Following weeks of work by Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) to secure a public meeting for Missourians to provide their input to the US Army Corps of Engineers on a proposed flood risk plan along the Upper Mississippi River, Luetkemeyer today noted that he was pleased that Gov. Jay Nixon has now finally become engaged on the issue. 

Luetkemeyer announced on November 5 that the Corps agreed to host an informational open house and public discussion on the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan H on December 1. Constituents in Missouri’s 9^th District expressed their concerns over potential floodwater storage issues associated with the plan.Congressman Todd Akin (MO-2) has also worked with Luetkemeyer to secure the public meeting with the Corps.Yesterday, Nixon indicated he would follow Luetkemeyer’s lead by urging caution on a plan to raise some levees along the Mississippi River.

“As a result of our work with the Corps and our discussions with hard-working river families, folks will have an opportunity to voice their concerns on the potential consequences of Plan H. I am pleased that Governor Nixon has joined this critical effort,” Luetkemeyer said. “The future of our river communities is not a partisan issue, and along with a strong group of current and newly-elected state legislators, we are hopeful that the Corps will carefully consider the people before making decisions on these levees.”

The Plan H proposal, which has not been endorsed by the Corps, could have serious ramifications on the livelihoods of many individuals in Pike, Lincoln, and St. Charles Counties, as low lying areas have the potential to become flood water storage reservoirs for waters from the Upper Mississippi River.  Luetkemeyer pressed for open meetings in Pike, St. Charles, and Lincoln Counties to St. Louis District Commander Colonel Thomas O’Hara both in person during their September 15 meeting and in an October 26 letter cosigned by Congressman Akin.

The Corps will host the open house and public discussion on December 1 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Old Monroe, Missouri. The Knights of Columbus Hall is located at 121 Maryknoll Road, Old Monroe, MO, 63369. The open house is set to start at 4 p.m. with the public discussion scheduled for 6 p.m.

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