One of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) primary missions is to provide safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems for movement of commerce, national security needs and recreation. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1945 authorized a 9-foot-deep by 300-foot-wide navigation channel. To maintain the channel, the Corps constructed the Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP) generally from Sioux City to the mouth at St. Louis, a distance of 735 miles. A sinuous course of reverse bends and river width and depth was managed by constructing rock or piling structures called dikes and revetments. Dikes were constructed perpendicular to the flow and revetments were constructed parallel to the flow. The system of structures manages the movement of sediment to minimize channel shoaling providing a consistent and reliable navigation channel without the need for maintenance dredging.
The BSNP was declared complete in 1980 and transferred over to operations and maintenance. The Kansas City District is responsible for maintenance on approximately 5000 river training structures from mouth of the Missouri River, river mile 0, to Rulo, Nebraska, river mile 498. The Missouri River Area Office provides surveys, channel reconnaissance and structure maintenance with hired labor. This work is accomplished by utilizing specialized floating plant, towboats, survey boats, and various other river-related equipment. Structure maintenance activities are worked in partnership with the United States Coast Guard and the shipping industry.