Kansas City, Mo. ? A federal judge’s ruling recently called the water levels in the Missouri River a masterful balancing act by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The corps has to provide water to northern states for recreation and to environmentalists for endangered species while still sending enough downstream so barges can haul cargo.

Just one problem: There are almost no barges left.

After dwindling for years, barge traffic has now disappeared north of Kansas City and trickled to only a few between Kansas City and St. Louis, according to reports recently released by the corps.

Low river levels, caused by drought and previous legal rulings, have pushed the two last major shippers off the Missouri.

“The situation put us out of business,” said Roger Blaske, who owned Blaske Marine.

As a result, some say, the corps should abandon its attempt to provide enough water for shipping. That would allow drought-stricken northern states to retain more water and environmentalists to better protect threatened species.

“The corps is still insisting on maintaining artificially high water levels throughout the summer as though there were something to float,” said Liz Birnbaum, director of government affairs for American Rivers, an environmental group.

In light of negligible barge traffic, the corps said it would re-evaluate river levels.

The corps will consider lowering the flow of water between Sioux City, Iowa, and Kansas City while attempting to maintain enough water for the remaining barges below Kansas City, said Paul Johnston, a corps spokesman in Omaha.

Ironically, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson ruled last month in St. Paul that the corps had done a good job of juggling all the interests in a 15-year-old water war on the Missouri.

In general, it was north vs. south.

The Dakotas and Montana wanted more water retained in the summer in the upper Missouri for recreation and drought relief. So did environmentalists, who wanted lower flows downstream in the summer to provide shallow water habitats for endangered species such as the pallid sturgeon and least tern.

In the south, barge interests allied with Missouri, utilities and others to push for higher water levels in the summer.

Magnuson’s ruling made none of the parties happy in a time of severe drought when there isn’t enough water to supply everyone.

For barges, recent years have been disastrous.

No long-haul barges go north of Kansas City, even though St. Joseph spent $1.3 million to build a port. It opened amid fanfare in 2002.

That first year the port docked eight barges; this year, none.

“I think it is very sad when they put two birds and a fish that most people could care less about and will never see over the economic and livelihood of people,” said Brad Lau, port authority director.

Downstream, only two tows are hauling from Kansas City to St. Louis. One moves two to six barges loaded with asphalt oil once a week. The second pushes barges carrying cement from Lafarge Cement Co. near Sugar Creek to the Mississippi River.

In Jefferson City, a tow also moves barges carrying cement to St. Louis.