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Missouri Bed Degradation Feasibility Study Study Overview

The River flows for 2,342 miles from the through the states of , , , , , , and Missouri, eventually joining with the River in St. Louis. It is the second longest river in the .

Bed Degradation What Causes Bed Degradation? Locations impacted by Bed Degradation The bed of the has been eroding (degrading) in some Over the past century, there have been numerous changes to the Missouri River in the Lower Missouri River locations for . The rate of the accelerated in the early 1990s. that have changed its and transport processes. Some of these In the Kansas City , the river bed has lowered more than 10 feet in some changes result from the following: The geographic scope of the study extends from Rulo, Nebraska, to St. Louis, Missouri. locations. Infrastructure along portions of the river is now at risk because of Early screening indicated the bed degradation most severe from near Waverly, Missouri, upstream to St. Joseph, Missouri. • Large flood events scouring the river . bed degradation and lower water surface elevations. This includes highway Alternatives will be developed and evaluated to address bed degradation within this section of the river. bridges, water supply intakes, cooling water intakes, and floodwalls, and • Commercial dredging for sand and gravel. It encompasses the area where bed degradation is most critical, an area identified as the Kansas City reach. the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP). Fish and wildlife , both natural and constructed, is also negatively impacted by bed • Narrowing of the river channel for bank stabilization, navigation and levees. degradation. If no action is taken, it is estimated that the bed of the river will • Construction of for upstream reservoirs that reduce sediment in the river. degrade another 8 to 10 feet on average in the Kansas City area, with degradation in specific locations as high as 22 feet. A Regional Response Economic Impacts The severity of the Missouri River bed degradation problem led the U.S. Army As a result of the Missouri River degrading, the region has incurred more than Corps of Engineers and Mid-America Regional Council to partner on a feasibility $100 million in added cost to infrastructure projects since 1990. The economic study. The Mid-America Regional Council convenes 20 local and regional impacts resulting from bed degradation will continue to worsen over time if the stakeholders who are being impacted by bed degradation. problem is not corrected. The study will recommend a plan to reduce the future economic impacts of bed degradation. A feasibility study is a structured approach the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses to investigate potential solutions to problems. The primary goal is to identify a plan with the greatest net economic benefit that accomplishes the Congressionally Authorized following objectives: • Reduce future repair and replacement costs for in-water and bank Purposes of the River infrastructure. Over the past century, the Missouri River has been managed to provide • Reduce future operations and maintenance costs for in-water and stream bank important socioeconomics benefits to the nation. These benefits are infrastructure. derived from congressionally-authorized purpose to provide for flood • Improve infrastructure reliability and reduce risk of failure. control, water supply, navigation, water quality, irrigation, recreation, , and fish and wildlife. Contributing Stakeholders

Flood Control: A series of six large dams Contributing $400,000 or more on the upper Missouri River provide flood risk Kansas City Mo. Water Services Department Water District One of Johnson management along the Missouri River. Contributing $100,000 - $150,000 City of North Kansas City, Mo. Missouri Department of Transportation Kansas Water Office Water Supply: The Act of 1944 Contributing $50,000-$100,000 authorized the Missouri River to be utilized for Holliday Sand and Gravel Fairfax Drainage District water supply. Many cities and municipalities Contributing $25,000-$50,000 along the river depend on the river for water. and Light City of Riverside, Mo. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Kaw Drainage District City of Independence, Mo., Water Department Platte County, Mo. Navigation: The Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project provides a 9-foot deep by Contributing up to $25,000 300-foot wide navigation channel from City of Leavenworth Water Department of Farley, Mo. City, Iowa to the mouth of the river near St. Farley-Beverly Drainage District Kansas City Board of Public Utilities Louis, Missouri, a distance of 735 miles. North Kansas City District