The Corps of Engineers has issued final documents for the controversial job of operating the Missouri River, but with continuing criticism and court challenges likely, the plan is far from final.
For construction, the main element of the plan embodied in the documents released March 19 is the Corps' commitment to spend $11 million to construct 1,200 new acres of shallow-water habitat by July 1 to protect the endangered pallid sturgeon. Already, Corps officials said, they have started that job, cutting notches in 19 dikes on the river and letting contracts for other habitat-related work.