Meetings about the Missouri River’s future
“It is critical that Missourians come out in droves…”
May 29, 2010
Jefferson City, MO
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be holding a series of scoping meetings about the future management of the Missouri River. The meetings are part of the Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study, or MRAPS, which may determine how Missouri River water is managed throughout the basin. The study was spearheaded by North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan in 2009 to change the current authorized purposes and existing federal water resource infrastructure on the Missouri River.
The MRAPS comes on the heels of a $35 million, 15-year review and update of the Missouri River master plan that ended in 2004. That study, also conducted by the Corps of Engineers, shifted more water into storage in the mainstem Missouri River reservoirs located in the upstream states.
“The Missouri River is a vital artery of this sate,” said Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Mark N. Templeton. “It is critical that Missourians come out in droves for these meetings to show the Corps just what the river means to all of us.”
The Missouri River is a vital resource to the state, providing more than 50 percent of all Missourians with their drinking water. The river provides a low-cost, energy-efficient, high-volume and low emission transportation choice for agricultural producers and industry to transport bulk commodities. It also provides cooling waters for the power plants that Missourians depend on for their businesses and homes.
Scoping meetings are currently being held throughout the Missouri River basin to determine what the MRAPS will analyze. These meetings are intended to gather input about alternatives and impacts that should be considered as part of the MRAPS. The open meeting format will allow the public to provide input or ask questions between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at each meeting.
The four scoping meetings in Missouri will be:
Tues., June 1: Jefferson City; Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, 415 W. McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Wed., June 2: Kansas City; Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
Thurs., June 3, St. Joseph; Ramada St. Joseph, 4016 Frederick Boulevard, St. Joseph, MO 64506
Fri., July 9, St. Louis; Doubletree Hotel St. Louis at Westport, 1973 Craigshire, St. Louis, MO, 63146.
A complete listing of scoping meetings throughout the river basin can be found at www.mraps.org.
From the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Copyright 2010 Neighbors About Town
