan to help inform discussion on how to prioritize the Missouri River Recovery Program budget. These criteria should be shared at a MRRIC meeting.

o MRRIC affirms and supports USACE’s commitment to conduct the supplemental flood risk modeling recommended by the Independent External Peer Review (IEPR) in Panel Comment 39.

https://community.apan.org/wg/mrric/m/mrric-documents-2017/213559



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To the USACE and USFWS (Available at the following link: https://community.apan.org/wg/mrric/m/mrric-documents-2017/213560) o USACE and USFWS should provide additional clarification in the Adaptive Management

Plan about the information and criteria to be used in deciding either to: 1. Continue with, but modify, a hypothesis or management strategy, or 2. Put aside a hypothesis and focus on a different hypothesis or management

strategy. o The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) should

conduct ongoing discussions with MRRIC of rationales for funding research, monitoring, and evaluation to appropriately support the Integrated Science Program. This should be described in the Adaptive Management (AM) Plan.

The committee reached tentative consensus on the following recommendations:

To the USACE (Available at the following link: https://community.apan.org/wg/mrric/m/mrric-documents-2017/213563) o MRRIC recommends that the USACE assess the impacts from aquatic invasive species on

the pallid, and invasive species (in general) on the plover in the AM process. o MRRIC recommends that USACE consider the results of the piping plover U.S. Geological

Survey (USGS) and Virginia Tech metapopulation studies in MRRMP Adaptive Management. (Full study citations to be included.)

To the USACE and USFWS

(Available at the following link: https://community.apan.org/wg/mrric/m/mrric-documents-2017/213561) o MRRIC recommends that USACE consider the results of the piping plover U.S. Geological

Survey (“Spatial variation in population dynamics of northern Great Plains Piping Plovers”, to be completed) and Virginia Tech (Relevant citations can be found at the following link: http://vtshorebirds.fishwild.vt.edu/publications.html) metapopulation studies in MRRMP Adaptive Management.

Process Decisions During the meeting, the Committee also approved a number of process recommendations, including:

Approved MRRIC Consent Agenda: August 2017 meeting summary, Work Group membership, and MRRIC Annual Report content.

Selected Dan Engemann to serve as the MRRIC Vice-Chair for the next year.

Endorsed the continuation of the Chair for the next year, in accordance with the MRRIC Charter.

Approved recommendations from the Membership, Process, and Procedures (MP2) Ad Hoc Group to implement the adaptive management process recommendations adopted by MRRIC at the May plenary meeting.

Approved changes to the Operating Procedures and Groundrules document addressing Work Group operations and to address administrative inconsistencies within the document.

Approved changes to Work Group and Ad Hoc Group membership and charges. Approved co-Points of Contact for the Communications Work Group and the Tribal Interests Work Group.







http://vtshorebirds.fishwild.vt.edu/publications.html


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Information Exchange MRRIC also is a forum for shared learning. During this meeting, MRRIC, agency representatives, and the public learned about:

The USACE’s anticipated set of activities and associated timeline leading up to the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.

The contents of the Biological Assessment for the Operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System, the Operation and Maintenance of the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, the Operation of Kansas River Reservoir System, and the Implementation of the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan, the associated appendices, and next steps related to these materials.

Results of the Fall Science Meeting webinars and upcoming Adaptive Management (AM) implementation activities.

Pallid sturgeon life history, through a presentation delivered by Aaron DeLonay, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The Independent Science Advisory Panel’s key takeaways from their review of the bird and fish monitoring issue white papers.

The status of the pallid sturgeon, piping plover, and interior least tern.

The results of MRRIC’s 2017 self-assessment survey.

Navigation interests, as presented to MRRIC by the navigation stakeholder Richard Grenville.

Pre-meeting Agencies’ Updates Webinar topics, including clarification of the Environmental Protection Agency’s comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and updates on the Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP), water management, the Yellowstone Intake Project, the interagency river-clean up (in response to MRRIC’s August 2017 consensus recommendation).

