Hoeven Calls On Corps To Maintain Water In Upper Missouri River Basin

Press Release

Hoeven Calls On Corps To Maintain Water In Upper Missouri River Basin

Gov. John Hoeven today in a phone call with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Asst. Sec. John Paul Woodley and other Corps officials called on the agency to maximize water conservation measures throughout the basin. The Governor asked Woodley to withhold flows to targeted uses when there is no navigation downstream and, in addition, maintain minimum flows whenever possible.

"The Corps needs to maintain more water in the upper reservoirs and build them back to normal levels," Hoeven wrote in a follow-up letter to the secretary. "Weather in this case has helped to alleviate some concerns over the effects of drought, but we cannot rely on sustained rains to remedy the hardship of thousands of people living and working in the upper Missouri River Basin."

Under the new Master Manual, the Corps must shorten the navigation season by at least 36 days, rather than the 6 days provided for under the old manual, as well as maintain minimum service levels for navigation.

"Maximizing the conservation measures provided under the new Master Manual is vital for the Upper Missouri River community, but it's also good policy for the whole Missouri River Basin over the long term," Hoeven said.

Source