"The Missouri River is one of this countrys most diverse and dynamic natural systems. At the same time, we are dealing with increased demands on the river -- recreational, industrial, agricultural, and commercial," said William Hartwig, Regional Director of the Services Great Lakes-Big Rivers region. "By devoting more attention and resources to working with our counterparts and coordinating our own activities on the river, we are emphasizing our commitment to be a better steward for Missouri River resources."
Mark K. Albers, has been named the Services Missouri River Coordinator. Albers will provide leadership, continuity, and coordination for the Services Missouri River management and restoration programs. He will serve as a liaison between the Service and Federal, State, and Tribal governments, interest groups, and elected officials on issues concerning Missouri River resources. Albers also will coordinate Service efforts to develop and implement strategies for management of Missouri River fish and wildlife, working closely with other Service managers, counterparts in other agencies, and the public.
As part of his duties, Albers will participate at meetings of the Missouri River Basin Association, whose members include representatives appointed by governors of Missouri River states. Among Missouri River issues of interest to the Service are operation of dams and reservoirs on the Upper and Middle Missouri, maintenance of existing bank stabilization and navigation structures throughout the entire river, and conservation and restoration of habitat for river fish and wildlife, including endangered and threatened species.
Albers appointment follows 10 years of fisheries and natural resources management experience with the Interior Departments Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers in Montana. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Montana State University. Albers will be stationed at the Services office in Pierre, South Dakota.
In another move to support fish and wildlife conservation efforts on the Missouri, the Service will provide a full-time position to assist the Missouri River Natural Resources Committee, a group represented by fish and wildlife agencies of states along the river (Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri). Service fish and wildlife biologist Mike LeValley has been named MRNRC Coordinator and will work directly with the Committee to coordinate the groups positions and programs with other agencies. LeValley will help the Committee advance and communicate its mission -- to foster sound management of Missouri River fish and wildlife resources.
The Missouri River Natural Resources Committee was formed in 1988, initially to address fish and wildlife issues associated with operation of six reservoirs constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers on the upper river. The Committee has since expanded its focus to identify and promote management programs which benefit the entire river. During the past year, the obtain the best scientific information possible for making river management decisions. The the Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Western Area Power Administration. Serving as cooperating agencies are the Department of the Interiors Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Park Service.
LeValley brings extensive river experience to his new job. He leaves the Services Columbia, Missouri, field office after seven years of working on Missouri River fish and wildlife issues. He has Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in wildlife conservation and fishery biology from Kansas State University. He will be stationed at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in western Iowa.
The Missouri River is the longest river in the country, traversing seven states and flowing 2,250 miles from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. Nicknamed the Big Muddy, the Missouri River drains one-sixth of the United States. The river provides basin residents with recreation, fish and wildlife, water supply, hydropower production, flood control, and commercial navigation. Segments of the river and its floodplain also provide critical aquatic and wetland habitats for migratory birds, economically important sport fisheries, unique native fish, and threatened and endangered species. The Missouri River was recently named the countrys most endangered river by American Rivers, a national river conservation group, which cited impacts to the river from pollution, commercial navigation, and operation of dams on the river.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
