Corps Will Revise Controversial Water Controls

August 3, 2001

The Army Corps of Engineers says a revised environmental impact statement for the Missouri River Master Water Control Manual will be released at the end of this month. Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) has lead a bipartisan campaign to block the flow changes that could result in a "spring rise" in the river could cause floods and that an accompanying summer draw-down in the water level by several feet would threaten water supplies. The Army Corps of Engineers now plans to review alternative plans for water control other than the spring rise mandated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Among the agricultural groups lobbying against the F&WS plan was the National Corn Growers Association. NCGA had pointed out a spring rise would adversely affect citizens and farmers from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. NCGA President Lee Klein said he is extremely pleased with the announcement.

"NCGA believes that there are other alternatives to protect threatened and endangered species, other than the spring rise on the Missouri River, that do not have the potential for negative effects on farmers and transportation of our commodities. These plans be given consideration by the Army Corps," Klein said.

In an official statement, Brigadier Gen. Carl Strock, the Northwestern Division engineer, indicated that the Corps' ultimate goal is to select an alternative that meets the contemporary needs of the basin, as defined by the people of the basin; serves the authorized purposes of the river system, and does not jeopardize the continued existence of fish and birds listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

For a copy of the revised draft environmental impact statement and summary, go to http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil.