Managing the Missouri

The Missouri River Reservoir System is the largest reservoir system in North America. Management of the system is complicated by multiple and diverse interest groups and applicable laws.

Interest groups represent irrigation, flood risk, hydropower, recreation, water supply, navigation, fish and wildlife, cultural resources, and commercial sand and gravel dredging.

One of the applicable laws is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which provides for the conservation of threatened or endangered species and their habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains the official list of threatene...