ST. LOUIS (AP) _ The federal government is being warned that cutting the amount of water released from Missouri's upstream reservoir would also reduce flow on the Mississippi River below St. Louis.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and barge industry officials are telling Washington that such a move could cause, quote, ``economic disaster.''
The drought has left many waterways at historic lows. Nixon sent a letter Friday urging the Army Corps of Engineers to rethink its plans.
Meanwhile, the American Waterways Operators and Waterways Council last week urged Congress and President Barack Obama to act to keep the water flowing.
The Corps said last week that the reduction is the first of several drought conservation measures necessary if drought conditions continue into 2013.
