[AdA$tra]

Ultimately, the river will win any battle. It will exist long after we are gone. The Missouri proved itself in '93 by defining its own path in many places. I happen to live on the No. 4 river on the hit parade. I wonder how much Bison poop was in it when the herds spread farther than the eye could see? As far as the Atrazine and other chemicals....I would like to see that addressed somewhat, as I drink from this river every day. I still would not kill the farmers at the expense of the tiny parts per billion amounts of chemicals in the mighty Kaw. The Kansas River is much cleaner now than it was 20 years ago when I swam in it often.

[FairWitness]

Ultimately, the river will win any battle. It will exist long after we are gone.

It may not run in exactly the same riverbed as now, but it will be there. There is a shopping center west of St. Louis on Hwy 40 (I think named Boone's Crossing) which was something like 20 feet under water during the last big flood. Nevertheless, it was rebuilt and is still growing - a testament to human irrational optimism. I think some measure of flood control must be good, but don't know enough to say how much. Letting the river be more "natural" will inevitably mean periodic flooding of some farms and businesses. If someone is willing to insure them (other than the Federal Gov., which should not do so) that is their problem.