Two weeks ago Governor Brian Schweitzer challenged the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to manage the Fort Peck Reservoir Montana's way. Thursday, at the end of eight public meetings regarding the Missouri River Basin management, which includes Fort Peck and tributary Yellowstone River, officials appeared to walk away from scoping meetings with a message seemingly contradictory to Governor Schweitzer's edict. Jody Farhat, civilian chief of the Corps' river management office in Omaha, told press in Iowa that the Corp heard from landowners living in flood zones that the Corps needs to be more aggressive in releasing reservoir water. Farhat said “We're more than willing to do that.” Many of the landowners who testified at hearings live in areas that have flooded repeatedly and have been allowed to remain whereas in eastern Montana building in known flood plains is forbidden.
Brigadier General John McMahon, commander of the Corps' Northwestern Division, said river managers will work to move water out of all the dams, including Fort Peck. In a written release issued early Monday, the General said “The past two weeks have been incredibly beneficial, and we have listened intently to the people we serve. The top priority of the Northwestern Division is to responsibly prepare for the 2012 runoff season," McMahon did not reference the issues brought forward by Governor Schweitzer. Farhat in fact seemed be determined to move forward with plans to lower Fort Peck levels in future years. Friday, the Corps said they planned to provide the same amount of flood storage in its reservoirs next year that it has traditionally provided. Monday morning, however, it appeared they will move forward on lowering reservior levels. Farhat said “"We will get as much water out of the system as possible as weather permits and the repair work allows.” Monday's release also said there will be a two-step plan for management which includes a “...more flexible posture as water is evacuated through the system for the remainder of the fall and early winter” Second, “The Corps will take an aggressive stance with winter and spring releases.”
In the audio to the left of this column,The Examiner asked Senator Jon Tester about the Governor's resolve to only allow management of the Fort Peck reservoir under Montana terms. Among other comments he says “God Bless Governor Schweitzer.”
The reservoir system was designed with 16.3 million acre feet of flood control storage, which equates to approximately 22 percent of the storage in the reservoir system. Given record runoff, the Corps has initiated a technical analysis to determine how much more reservoir space might be reserved for flood control purposes. McMahon said "The ongoing independent external review will yield additional insights into how we might manage the system better, both near and long term.”
Comments on the draft plan were taken during the series of public meetings. Email comments will continue to be accepted through Nov. 25. Email comments should be sent to: Missouri.Water.Management@nwd02.usace.army.mil.
The final version of the Annual Operating Plan is expected to be complete by the end of December.
Comments