Thursday, November 9, 2006
CONTACT: Barry E. Piatt
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
DORGAN CALLS ON CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO IDENTIFY CONSEQUENCES OF MISSOURI RIVER MISMANAGEMENT
Senator says Corps should outline potential problems so state can deal with them proactively:
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- In the wake of news that low water levels in Lake Sakakawea are putting U.S. Highway 83 in danger of a wash-out, U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Thursday to identify all potential problems that could result from the Corps’ chronic mismanagement of the Missouri River.
Lake Audubon and Lake Sakakawea are separated by an embankment, on which Highway 83 sits. Because the Corps increased the release of water from drought-stricken Lake Sakakawea this summer, the higher water in Lake Audubon is now threatening to wash out the roadway.
In a letter to the Corps of Engineers, Dorgan said North Dakotans expected the Corps’ mismanagement to harm the recreation and tourism industry and put the water supply of businesses and residents at risk. But most people did not foresee the danger to Highway 83 and the Corps should outline all potential problems that the low Missouri River water levels could cause so the state can take proactive steps to deal with the problems, he said.
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