mississippi riverEAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — Environmental groups have sued the Army Corps of Engineers over the agency’s use of man-made structures meant to keep the Mississippi River navigable.

The federal lawsuit was filed Thursday in Illinois’ East St. Louis. Plaintiffs including the National Wildlife Federation claim the techniques provoke flooding as seen during historic inundations four times in the past two decades.

The plaintiffs ask the Army Corps to stop building more “river training structures” such as wing dikes, bendway weirs and chevrons until it comprehensively evaluates the environmental impacts.

The corps long has relied on such structures to use the river’s current to clear navigation channels of sentiment, lessening the need for pricey dredging.

The corps isn’t discussing the lawsuit but says it stands behind the projects.
No hearing date has been set.

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