MONTGOMERY COUNTY - The Army Corps of Engineers released thousands of gallons of water into the Missouri river today to help the endangered pallid sturgeon.
For Rhineland farmer Tim David, the Missouri river doesn't need any more water right now. Parts of his 2,000 acre plot are already submerged by the muddy Missouri River water. Heavy rainfall in the past week led to the river's overflowing into parts of the valley's rich farmland. With the Army Corps of Engineers releasing extra water upstream in Nebraska, it doesn't make much sense to him - he called it "silly". He says he'd be planting soybeans, corn, and wheat in areas now covered by what he estimates as three to four feet of water. The Army Corps of Engineers says by the time the pulse reaches Mid-Missouri, the river should be back to normal levels.
Corps spokesman Paul Johnston said, "We expect by the time the pulse reaches Kansas City in about six days, Kansas City['s levels] will be down, and... Boonville will probably be ten feet lower than it is today and Hermann 5.5 feet [lower]."
The Corps says the purpose of the pulse is to help the endangered pallid sturgeon mate and reproduce. The extra water in the river helps protect it from predators and aids in the mating process.
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