Smith Demands Corps Deliver Action Plan for Flooding Response

Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) has made additional inquiries of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), asking the Corps to provide more details about its action plan to control flooding along the Missouri River. Click here to read Smith’s letter to USACE.

In February 2012, Smith sent a letter to USACE Brigadier General John McMahon asking for clarification regarding its day-to-day management practices and current authority under the Master Manual to update release schedules. Gen. McMahon responded by stating the Corps does not need additional legislative authority from Congress. He also noted, given the prevalence of dryer weather conditions in the basin, prioritizing downstream flooding over other management concerns could jeopardize access to water for irrigation and municipal use, cause a decline in water quality, or reduce power production.

Click here to read Smith’s February letter to USACE. Click here to read USACE’s response.

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