10 Broadcaster Press April 19, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Managing The Missouri By Senator Mike Rounds As the snow melts away and spring sets in throughout South Dakota, the Missouri River is beginning to swell. For some, this brings back memories of the catastrophic 2011 flood which forced more than 4,000 families out of their homes, resulted in five deaths and caused more than $2 billion in damage to infrastructure, businesses and fertile ag land. Entire communities were devastated by the flood and largely left to fend for themselves. Recovery took months, and citizens are still paying for damages caused by the flood. While numerous studies and reports have analyzed the flood and looked for ways to prevent a similar catastrophe in the future, I question whether we are truly better prepared to deal with such an event today. As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Oversight, part of my job includes conducting oversight of agencies within the EPW Committee’s jurisdiction, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for managing the Missouri River. I recently held a hearing in North Sioux City entitled, Five Years from the Flood: Oversight of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Management of the Missouri River and Suggestions for Improvement. During the hearing, we heard from various stakeholders, including a state official, conservationist, tribal representative, district official and an Army Corps representative, to learn about the improvements and changes that have been made regarding the Army Corps’ management of the notice, which led to preventable and unnecessary river. Unfortunately, what we found is that despite destruction. As revealed at the field hearing, there numerous studies that recommended changes in is room for improvement within the Army Corps how the Corps’ manages the river, they have done to make certain they manage the Missouri River in little to address these changes. an appropriate and responsible manner. Part of Congress’ job is to give federal agencies I will continue to monitor the Corps’ actions direction that helps them make better decisions and hold them accountable, and will work to make for the American people. In 2014, just before I took sure they take steps to protect the river’s many office, Congress passed a water resources reform users. This begins with proper tools to monitor bill, which directed the Army Corps to conduct the water levels, soil moisture and snow pack. It studies and make improvements to its soil moisalso includes a well-founded understanding of the ture and snowpack monitoring system. Yet, as needs of all stakeholders: state and local governwe learned at the hearing, little has been done in ments, landowners, ag producers and recreational the two years since the bill was signed into law. users, all of whom rely upon proper management The Army Corps has signaled it does not have of the river. proper funding to take such action, but to receive Five years after the 2011 flood, South Dakotans funding it must make an appropriations request deserve certainty that the federal government has to Congress, which it has not done. For two years, taken steps to prevent a similar disaster from hapthe Corps has failed to act on putting together a pening in the future. That responsibility lies with plan to better monitor the Missouri River. This is the Army Corps. unacceptable. In the five years since the flood, South Dakotans living and working along the Missouri River have largely recovered from the months-long disasA better way to buy, sell or rent! ter that flooded the region and threatened the livelihood of communities Connect with area landlords, along the river. The 2011 flood was an renters, home buyers and unprecedented event – it was a perfect home sellers with the storm of record snow melt, torrential rainfall in the spring and alreadyBroadcaster classifieds! saturated soil. While some flooding 201 W Cherry and damage was likely inevitable, the Vermillion Army Corps failed to mitigate its ef624-4429 fects or provide citizens with proper We’ve Spotted bp Since 1934 Broadcaster Press 15 2016 Find the Right People Advertise your job openings in the Broadcaster. 201 W Cherry Vermillion 624-4429 Spring DISCOUNT DAY SAT. 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