ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Army Corps of Engineers on Friday began
reducing the flow from a Missouri River reservoir, a move
expected to worsen low-water conditions on the Mississippi River
and potentially bring barge traffic to a halt within weeks. The
Missouri flows into the Mississippi around a bend just north of
St. Louis. One result of this year's drought, the worst in
decades, has been a big drop in water levels on both rivers. The
corps announced earlier this month that it would reduce the
outflow from the Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, S.D., to protect
the upper Missouri River basin. That drew an outcry from
political leaders and businesses downstream, who warned that
allowing the Mississippi to drop more could have devastating
economic consequences. Corps spokeswoman Monique Farmer told The
Associated Press on Friday that the reduction began as scheduled
that morning. By midday, the flow that had started at 37,500
cubic feet per second had been cut to 35,500 cubic feet per
second. Farmer said plans call fo