Shippers are calling for water to be released from the Missouri River -- the river that sustains farmers and ranchers struggling against the prolonged drought -- into the depleted Mississippi River in an effort to avoid a barge traffic suspension.

The Mississippi River is the most frequented waterway in the nation, and the dry season along with a severe drought is forecast to push water levels in the river to such lows that it could stop shipping completely.

But the movement worries farmers near the Missouri River.

"I need irrigated acres for a guaranteed feed source for my cattle," said Kevin Schmidt, who said the river saved his cows during the dry season.

The Army Corps of Engineers, facing pressure from senators from states along the Mississippi River, has said it will reconsider how much water to allow through the dams. But lawmakers from states near the Missouri River sent a letter to President Obama saying the Army Corps doesn't have the authority to boost the water flow to help the Mississippi River.

A response from the Army Corps to lawmakers is expected this week. About 20,000 jobs are held in the balance if shipping in the Mississippi River is halted for two months, according to American Waterways Operators. If the Army Corps does release water into the river, it will take about two weeks to get there.

"Disputes over the river become very intense, and you can never please everyone," said Bernard Shanks, fellow at the Mill Valley, Calif.-based Resource Renewal Institute. He is also a former director of the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife. "It's a classic East-West dispute for which there are no simple, easy solutions" (Alan Bjerga, Bloomberg, Dec. 5). -- HP