Sediment taking toll on Missouri River
Posted: Saturday, November 25, 2006
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- As drought continues, the Missouri River is accumulating more sediment, and the Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition wants to make a video to show people the problem.
Reservoirs along the river report an approximate rate of 92,500 acre-feet of sediment accumulation per year. That's equal to 10 square miles of mud 14.5 feet deep, the coalition says.
That means the river gets narrower and vegetation grows on newly uncovered sandbars.
The coalition wants to produce a 15-minute video showing what sediment is doing to the river and its reservoirs, said Sandra Korkow, the group's public information officer.
The DVD presentation would include pictures taken all along the river and aerial views looking at the river's physical changes.
Local clubs could show the video, Korkow said. "It's a way we can reach a lot more people."
She said it also could be shown on the Global Access Channel to reach an even wider audience.
Howard Paul, the coalition's executive director, said it would help focus people's attention on the problem. "We need something like this to show them what's happening now. That way people can see for themselves the effect it's having."
The group will discuss progress on the video in January.
The coalition says educating people is important because sedimentation reduces the effectiveness of hydropower and hurts drinking water and river recreation.
"We want people to see this as an issue that affects the whole river, not just South Dakota," Korkow said.
Besides Lake Oahe, the other reservoirs along the river are behind the Fort Peck Dam in Montana, Garrison Dam in North Dakota, and Big Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point dams in South Dakota.
In 1997, the water in Lake Oahe, north of Pierre, hit 1,618.6 feet above sea level. On Tuesday, Oahe was at 1,573.1 feet above sea level
That also was the year that South Dakotans living along the James, Big Sioux and other rivers were concerned about record-high water levels due to heavy spring runoff.
The Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition held its annual meeting Nov. 17 in Pierre.
On the Net:
Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition: www.msaconline.com/
Reservoirs along the river report an approximate rate of 92,500 acre-feet of sediment accumulation per year. That's equal to 10 square miles of mud 14.5 feet deep, the coalition says.
That means the river gets narrower and vegetation grows on newly uncovered sandbars.
The coalition wants to produce a 15-minute video showing what sediment is doing to the river and its reservoirs, said Sandra Korkow, the group's public information officer.
The DVD presentation would include pictures taken all along the river and aerial views looking at the river's physical changes.
Local clubs could show the video, Korkow said. "It's a way we can reach a lot more people."
She said it also could be shown on the Global Access Channel to reach an even wider audience.
Howard Paul, the coalition's executive director, said it would help focus people's attention on the problem. "We need something like this to show them what's happening now. That way people can see for themselves the effect it's having."
The group will discuss progress on the video in January.
The coalition says educating people is important because sedimentation reduces the effectiveness of hydropower and hurts drinking water and river recreation.
"We want people to see this as an issue that affects the whole river, not just South Dakota," Korkow said.
Besides Lake Oahe, the other reservoirs along the river are behind the Fort Peck Dam in Montana, Garrison Dam in North Dakota, and Big Bend, Fort Randall and Gavins Point dams in South Dakota.
In 1997, the water in Lake Oahe, north of Pierre, hit 1,618.6 feet above sea level. On Tuesday, Oahe was at 1,573.1 feet above sea level
That also was the year that South Dakotans living along the James, Big Sioux and other rivers were concerned about record-high water levels due to heavy spring runoff.
The Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition held its annual meeting Nov. 17 in Pierre.
On the Net:
Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition: www.msaconline.com/
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