Letter to Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Conferees - Include Funding of Snowpack Monitoring System to Help Avoid Future Flooding Along Missouri River

Letter

Dear Conferee,

As the conference process moves forward for the fiscal year 2019 energy and water development appropriations legislation, we ask that you retain language from the Senate committee report in the final conference report.

Language informing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that the previously-authorized soil moisture and snowpack monitoring program is eligible for funding from the USACE's Operation and Maintenance account was included in the Senate energy and water development appropriations legislation (S. Rept. 115-258):

"Soil Moisture and Snowpack Monitoring Program.--Following the 2011 Missouri River Flood, the Government Accountability Office released a report concluding that increased soil moisture and snowpack monitoring could have mitigated the impact of the flood on communities along the Missouri River. Accordingly, WRRDA section 4003 authorized a soil moisture and snowpack monitoring program to be administered by the Corps in coordination with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Bureau of Reclamation. Section 1179 of the WIIN Act identified the Corps as the lead agency for carrying out and coordinating this monitoring program. Activities necessary to carry out soil moisture and snowpack monitoring are eligible for funds provided in this account. The Corps is also encouraged to provide sufficient funding in future budget submissions for this program."

Prompted by the devastating flooding along the Missouri River in 2011, the Government Accountability Office released a report in September 2014 that concluded that the USACE's flood prevention mission would likely benefit from the development and implementation of forecasting techniques. Congress has taken action to facilitate USACE's adoption of this program. Therefore, we respectfully request that you incorporate this report language into the final conference report.

Sincerely,