Study: Missouri tops endangered rivers

Some cases pit commercial vs. conservation interests

Environmental group American Rivers says the health and future of the Missouri River is at a critical stage.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Dams, dredging and development are among the culprits cited in this year's America's Most Endangered Rivers report, issued annually by the environmental organization called American Rivers.

The Missouri River tops this year's list of endangered rivers.

American Rivers' president, Rebecca Wodder, says the Army Corps of Engineers -- which operates dams in the river -- is "draining the life" out of the Missouri in an effort to maintain a "trickle" of barge traffic.

The corps disputes that charge. "The Missouri River is critical to the life of the people in the Midwest, and we work very hard to balance the competing interests of the river," says Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers, the corps' commander.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Natalie Pawelski reports on the rivers included on the endangered rivers list, including the Missouri. (April 2) Play video   EXTRA INFORMATION Click here for an interactive map of American Rivers' 2002 most-endangered waterways   RESOURCE Activities on endangered rivers for students and educators

The second river on the list -- the Big Sunflower in Mississippi -- also highlights the long-standing conflict between environmentalists and the Corps of Engineers. American Rivers says the Big Sunflower is threatened by a giant flood-control project -- one that Wodder says would drain 200,000 acres of wetlands.

The corps' Flowers says it would help people by preventing floods, while restoring 60,000 acres of forest.

Down the list, downriver

Here are the rest of the rivers named by the organization -- and the threats American Rivers contends they face.