Press Releases
Congressman Luetkemeyer Praises Corps Decision Against Dangerous Spring Rise
Washington, DC,
March 24, 2009
Nearly a monthafter U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) and four other members of the Missouri delegation asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to cancel man-made flooding, the Corps announced it would not conduct the March flooding, the first of two planned spring rises, of the Missouri River because of significant rainfall.
Nearly a month after U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) and four other members of the Missouri delegation asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to cancel man-made flooding, the Corps announced it would not conduct the March flooding, the first of two planned spring rises, of the Missouri River because of significant rainfall. “Our river communities have been devastated in recent years by flooding so I am extremely pleased that the Corps has decided against a spring rise that simply makes no sense,” Luetkemeyer said. “While our folks have received a reprieve, I will continue to fight to permanently change a ludicrous spring rise policy that puts fish before people and will ask the Corp to cancel their planned May spring pulse.” Earlier this year, the Corps released its plan to conduct two spring rises in March and May to support spawning habits of the endangered pallid sturgeon. The policy, which is based on hypothetical data, is designed to help with recovery efforts for the fish. Last month, Luetkemeyer and U.S. Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, Roy Blunt, Sam Graves and Todd Akin sent a letter to the Corps opposing the Spring rise.
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