Corps' Mississippi Study Improved, But Still Seriously Flawed, Report Says
The Corps of Engineers' study for $3 billion in Mississippi River lock improvements and ecosystem restoration shows major improvements over earlier versions, but still has serious problems, a National Academy of Sciences panel says.
The 79-page academy report, released Oct. 6, deals with the Corps' feasibility study to double the length of seven locks on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers at an estimated cost of $1.7 billion.The plan also includes $1.2 billion in environmental improvements. Those are the core of the 15-year first phase of the Corps' proposed 50-year, $7.7-billion program for the two rivers.