Stakeholder Involvement in Natural Resource Decisions: The Missouri River

Abstract

The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 authorized creation of the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) to provide recommendations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on a recovery and mitigation plan to avoid jeopardy of three endangered species (Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus, interior least tern Sterna antillarum athalassos, and piping plover Charadrius melodus). Formation of the MRRIC in 2007 ushered in a new era of federal, state, tribal, and nongovernmental stakeholder collaboration in the river basin following nearly 20 years of litigation and legislative actions in Congress related to management of and operations on the river. Over a decade, through its deliberations, MRRIC has been instrumental in influencing the USACE endangered species recovery and mitigation efforts. The diversity of MRRIC membership proved beneficial when examining the socioeconomic impacts of river operations. However, this diversity also presented challenges to the communication of technical issues facing recovery of imperiled species, especially the Pallid Sturgeon. By instituting an independent science panel trusted by MRRIC members, the committee advanced key recommendations to the USACE in the development of an adaptive management plan. Unfortunately, at two key points in the past decade, members of MRRIC opted to work outside of the committee construct, engaging in legislative strategies to limit potential recovery actions. This paper describes actions by MRRIC that have benefited the USACE recovery effort and limitations within the committee that in turn have constrained the recovery effort.