The activities of the Committee’s Work Groups and Ad Hoc Groups, including: o The Bird Work Group’s key takeaways from the Bird Fall Science Meeting webinar and

other Work Group deliberations; o The Fish Work Group’s key takeaways from the Fish Fall Science Meeting webinar and

other Work Group deliberations; o The Human Considerations (HC) Work Group’s efforts to identify key questions

regarding how human considerations are incorporated into the site selection process for habitat construction and future plans for addressing these questions and related issues;

o Efforts of the Plover Habitat Ad Hoc Group to screen alternative plover habitat locations, update a suite of decision-making tools, and track funding opportunities;

o The AM Governance Planning Ad Hoc Group’s efforts related to the AM governance process;

o The Membership, Process, and Procedures (MP2) Ad Hoc Group’s recommendations for changes in the Operating Procedures and Ground Rules necessary to implement the MRRIC AM governance recommendations;

o The Tribal Interests Work Group’s efforts to identify desired qualifications for independent expertise, plans for a training to support Tribal participation in MRRIC, and an update on technical and financial resource opportunities for tribal participation; and

o The Communications Work Group’s activities relating to the development of the Annual Report, the administration of the MRRIC Self-Assessment process, and ongoing activities related to external outreach and internal communications.


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Meeting Summary When finalized and approved by MRRIC, a summary of this meeting will be posted with other information about previous and upcoming meetings on the MRRIC website: http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/f?p=136:3:0::NO.

http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/f?p=136:3:0::NO


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News Release For information contact: [email protected]

For Immediate Release

Nov. 3, 2017

Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee enters new phase

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) met

here Oct. 30-Nov. 2. Committee members continued their work on the transition to an adaptive

management framework that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use to help protect the pallid

sturgeon, the interior least tern, and the piping plover while maintaining the Missouri River’s eight

authorized purposes (flood control, navigation, irrigation, hydropower, water supply, water quality,

recreation, and fish and wildlife).

A key activity at this meeting was the first in-person meetings for the new Fish, Bird, and Human

Considerations Teams. The Fish, Bird, and Human Considerations Teams are part of the Corps’

draft Science and Adaptive Management Plan (AM Plan) for the Missouri River Recovery Program

(MRRP). The Teams are made up of agency experts and MRRIC members, alternates and appointed

experts. The teams have the opportunity to learn about and discuss the implications of the science

informing the Corps’ management actions.

The MRRP’s Independent Science Advisory Panel (ISAP) provided comments at the meeting on

monitoring approaches under development by the Corps that will help assess the effectiveness of

management actions intended to help the species. “The ISAP is an invaluable resource both for

MRRIC and the Corps,” said MRRIC Chair Gail Bingham. These scientists bring expertise and

insights that ensure the Recovery Program benefits from the best available science.”

Also at this meeting, Corps provided committee members a copy of the Biological Assessment for

the Operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System, the Operation and Maintenance of

the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, the Operation of the Kansas River Reservoir System,

and the Implementation of the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan (BA) that was submitted

to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October. The BA will inform the Fish and Wildlife Service’s

Biological Opinion (BO); both the BA and the BO are required under the Endangered Species Act.

The Service expects to complete its Biological Opinion in early 2018.

In addition, MRRIC reached consensus on specific recommendations related to the MRRP, including

its support for the Corps’ commitment to conduct supplemental flood risk modeling, a request for

clarification in the AM Plan about the information and criteria to be used in evaluating management

strategies, and its interest in ongoing discussions about funding for the Integrated Science Program,

among other recommendations. MRRIC also selected a Vice Chair to serve for the coming year,

confirmed the continuation of the Chair in accordance with the MRRIC Charter, and approved

changes to its operating procedures to implement the adaptive management process.


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MRRIC is a 70-member committee that comprises stakeholders and representatives of tribal, state,

and federal governments throughout the Missouri River Basin. 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). It provides recommendations to the Corps and other Federal

agencies and serves as a basin-wide collaborative forum for developing a shared vision and plan for

the MRRP. The committee makes decisions by consensus.

The next MRRIC meeting will be held March 27-29, 2018. For more information on MRRIC,

please contact the committee chair at [email protected]. Additional information on Missouri

River recovery efforts is available online at www.mrric.org and www.moriverrecovery.org.

