Missouri River Under Long Term Dredging Plan
Senator John Hoeven insisted of handling sandbars as well as other flow constrictions on the Missouri River to be able to stop ice jams and flooding for this winter. Senator insists Omaha District Commander Col. Robert Ruch to deal any potential risk would be caused by the River.
Additional to Robert Ruch, North Dakota Water Commissioner Todd Sando, the Omaha District’s Chief of Hydrologic Engineering John Remus and Chief of the Planning Division Kayla Eckert Uptmor also called by Senator to consider the situation. Chief Remus, arrived at Bismarck last winter to revise the situation and find solutions as Senator requested.
“This is a good case of where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Hoeven said. “The Corps needs to take concrete steps with the state and other federal agencies to implement a mitigation plan for the Bismarck-Mandan area this year, and also to develop a plan to prevent ice flows and flooding over the long term. That may involve dredging, paring down sandbars and adjusting flows to minimize risk, but they need to get it done.”
Heavy flood affected the river last year and large deposits of sand accumulated south of Bismarck-Mandan. Hoeven stressed he is worried that sediment lasts to build on each two side of the river, and therefore, these sandbars expose an inevitable danger of ice jams and flooding as early as this winter. Also, he expressed the Corpse to apply any sources and authority it has available to reduce short period risk this year and to apply a project to lessen long term risk.
As a short term plan, Hoeven requested the Corps to work with the state and assist with dredging, lowering sandbars and developing a flow plan to minimize the risk of ice jams and flooding. Also he asked to arrange permitting and lessen red tape.
Col. Ruch said he will seek to arrange approval from a special task force deployed under Title Seven of the River Protection and Improvement Act to take action on a long-term plan to take care and remove sediment from the Missouri River and protect recreation on the Missouri River from sedimentation.
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