This is part one of a two-part story on the Missouri River stemming from a historical and ecological presentation given by Wayne Nelson-Stasny at Monday’s Sierra Club meeting.

OMAHA — Dry conditions throughout the upper Missouri River basin continue to limit runoff into the river. Runoff into the Missouri River above Sioux City was 1 million acre-feet in January, 91% of average.

The chief science fellow with Nutrien Ag Solutions says current levels on the Mississippi River vary greatly depending upon location. Eric Snodgrass says it’s a tale of have’s and have not’s. “Three weeks ago,

PADUCAH, Ky. (WSIL) -- The Ohio River and the lower Mississippi River are both cresting in our region. This comes a week after a storm dumped multiple inches of rain across Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois, leading to flooded streams and tributaries.

Congress recently approved a major conservation initiative to restore wildlife and fish habitat along the lower Mississippi River.