That’s the spirit!
A little rebellion now and then…
Missouri farmers stop state’s effort to release floodwaters
Share ThisAs the swollen Missouri River continued to peak eastward across the state today, some residents of a mid-Missouri town worked to undo a state agency’s effort to release floodwaters to promote wildlife.
Farmers in Wooldridge, a tiny town about 15 miles west of Columbia, prevented the state Department of Conservation from allowing floodwaters to pour into low-lying land owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the department.
Mike Schroer, the department’s wildlife regional supervisor, said the agency wanted to let a small amount of water through for wetland habitat. He estimated that 5 acres of the 4,000-acre river bottom would have flooded.
But town residents objected and stopped water from entering the pipe about 15 minutes after it was opened, and the agency said it had no plans to try again.
John Clay, whose farm is protected by the levee, said two area residents were standing guard to prevent state officials from reopening it.
“This could not be acceptable, and there can be no good reason to do this at this point in time with the river flooding,†he said.
Schroer said the state was not pursuing charges against the residents and hoped to hold a meeting in coming weeks so all parties know what to expect if the situation arises again.