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mailto:[email protected]

http://www.mrric.org/

http://www.moriverrecovery.org/


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News Release For information contact: [email protected]

For Immediate Release

Nov. 3, 2017

Tribes work with MRRIC as committee enters new phase

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) met

here Oct. 30-Nov. 2. Committee members continued their work on the transition to an adaptive

management framework that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use to help protect the pallid

sturgeon, the interior least tern, and the piping plover while maintaining the Missouri River’s eight

authorized purposes (flood control, navigation, irrigation, hydropower, water supply, water quality,

recreation, and fish and wildlife).

Tribes were represented by Dr. Kelly Morgan, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; Randy Teboe,

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; John Fox, Osage Nation; Richard White, Ogalala Sioux Tribe, and

Elizabeth Wakeman, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe. The Omaha Tribe has joined the MRRIC

Committee, appointing Orville Cayou, Vice-Chairman for the Tribe (who attended this meeting), and

Jessica Webster-Valentino, Tribal Treasurer.

A key activity at this meeting was the first in-person meetings for the new Fish, Bird, and Human

Considerations Teams. The Fish, Bird, and Human Considerations Teams are part of the Corps’

draft Science and Adaptive Management Plan (AM Plan) for the Missouri River Recovery Program

(MRRP). The Teams are made up of agency experts and MRRIC members, alternates and appointed

experts. The teams have the opportunity to learn about and discuss the implications of the science

informing the Corps’ management actions.

The MRRP’s Independent Science Advisory Panel (ISAP) provided comments at the meeting on

monitoring approaches under development by the Corps that will help assess the effectiveness of

management actions intended to help the species. “The ISAP is an invaluable resource both for

MRRIC and the Corps,” said MRRIC Chair Gail Bingham. These scientists bring expertise and

insights that ensure the Recovery Program benefits from the best available science.”

Also at this meeting, Corps provided committee members a copy of the Biological Assessment for

the Operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System, the Operation and Maintenance of

the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, the Operation of the Kansas River Reservoir System,

and the Implementation of the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan (BA) that was submitted

to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October. The BA will inform the Fish and Wildlife Service’s

Biological Opinion (BO); both the BA and the BO are required under the Endangered Species Act.

The Service expects to complete its Biological Opinion in early 2018.

In addition, MRRIC reached consensus on specific recommendations related to the MRRP, including

its support for the Corps’ commitment to conduct supplemental flood risk modeling, a request for


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clarification in the AM Plan about the information and criteria to be used in evaluating management

strategies, and its interest in ongoing discussions about funding for the Integrated Science Program,

among other recommendations. MRRIC also selected a Vice Chair to serve for the coming year,

confirmed the continuation of the Chair in accordance with the MRRIC Charter, and approved

changes to its operating procedures to implement the adaptive management process.

MRRIC is a 70-member committee that comprises stakeholders and representatives of tribal, state,

and federal governments throughout the Missouri River Basin. 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). It provides recommendations to the Corps and other Federal

agencies and serves as a basin-wide collaborative forum for developing a shared vision and plan for

the MRRP. The committee makes decisions by consensus.

The next MRRIC meeting will be held March 27-29, 2018. For more information on MRRIC,

please contact the committee chair at [email protected]. Additional information on Missouri

River recovery efforts is available online at www.mrric.org and www.moriverrecovery.org.

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http://www.moriverrecovery.org/

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Missouri River Recovery Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement Process Flow Chart The following flow chart was developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to demonstrate where the MRRMP-EIS is in the overall NEPA process. This chart is updated as appropriate and shared with the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) during each of the Committee’s plenary meetings.


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Status of the Species No new written materials were provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Status of the Species in conjunction with the August 2017 MRRIC plenary meeting. The information below was provided during the May 2017 MRRIC plenary meeting.


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Upcoming Meetings & Webinars Plenary Meetings and Related Webinars

MRRIC Annual Forum Plenary – March 27-29, 2018* (anticipated for Omaha, NE)

Potential Agenda Items:

Final consensus on the Common Ground Ad Hoc Group recommendations that reached tentative consensus during the fall plenary meeting

Review and seek consensus on remaining recommendations from Common Ground Work Group

Engagement with ISAP regarding their review of the draft BiOp

ISAP report on its review of the Bird and/or Fish monitoring plans (if available by the plenary meeting)

Potential products for independent science panel starting in 2019, including desired skill sets and potential options for how to structure the panel

