Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Tells Corps to Reconsider Plan to Flood Missouri Farmers and River Communities or Face Legal Action
JEFFERSON CITY–Recent increases in Missouri River Reservoir System storage appear to have paved the way for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with a planned man-made spring rise this May. According to the Corps’ Annual Operating Plan, if the river’s reservoir system storage is above 36.5 million acre-feet on May 1, the Corps will create a man-made spring rise. With system storage at 37.7 million acre-feet and rising, adequate storage exists to conduct a spring rise this year.
“Releasing additional water from the Missouri River Reservoir System will increase the risk of flooding to our farmers and riverside communities,” Blunt said. “In a hastily completed environmental assessment, the Corps did not address the potential adverse impacts of increasing the risks of flooding. I want the Corps to reconsider this ill-conceived plan. And if they do not, we will vigorously pursue all available legal options.”
After 15 years of debate over proposed changes to Missouri River operations, the Corps adopted a new Missouri River Master Water Control Manual in March 2004, which did not include a man-made spring rise.
“The Corps has now elected to change the manual in 2006 to include a spring rise without preparing an Environmental Impact Statement or conducting a public interest review of these major changes,” Blunt said. “It would be irresponsible for the Corps to go forward with a man-made spring rise without complying with these basic requirements of federal law. We will not allow this to move forward without a fight.”
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