Washington, D.C.—Iowa Congressman Steve King today offered an amendment in conjunction with Nebraska Representative Lee Terry prohibiting the use of any funds to alter the flows of the Missouri River pending resolution of the dire legal situation regarding the river’s management.   

“Altering the management of the river by allowing for a spring rise would not only impact Iowa’s farmers by flooding their land, but would also affect barge movement on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers,” said King.  “River transportation of agricultural commodities is critical to Iowa’s economy.”

Due to a U.S. District Court's ruling last week, the Army Corps of Engineers now finds itself faced with two conflicting court orders concerning the river 's flow.   A May 2002 order issued by the U.S. District Court in Nebraska -- and affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on June 4, 2003 -- required the Corps to maintain sufficient Missouri River flows for navigation and power generation, as defined by the Missouri River Master Manual and current Annual Operating Plan.  Last week’s conflicting ruling prohibits implementing the summer flows set forth in the 2003 Annual Operating Plan and 2003 Supplemental Biological Opinion.   

“This battle impacts many of Iowa’s interests—agriculture, water quality, transportation, electrical generation, recreation, and environment.  The goal of my amendment is to strike a balance that protects wildlife while also promoting Iowa’s agricultural economy,” King concluded.