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PAG LIN
1 1 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.
1 2 BY GRIES, RANTS, VANDE HOEF, EDDIE, HUSEMAN, GREIG,
1 3 KLEMME, WARNSTADT, HOUSER, NELSON of Pottawattamie,
1 4 DAGGETT, DRAKE, VEENSTRA, and NUTT
1 5 A Concurrent Resolution objecting to a plan proposed by
1 6 the United States Corps of Engineers to dramatically
1 7 alter the operation of the Missouri River, and to request
1 8 that the current operation of the river be maintained or
1 9 that an alternative plan be considered that does not
1 10 negatively impact upon the effective operation of the river.
1 11 WHEREAS, the Missouri River is a major waterway of
1 12 the United States, bordering the entire western side
1 13 of the state of Iowa for more than 200 miles; and
1 14 WHEREAS, the average volume of water that flows
1 15 past the cities of Omaha, Nebraska, and Council
1 16 Bluffs, Iowa, equals 32,120 cubic feet per second
1 17 which is equivalent to approximately 23 million acre-
1 18 feet per year; and
1 19 WHEREAS, the drainage area above Omaha, Nebraska,
1 20 and Council Bluffs, Iowa, equals 232,000 square miles;
1 21 and
1 22 WHEREAS, Iowa is one of the nation's preeminent
1 23 agricultural states, and consistently one of the
1 24 leading states in both corn and soybean production;
1 25 and
1 26 WHEREAS, Iowa and other upper midwestern states
1 27 bordering the Missouri River represent a major grain-
1 28 producing region of the United States; and
1 29 WHEREAS, the Missouri River is used to transport a
1 30 significant proportion of the region's grain bound for
2 1 export markets; and
2 2 WHEREAS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers
2 3 has completed a draft environmental impact statement,
2 4 containing findings embodied in a United States Army
2 5 Corps of Engineers study referred to as the Missouri
2 6 River Master Water Control Manual Review and Update;
2 7 and
2 8 WHEREAS, the draft version of the environmental
2 9 impact statement analyzes a new method of operation
2 10 for the Missouri River system which will result in an
2 11 additional flow of water in the spring, shorter
2 12 navigation seasons, and further reductions in service
2 13 to navigation; and
2 14 WHEREAS, the rising river level in the spring as
2 15 contemplated in the plan proposed by the United States
2 16 Army Corps of Engineers will increase risks to land
2 17 along the river by causing additional flooding,
2 18 increasing groundwater tables, and reducing the
2 19 effectiveness of drainage systems, including the
2 20 effectiveness of gate valves along the river designed
2 21 to facilitate drainage; and
2 22 WHEREAS, reductions in support to navigation and
2 23 the lack of water flowing into the river during dry or
2 24 drought periods will reduce the commercial value of
2 25 the Missouri River to an extent that the continued
2 26 existence of vital barge traffic on the river will be
2 27 jeopardized; NOW THEREFORE,
2 28 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
2 29 SENATE CONCURRING, That the plan proposed by the
2 30 United States Corps of Engineers to dramatically alter
3 1 the operation of the Missouri River threatens land
3 2 neighboring the river and the vitality of navigation
3 3 on the river which is essential to commerce; and
3 4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the United States Army
3 5 Corps of Engineers is urged to reevaluate its proposal
3 6 and maintain the current operation of the river or
3 7 consider an alternative plan that does not negatively
3 8 impact upon Iowa and other states bordering the
3 9 Missouri River; and
3 10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That if the plan proposed
3 11 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers is
3 12 adopted administratively, that the Iowa congressional
3 13 delegation cooperate to take all actions necessary to
3 14 ensure that moneys are not made available for the
3 15 proposal's implementation; and
3 16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this
3 17 Resolution be sent to the President of the United
3 18 States; the Chief of Engineers, United States Army
3 19 Corps of Engineers; the Missouri River Division
3 20 Commander, United States Army Corps of Engineers; the
3 21 President of the United States Senate; the Speaker of
3 22 the United States House of Representatives; and
3 23 members of Iowa's congressional delegation.
3 24 LSB 1627HH 76
3 25 da/jj/8
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