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Flood

N.D. lawmaker demands answers from Corps

Written by: Matt Bunk

The chairman of the North Dakota House Natural Resource Committee has asked the Army Corps of Engineers to explain the operational decisions in the months leading up to the flood on the upper basin of the Missouri River.

In a letter dated June 9, state Rep. Todd Porter requested an explanation for the Corps’ decision to stop releasing water from Garrison Dam at an increased rate from mid-March until May 6. The Mandan lawmaker also wants to know whether any precautions were taken considering the higher-than-average snowpack in the mountains overlooking the river basin, and whether the nesting season for endangered or threatened birds had any effect on the agency’s releases from the dam this spring.

(Photo by William Prokopyk) An aerial view of the Missouri River flood in the Bismarck-Mandan area, taken from a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter June 9.

The day before Porter sent the letter, the Great Plains Examiner published a story that showed the Corps of Engineers had been unwilling to explain why water managers withheld releases from Garrison Dam during a 45-day period between late March and early May.

“Please provide any records regarding the decision to delay Garrison Dam releases and any internal memos/emails discussing the decisions to delay the releases and slow the releases in 2011,” the letter stated.

Earlier this month, the Corps of Engineers began releasing more water from the dam than ever before, pushing the river beyond its capacity and forcing hundreds of homeowners to evacuate their homes along the river. The release rates are expected to reach 150,000 cubic feet per second – the previous record was 65,200 cubic feet per second during the flood of 1975 – and continue at that level into the summer.

Release rates during the period in question ranged between 14,900 cubic feet per second and 19,000 cubic feet per second. During that time, the river was at its seasonal low point, flowing through Bismarck-Mandan at a depth of less than seven feet.

The river is now running at a depth of nearly 18 feet and is expected to rise to about 19.5 feet within the next week or so. Flood stage is 16 feet at the monitoring station at Bismarck-Mandan.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven noted in a seperate press release that he is pressing the Corps of Engineers to complete a thorough after-action review of the agency’s flood-control protocols. He also asked the agency to allow all of its field agents to have the flexibility they need to help residents fight the flood.

“First and foremost this is about the flood fight, but the Corps has to analyze what happened here, understand what happened, and then develop whatever processes are necessary so that in the future we can prevent this type of event,” Hoeven stated. “I know with Mother Nature you can’t fully prevent anything, but we have got to understand exactly what happened and learn from it.”

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Comments

  1. I am actually hoping and praying our safety, homes and livelihood were not compromised becuase of mis-management or asleep at the wheel syndrome which by the way, seems to be sweeping this nation! I am hoping it was all due to Mother Nature flexing her muscles, but don’t think that will be the case. Great coverage Great Plains Examiner. I will be following you as you grow.

    • Whenever events of this nature arise there will be always be finger pointing and blame cast. The corps has always been in a tough position in North Dakota, most often with complaints that not enough water is being held back to protect fishing and recreation interests. Lets just hope that the cooler heads prevail and sort out the events before the stone throwing begins.

  2. Ken:

    Excellent response.

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