Statement by Missouri Farm Bureau President Charles E. Kruse Regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Decision to Proceed With A Man-Made Spring Rise on the Missouri River

Statement by Missouri Farm Bureau President Charles E. Kruse

Regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Decision to Proceed

With A Man-Made Spring Rise on the Missouri River

“It now appears the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will indeed proceed with a man-made spring rise on the Missouri River come hell or high water. Every Missourian should be offended by the reckless actions of these agencies. While many of our citizens are still fighting flood waters from last week’s rain deluge, the federal government plans to release water from dams that will raise the Missouri River by a foot in Kansas City and ½ foot in Hermann.

“The Corps and USFWS are dead set on proceeding with their experimental Missouri River spring rise despite the natural rise we experienced just last week. I am mystified as to why government officials are proceeding with their plans given the forecast for additional rainfall later this week. There is no fish or bird that is worth jeopardizing peoples’ lives or property.

“It takes approximately 6 days for the additional releases to reach Kansas City from Gavins Point Dam and 11 days to reach St. Louis. It is simply irresponsible for the Corps, or any federal agency, to proceed with a man-made spring rise given current flood conditions, the possibility of significant levels of additional rainfall this week and the inability to predict accurately what the weather conditions will be when the increased flows reach Missouri.

“It is my hope that Missouri officials will take whatever actions are possible to stop the Corps’ plan before any further damage is done. Just think what would have happened if the Corps had released the water prior to last week’s devastating rains? Another foot of water would make a terrible situation even worse.”