BISMARCK, N.D. – Governors and representatives from eight states hit hard by last year’s historic flooding along the Missouri River pressed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wednesday at a governors’ meeting in North Dakota for changes in the Missouri River water system’s management system. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says the Corps’ first priority should be preventing flooding. Brownback is in the Governors’ Working Group which says the Corps shouldn’t be distracted by low-water concerns, barge traffic or recreational uses. The group also says repairing and maintaining the river levee system, and better snow-melt predictions should also be high priorities. Controlling the river’s flow has often pitted states against each as well as competing purposes such as river commerce, recreational interests and irrigation.
Friday, May 25, noon