Learn about the results of the February AM Workshop, including: o the work of the Bird, Fish and HC Work Groups and associated Teams, o the draft Strategic Plan (including the Execution Plan and questions for FY+2

and beyond) o Overview of the Agency Memorandum for Record (MfR) of the Agency Joint PDT

coming out of the AM Workshop

Review and provide input on MP2 efforts to update Operating Procedures to align with MRRIC’s AM Governance recommendations, develop a process to conduct an annual review of work groups, and revise the balloting process and process for suspending the Operating Procedures

Review and discuss the activities of other Work Groups and Ad Hoc Groups, including the AM Governance Planning Ad Hoc Group, the Communications Work Group, the Tribal Interests Work Group, and the Plover Habitat Ad Hoc Group

Discussion of agencies’ updates (which will be provided via pre-meeting webinar)

Status of the Species Report

Member interest presentation

Chair’s Hour (to include 10 minutes for members to raise issues)

Work Group breakout sessions as needed

Anticipated Pre-Meeting Agency Webinar Topics:

MRRP update

Water management

Yellowstone Intake Project


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MRRIC Draft Strategic Plan Review Plenary – May 22-24, 2018 (anticipated for Sioux Falls, SD) MRRIC Fall Plenary – November 27-29, 2018 (anticipated for Kansas City, MO)

Other Meetings

Adaptive Management Workshop – February 6-8, 2018 (anticipated for Nebraska City, NE)

Joint Bird, Fish, and HC Work Group Meeting – April 17-18, 2018 (location TBD)

Fall Science Meeting – November 6-8 (to be confirmed) Additional Anticipated Webinars

Water Quality (anticipated for January 2018)

Possible New Member Orientation (could be webinar or in person)

Tentative: Additional questions about the Biological Assessment

Tentative: FY 2017 completed execution plan and FY 2018 execution plan


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About the Missouri River Implementation Committee (MRRIC)

What/Who is MRRIC? The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) is a 70-member committee made up of federal, state, tribal, and stakeholder representatives from throughout the basin. MRRIC serves as a collaborative forum developing a shared vision and comprehensive plan for the restoration of the Missouri River ecosystem. The Committee provides guidance and recommendations to federal, tribal, state, local and private entities in the basin on the current Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP) for the river’s threatened and endangered species while sustaining the river’s many uses. MRRIC was established by Section 5018 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 under the authority of the Secretary of the Army. MRRIC stakeholders represent a wide range of interests, ensuring that the public’s values are considered and incorporated into the restoration plans. Federal agencies do not participate in decisions regarding recommendations from MRRIC, but the federal agencies support and inform the MRRIC. A Federal Working Group of agency representatives has been appointed by the federal executives of the Missouri River Basin Interagency Roundtable. These agencies advise the MRRIC as the committee considers recommendations. What is the Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP)? The MRRP is an effort to replace lost habitat and avoid a finding of jeopardy to threatened and endangered species (pallid sturgeon, least tern, and piping plover) resulting from USACE projects on the Missouri River. These actions are being taken pursuant to the 2000 Biological Opinion, amended in 2003 (BiOp) and various Water Resource Development Acts (WRDA) currently focused on activities which contribute to jeopardy avoidance. For additional information regarding the MRRP, please visit: http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/f?p=136:1:0::NO. Fact sheets on the following items can be found by visiting http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/f?p=136:70#FactSheets:

• Missouri River Recovery Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement • Relationship between the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan and Environmental Impact

Statement Alternatives and the Adaptive Management Plan • Incorporating Human Considerations into MRRP Planning and Decision Making • Emergent Sandbar Habitat Creation • Interception-Rearing Complexes on the Lower Missouri River • Lower Missouri Spring Pallid Sturgeon Flow Release

MRRIC Charter On July 1, 2008, then Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the Honorable John Paul Woodley, Jr., approved the Charter for the MRRIC. Approval of the MRRIC Charter was the culmination of over a year of intense work by the MRRIC Planning Group. The Planning Group was comprised of

http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/f?p=136:1:0::NO

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representatives of Missouri River basin Tribes, states, and a wide range of stakeholder interests that were asked by the Corps and other federal agencies to develop a Recommended Charter for the MRRIC. MRRIC meets approximately four times per year. Membership of the MRRIC is comprised of representatives of federal agencies, Tribes, states, and stakeholders from throughout the Missouri River basin. Each federal agency head, tribal chairman and state governor may appoint one representative to the MRRIC. Stakeholder representatives apply for membership by identifying their interest in one of the 16 interest categories. See the next page for the list of the seats available on the MRRIC. More information, including a roster of current members, may be found at www.mrric.org. Additional Information For additional information about MRRIC please visit www.mrric.org. For questions about MRRIC or for a stakeholder group, please contact Ms. Gail Bingham, Committee Chair ([email protected]). MRRIC Members

Stakeholder Interests: The Committee has 29 stakeholder seats for members representing 16 non- governmental categories.

