The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) 2017 Annual Report

SAVE THE DATE for the MOARC/KCIC Spring Trip to DC, March 5 – 8, 2018!

MOARC and KCIC representatives can participate in the Legislative Summit in concert with the MOARC/KCIC Spring Congressional Visit. We will have opportunity to hear of the Administration and Congress’ plans for investment in waterways infrastructure and authorization plans for new water resource projects. The conference provides opportunities to network with principle congressional offices and water resource agencies (i.e. US Army Corps of Engineers, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, President’s Council for Environmental Quality) during the conference and at the Congressional Reception co-hosted by the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association. 

The Legislative Summit will be held at The Madison Hotel in Washington, 1177 NW 15th Street, near the Capital on 5-7 March. Registration is underway and can be found on the National Waterways Conference website www.waterways.org.   Hotel information can also be found on the website.  MOARC members interested in attending the summit are encouraged to register soon, and please let us know.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is considering listing the Sickle fin chub and the Sturgeon chub, two Missouri River fish species, under the Endangered Species Act (Act).  The Service recently published its assessment of the petition to list in the Federal Register making it available  for public review in the Federal Register.  Through MRRIC the USFWS reported that the public could inspect the document Endangered and Threatened Species: 90-day batch for five species published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2017: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/12/20/2017-27389/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-90-day-findings-for-five-species

The proposed listing is the first step in assessing the species status to determine if the species warrant protection under the Act.  This current finding does not mean the Service will list a species under the Act only that the species are  now subject to further evaluation.  The Service has established a work plan for conducting evaluations of numerous species for the next several years throughout the Missouri River basin. For those MOARC members and public interested in the process underway and the timeframe for the evaluation (normally 3-5 years), the Service will be prepared to discuss at the next MRRIC plenary meeting March 27-29, 2018 at The Doubletree Hotel in downtown Omaha.  The MOARC representative on MRRIC, Frank Pogge, will provide information through WATERdrops to MOARC members on the Service’s process and any potential impacts to MOARC interests.  Prior the MRRIC meeting the MOARC Board will discuss the Service’s proposal at their upcoming meeting.

If you have you any questions regarding this finding or next steps please do not hesitate to contact the Service (contact Mike Thabault (303-236-4210; michael_thabault@fws.gov) or send your questions, or comments, through MOARC (contact David Combs, MOARC Executive Director 816-686-1289; info@moarc.org).

MOARC works to represent the interests of its members through MRRIC involvement.

The ceremony delegation included the mayors of Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and representatives of the Corps of Engineers and the City of Kansas City (City Manager and Water Services).  Participants at the ribbon cutting included a host of representatives from various congressional offices, MOARC, KCIC, local businesses, and the public. The speakers spoke of the success of the Bi-State partnership between the two cities, as well as, partnerships with the Corps of Engineers and the Congressional offices of Kansas and Missouri.  The speakers also highlighted the importance of the work of adovcate organizations such as KCIC and MOARC in bringing the project into its final phase and improved flood risk reduction to this important business area.

The MOARC Board has announced changes in your Board membership.  Changes in the Board were approved at the 29 November Membership business meeting.  David Combs was installed as the new Secretary and Executive Director replacing Karin Jacoby.  Karin has served as the Executive Director for the previous 16 years and has provided outstanding leadership of the organization.  She received an award for her service from the President and the thanks of the membership.  Karin will continue to serve on the MOARC Board and help guide the organization.   David is a recent retiree from the Corps of Engineers and looks forward to working with MOARC and our partners.   The 2018 Board consists of:

Tom Poer                President
Steve Dailey            Vice President 
Karin Jacoby           Treasurer
David Combs          Secretary/Executive Director
Lynda Hoffman       Past President
Frank Pogge           At-Large
Dan Fuhrman          At-Large
Richard Grenville     Navigation, Shipping & Trade Committee Chair
Dong Quach           Water, Power, & Permitting Committee Chair
Tom Kimes             Flood Control & Risk Management Committee Chair
Matt Bond               Legislative & Policy Committee Chair 
Glenda Johnson      Communications Chair
Richard Livers         Membership Committee Chair
John Patrick            Finance Committee Chair

The MOARC 2017 Social and Annual Meeting was conducted on 29 November at Husch Blackwell Country Club Plaza office in Kansas City.   The President opened the business meeting discussing the successes of the year and opportunities for the future.   Karin Jacoby presented the membership with recommended changes in the MOARC Board.  Changes presented including an addition to the At-Large membership    were approved by the members.  Following the business meeting Colonel Doug Guttormsen, Commander of the Kansas City District, and Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office spoke on partnerships and water resource issues facing the State of Kansas.   Col Guttormsen spoke on the importance of the Corps of Engineers, its local sponsors, and MOARC working together in meeting the needs of the community.   Mr. Streeter spoke on water supply issues facing the State of Kansas and potential opportunities to meet future needs.  Tracy outlined the importance of the Kansas River Basin as a priority study area to meet the needs of the future along with other river systems that may have to be considered to meet future needs.   The Social and Annual meeting was well attended and speakers well received.

 Nomination

President Trump has expressed his intent to nominate R.D. James of Missouri to be the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works (ASA-CW).  R.D. James has a long history with flood protection on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.  Since his appointment by President Regan in 1981 he has served on the influential Mississippi River Commission as one of the three civilian members in one of the two positions required to be filled by an engineer. 

Earlier this year, the Delta Farm Press reported James’ feelings towards being considered for the post. "If chosen, I will serve.  It took me a while to think about whether I even wanted that job or not,” James noted… “I’m a country boy, and I can’t imagine living up there, but, if chosen, I will, and I will do my very best.”

About the ASA-CW Position:

The ASA-CW establishes policy direction and provides supervision of the Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the Civil Works program of the Army Corps of Engineers.  Having an ASA-CW in place will help in moving projects and policies through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

What this means for MOARC members: 

Mr. James is familiar with rivers and what they mean to the many communities in our region located along rivers:  navigation, flood control, water supply, recreation, and more.  Several of our members know Mr. James or have met him together with members of the Commission as they toured the Missouri River.

For more information: White House Press Release 

In mid-September, the Corps will post the 2017-2018 Draft Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System on its website at http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/aop.html. Fall public meetings will be held in five cities throughout the basin during the third week of October to discuss the draft report and take comments on the proposed AOP. The comment period on the draft AOP will close on November 17. The public meetings will include a presentation from the Corps regarding 2017 operations and plans for regulating the reservoir system in 2018, followed by a question and answer session.

The public meetings will be conducted at the times and locations listed below.

Tuesday, Oct. 17 – Smithville, MO
Start time: 11 a.m. (CDT)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center
16311 DD Hwy

Tuesday, Oct. 17 – Nebraska City, NE
Start time: 4 p.m. (CDT)\
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
100 Valmont Drive

The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) 2016 Annual Report

MOARC has submitted comments to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Missouri River Management Plan for consideration by the Corps of Engineers.  Comments specific to MOARC’s three committees were submitted to illustrate concerns and inform a responsible decision-making process.

• Flood Control & Risk Management
• Navigation, Shipping and Trade and
• Water, Power & Permitting

The Corps of Engineers is currently compiling and reviewing comments provided for the MRMP.  Over the next year, they will be preparing the Final EIS for the MRMP and culminating in a planned Record Of Decision with selected alternative targeted for August of 2018.

This is important to our membership as the decisions for the Missouri River flows will impact flood and operating elevations.

For the full response see PDF on MOARC Website here: MOARC MRMP DEIS Comments