The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in response to pleas from flood victims, has announced it will change its approach to managing the Missouri River. Those changes, according to a press release, will include getting as much water out of the river’s reservoir system as possible this fall and winter, as well as analyzing how much more reservoir space might be needed to ease the chance of flooding.
Woodbury County Emergency Services director Gary Brown isn’t surprised. “There are a significant number of lessons learned for everyone involved; the Corps, local, state and federal governments…and I think the number one thing that everyone wants to do is do all we can to work and cooperate together to keep this from happening to people in the Midwest ever again,” Brown said.
The changes announced by the Corps follow eight public meetings over the past two weeks in cities throughout the Missouri River basin. The final version of the Corps’ Annual Operating Plan is expected to be complete by the end of December.
By Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City