The spring rise on the Missouri River attempts to create a healthier environment for the endangered pallid sturgeon, but some fear the rising waters come too soon after recent flooding.

The flood of 1993 left a mark on the Hilgideck farm. Terry Hilgideck works at a pace on beat with the Missouri River. He said after last weeks flooding it doesn't make sense to increase the rivers water level.

"They chose to pile one on immediately after 70 counties in the state have been declared disaster areas from flooding. I don't quite understand that," said Hilgideck.

The spring rise is meant to protect fish that are spawning in the Missouri River. For now, the river is nice and calm and levels are fairly low. But, locals don't know what it will be like in 10 days when the waters move from North Dakota down through mid-Missouri.

"If a spring rise in March and May are critical to the fish then it feels to me like we have those every year without the rise," said Hilgideck.

The spring rise has this farmer keeping an eye on the sky as he does his daily chores.

"It makes us nervous. We, of course, rely on this to make our living, as do a lot of other farmers up and down the river, and it adds risk to a risky business," said Hilgideck.

A risky business that he says rises and falls with the river.

Fish and Wildlife Services says the rise has never caused flooding in the past. It says the Army Corps of Engineers will release only the amount of water need to stimulate spawning.