Press Releases
Luetkemeyer, Missouri Republicans Fight for Farmers by Seeking Halt to Spring Rise
Washington, DC,
February 26, 2009
In an effort to protect our families and businesses along the Missouri River from devastating flooding, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and four other members of the Missouri Delegation have sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opposing the artificial spring rise from Gavins Point Dam.
In an effort to protect our families and businesses along the Missouri River from devastating flooding, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and four other members of the Missouri Delegation have sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opposing the artificial spring rise from Gavins Point Dam. “The economic impact from severe flooding over the last two years has been devastating to families and businesses along the Missouri River,” Luetkemeyer, along with U.S. Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, Roy Blunt, Sam Graves and Todd Akin, wrote in a letter. “Due to the current condition of these levees and the economic impact another flood would generate, we respectfully request that you cancel the scheduled spring pulses for 2009.” The letter to Brigadier General William E. Rapp, Commander of the Northwest Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, also notes that there is no evidence that the stated purpose of the rise, to aid in the spawning of palid sturgeon, works. The pulses are scheduled for March and May of this year. “I oppose these man-made floods because of the devastating impact they have on Missouri families and businesses and remain hopeful that the Corps of Engineers will halt their plans for that very reason,” said Luetkemeyer, whose 9th District has a large portion of Missouri River coastline. “During these tough economic times, the last thing hard-working people need is the kind of hardship created by flooding along the Missouri River.”
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