Government Affairs Background Information / Action Alerts / Newsletters

The Council of State Governments Resolution on Flood Mitigation Efforts

UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

MRC Presentation 8/16/10

Executive Summary June 2008

Mississippi River Commission's Recommendation on the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive Plan Fact Sheet

Plan H Support Letter

Final Report - March 31, 2008 (Please note that this file is nearly 1MB in size and will take a significant amount of time to load in your browser. To view this file, right click on the link and select "Save File As..." to save it to your local hard drive.)

RIVER CURRENTS - UMIMRA Newsletter

Summer Fall 2009 - Adobe Acrobat File
Spring 2009-Adobe Acrobat File
Spring 2008 - Adobe Acrobat File
Fall 2007 - Adobe Acrobat File
Summer 2007 - Adobe Acrobat File
Spring 2007 - Adobe Acrobat File
November 2006 - Adobe Acrobat File
The Upper Mississippi-Illinois Waterway Transport System - Transportation for Illinois Coalition
April 2006 - Adobe Acrobat File
February 2006 - Adobe Acrobat File
October 2005 - Adobe Acrobat File
July 2005 - Adobe Acrobat File
March 2005 - Adobe Acrobat File
December 2004 - Adobe Acrobat File
July 2004 - Adobe Acrobat File
April 2004 - Adobe Acrobat File

FEMA ISSUES

FEMA Policy February 2009

UMIMRA Press Release June 2009

FEMA Policy August 2009

UMIMRA Press Release August 2009

• Programs for FEMA re-certification of levees now entail a closer evaluation of levee slope.  Most of these levees were designed by the federal government so correction of any deficiencies should be at federal expense.  Reconstruction should include corrections to the updated flow frequency profiles.
• The cost to certify levees every five years is a cost-prohibitive expenditure for many levee and drainage districts. Annual Corps inspections should be adequate.
• Under the new PAL agreements, providing only a two-year window to meet new levee certification requirements is unrealistic.  A five-year timeframe would allow for adequate design and funding timelines.
• We oppose efforts to establish floodway measurements under Map Modernization Program that begin at the inside toe of a levee.  This will potentially eliminate local levee and drainage district control over their levees and their ability to perform maintenance. 

FLOOD PROTECTION ECONOMIC IMPACT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District provided "An Economic Evaluation of Proposed Flood Protection Plans on the Upper Mississippi River Inland Water Ways" document which includes economic impact summaries for six flood plan alternatives.
To review these tables, click here   (Adobe Acrobat File)

STANDARD PROJECT FLOOD DEFINITION
To review, click here   (Adobe Acrobat File)

BUDGET AND ECONOMIC DATA

The TVA released regional economic data demonstrating the need for and benefits of the Comprehensive Plan and Navigation Study.
For the key findings, click here

FEDERAL BUDGET OVERVIEW
Gary Loss from the Rock Island District of the Corps gave a very informative presentation at the UMIMRA 2005 Annual Conference regarding the federal budget process.
To see his presentation, click here   (Adobe Acrobat File)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF LEVEES
To review, click here   (Adobe Acrobat File)

GERALD GALLOWAY'S REMARKS TO THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
To review, click here   (Adobe Acrobat File)

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

Missouri River Operating Plan
UMIMRA does not believe a spring rise is justified scientifically or economically.

We are concerned with adaptive management initiatives being formed without sufficient consideration of flood control, economic development, navigation or recreational interests on Missouri, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers or adjacent areas.

Corps of Engineers
We oppose efforts to increase base water levels in reservoirs which intentionally increase the risk of flooding downstream.  Reservoirs were built to provide relief from flood flows.

We support evaluating, prioritizing and implementing environmental projects based on their positive benefit to other concerns such as flood control, economic development and recreation. We believe that there is much opportunity for mutual benefit and coordination of these efforts.

Agriculture
Crop insurance should cover flood damage caused by governmental action.

EPA
We continue to support the drainage district maintenance exemption under the Clean Water Act.