Missouri River Valley Improvement Act

Missouri River Valley Improvement Act - Amends the Flood Control Act of 1944 to direct the Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect, enhance, and restore fish and wildlife habitat on the Missouri River (River).

(Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary of the Army to provide for activities necessary to protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat without adversely affecting the water-related needs of the River basin and private property rights.

(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in each River basin State for which the State Governor so consents, to conduct a River study to examine needs and opportunities for acquisition of land surrounding the River for inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Requires any acquisition of new land for inclusion in the System to be: (1) conducted using existing acquisition authorities; (2) from willing sellers only; and (3) preceded by an evaluation of any impact of new land on other authorized project purposes of the River main stem system.

(Sec. 7) Amends provisions of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 relating to a project for the mitigation of River fish and wildlife losses to authorize appropriations for FY 2001 through 2010.

(Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary of the Army to complete, and report to Congress on, a study that: (1) analyzes any adverse effects on aquatic and riparian-dependent fish and wildlife resulting from operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir Project in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana; (2) recommends appropriate measures to mitigate such effects; and (3) develops baseline geologic and hydrologic data relating to aquatic and riparian habitat. Directs such Secretary to: (1) develop and administer a pilot mitigation program that involves the experimental releases of warm water from the spillways at Fort Peck Dam during the spawning periods for native fish and involves the monitoring of fish response to and the effectiveness of the preservation of native fish and wildlife habitat of the releases; and (2) complete, and report to Congress on, a study to analyze and recommend measures to avoid or reduce the loss of fish, including rainbow smelt, through Garrison Dam in North Dakota and Oahe Dam in South Dakota. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 9) Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 to extend, through FY 2010, the authorization of appropriations for a project to protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat of the Missouri and middle Mississippi Rivers.

(Sec. 10) Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service (NPS) and if requested, to work with riverside communities to develop projects to revitalize historic riverfronts in specified River communities in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana as well as riverside tribal communities and other communities along the River that request a project. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, to complete, and report to Congress on, a study to evaluate opportunities to protect and replenish cottonwood trees in the associated riparian woodland communities along the River between Fort Benton and Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 12) Directs the Secretaries of the Army and Interior to establish a program at the River Studies Center, Columbia, Missouri, to determine and monitor the geological, hydrological, biological, and chemical characteristics of the River in accordance with title I of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) develop a program to monitor and assess the biota, habitats, and water quality of the River (requiring certain consultation); and (2) establish and make available a database on such biota, habitats, and water quality. Requires a report to Congress every three years. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 13) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the NPS, to establish Lewis and Clark Interpretive Centers to educate the public about the economic and environmental importance of the River and the scientific and cultural discoveries of Lewis and Clark in the vicinity of River communities. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to provide improvements to recreation facilities and visitor centers at the Missouri River mainstem projects to provide for increased visitor use associated with the Lewis and Clark commemoration. Authorizes appropriations.