Many of these issues were raised several years ago, when the corps revised its master plan for operating locks and dams along the Missouri. But Congress last year approved legislation requiring the corps to reconsider the eight purposes under which it has operated its Missouri River project since it was established by the 1944 Flood Control Act.
The purposes listed in that law were simple: flood control, hydropower, water supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation, water quality, and fish and wildlife.
The corps has embarked on a five-year study that will offer recommendations to Congress on whether and how to change those purposes.
As part of that process, the corps is sponsoring a public meeting on Tuesday in Kenner to discuss the study's direction. Assuring sediment for wetland rebuilding, reducing nutrients to lessen the size of the dead zone and guaranteeing the flow of water necessary for navigation are likely to be proposed for the new purposes list.
On some level I like that we're tackling the problem of new land creation on a geologic timeline. Seems appropriate. I guess the good news is the annual gamble is supposedly giving better odds (but higher stakes)
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