Agriculture

Conservation Districts

Environmental/Conservation Organizations

Fish and Wildlife

Flood Control

Hydropower

Irrigation

Local Government

Major Tributaries

Navigation

Recreation

Thermal Power

Water Quality

Water Supply

Waterway Industries

Other “At Large” Interests

States: Eight states in the basin are eligible to appoint representatives to the MRRIC.

Iowa

Kansas

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

North Dakota

South Dakota

Wyoming

Tribes: Twenty-nine American Indian Tribes with historical ties to the basin have a seat reserved for them in the MRRIC.

Blackfeet Tribe

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Chippewa Cree Trobe of Rocky Boy's Reservation

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

Crow Nation

Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

Fort Belknap Indian Community

Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska

Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas

Lower Brule Sioux Tribe

Northern Arapaho Tribe

Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation

Omaha Tribe of Nebraska





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Osage Nation

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

Prairie Band of Potawatomi of Kansas

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska

Santee Sioux Nation

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

Spirit Lake Sioux Nation

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Three Affiliated Tribes of Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Yankton Sioux Tribe

Federal Agencies: Fifteen federal agencies have appointed representatives to the MRRIC.

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Bureau of Land Management

Bureau of Reclamation

Federal Highway Administration

Maritime Administration

National Park Service

National Weather Service/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Natural Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Geological Survey

Western Area Power Administration


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Summary of MRRIC’s Key Accomplishments The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC or Committee) was established by Congress under Section 5018 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 to provide advice to Federal Agencies on the operations of the Missouri River. Since its

initial meeting in September 2008, MRRIC has achieved consensus of its diverse membership on nearly 30 substantive recommendations to the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Through these recommendations, the Committee has significantly influenced the content of a Missouri River Recovery Management Plan (Plan) that will guide Corps operations of the River for the foreseeable future. The Plan will be released as an Environmental Impact Statement anticipated for completion by the end of calendar year 2017. MRRIC actions that have informed the Plan include the development of:

A set of Human Considerations Objectives and Metrics that define a set of uses of the river that must be considered when evaluating potential impacts of management actions;

A recommendation to use an Adaptive Management strategy that enables a “learning by doing” approach to adapt management actions that benefit the listed species as we learn more about their habitat needs; and

A governance strategy that specifies a formal role for MRRIC to participate with the federal agencies in the Adaptive Management Plan.

MRRIC recommendations also formed the basis of prescribed management actions to help recover the listed species, such as:

The formation of an independent panel to review the scientific foundation for an understanding of the Missouri River system and the needs of species, including developing specific review topics that led to a list of seven proposed actions;

The establishment of an independent socioeconomic review panel to ensure the technical soundness of the evaluations of management alternatives on the Human Considerations; and

The recommendation to conduct an Effects Analysis that would compile information on the listed species and their habitats learned since the Biological Opinion of 2003. This information also aided in the creation of conceptual ecological models for estimating species responses to management actions.

MRRIC took action on other river issues that were not necessarily part of the Plan, including:

Development of a “Good Neighbor” policy that addressed local communities’ concerns about activities on Corps’ purchased lands and actively pursued options for using property easements;

An annual recommendation on the Corps’ Missouri River Recovery Program work plan that included spending priorities; and

Emphasizing the importance of habitats outside the main river channel for nesting birds. The dedication of members to using MRRIC as a forum for voicing concerns regarding Missouri River management persisted through the challenges of significant budget reductions and the worst flood in the history of the river. The Committee has succeeded in having many of the concerns of states, tribes and stakeholders addressed in the future Plan.

Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) … · 2018-09-05 · 601 E 12th Street...

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