Letter to John McMahon, Brigadier General, US Army Division Commander of Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division

Letter

Led by Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin, a group of 10 U.S. senators today called on a top official for the Army Corps of Engineers to carefully consider the weakened level of flood protection caused by damaged levees and other river infrastructure when deciding on water releases this winter and next spring.

In a letter to the Corps commander responsible for the Northwestern division, the senators said the Corps plans for an aggressive approach with winter and spring releases is encouraging, but that infrastructure damage also must be a major factor in the Corps management decisions because repairs will not be completed before possibly high water flows in 2012. The reality of damaged levees means that water releases before March need to be above normal levels and that reservoir reserves need to be maximized, the senators said, noting the risk to communities and farmland.

Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Kent Conrad and John Hoeven of North Dakota, and John Thune and Tim Johnson of South Dakota signed the letter, along with Harkin and Grassley.

The Iowa senators are active participants in a Missouri River Working Group, which is comprised of the senators representing states along the river from Montana to Missouri. Yesterday, the working group asked the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office for a formal review of the 2011 Missouri River flood and the actions taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as recommendations for improving flood control operations along the river system.

In yesterday's letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the senators detailed the record flooding that occurred this summer. "There are varying viewpoints surrounding the recent flooding of the Missouri River. Various parties have suggested that more water than necessary was being held back in the upstream reservoirs. Corps officials, on the other hand, contend that the unprecedented amount of rain changed their picture completely, forcing them to release record levels of water through the system. Given the varying viewpoints on this issue, we are requesting that GAO examine key issues related to the Missouri River Flood of 2011," the letter said.

Dear Brigadier General McMahon:

As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalizes the 2011-2012 Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River, we are encouraged that the concerns of constituents and stakeholders up and down the river have been heard and that the Corps will take an aggressive approach on winter and spring releases. We are also encouraged that you are focusing on enhancing communication at every level so all levels of government and individuals can be informed and better prepared in the future.

However, the record flooding on the Missouri River this year leaves any damaged levees and other infrastructure along the river that will not be repaired or only partially repaired in time for possible high water flows next year. Many thousands of acres of farmland that also impacts communities will likely only have 25 year flood protection at best.

For these reasons, the Corps should not only consider historical patterns and weather predictions for snow pack and rain, but also the weakened level of flood protection many of our constituents face. Therefore, it is crucial that water releases prior to March 1, 2012 be well above what would otherwise be the case without the reality of damaged levees. The Corps should do all that it can to maximize the reservoir reserves by March 1 without significantly increasing the chances of flooding or having the river run at a level that seriously impedes the repair of levees and other flood structures. In the case that high precipitation levels occur in the coming year, there will be a considerable need for above normal reservoir capacity. In addition, releases should stay high under the same criteria after March 1 to maintain the higher than normal reserve capacity.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of these important matters. We look forward to continuing to work with the Corps on recovery and further operations on the Missouri River.

Sincerely,

Chuck Grassley
Tom Harkin
Claire McCaskill
Roy Blunt
Ben Nelson
Mike Johanns
Kent Conrad
John Hoeven
Tim Johnson
John Thune