News Releases for October 2003
October 28, 2003
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Hoeven: North Dakota Needs A Revised Missouri River Annual Operating Plan
BISMARCK, N.D. - Assistant State Engineer Todd Sando will represent Gov. John Hoeven and the state of North Dakota in presenting testimony before the Army Corps of Engineers in Pierre, South Dakota. Hoeven said the Agency’s draft 2004 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for the Missouri River fails to sufficiently address North Dakota’s concerns.
“We want to send a message, in no uncertain terms, that the Corps’ Annual Operating Plan for next year is inadequate in its current form because it won’t sufficiently recharge the upper reservoirs during medium and high runoff scenarios,” Hoeven said. “Although it takes a step in the right direction in addressing conservation, it falls short because it fails to adequately address the harmful economic impacts the plan will have on our recreation and farming industries. The AOP must correct its assumptions and shorten the navigation season for at least eight weeks in a medium and high runoff scenario to ensure that water is retained during the recreation and farming season.”
Sando’s testimony highlights the record low storage levels in the upper basin and its impact on recreation, industry, farming and human health in communities throughout North Dakota. His testimony points out that:
- Low water levels pose a risk to human health in communities dependent on the river and lake for municipal water.
- Lake Sakakawea’s nationally acclaimed sport fishery is in serious jeopardy.
- Lake Oahe no longer exists in North Dakota.
- Irrigators are having difficulty pumping water to crops.
- Boat ramps no longer reach the water line.
According to Sando’s testimony, the Corps’ proposal to slightly shorten the navigation season is not a conservation measure, but rather an effort to compensate for the extra water released to meet downstream navigation desires.
“It appears that the Corps’ strategy is to delay any meaningful effort to conserve water until it completes a new Master Manual,” Hoeven said. “That policy is particularly unacceptable because North Dakota is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors from around the world to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. The New Master Manual must include realistic, effective and permanent conservation measures.”
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