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Mississippi River Commission Mississippi River Commission 2017 Low-Water Inspection Trip 398th Session Proceedings Mississippi River Commission Proceedings of the 398th Session August 7-18, 2017 The Mississippi River Commission conducted its 398th Session from August 7-18, 2017 aboard the Motor Vessel MISSISSIPPI and held formal public hearings at Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Houma, Louisiana. The hearings were held in accordance with Section 8 of the 1928 Flood Control Act: “Sec.8.…The commission shall make inspection trips of such frequency and duration as will enable it to acquire first-hand information as to conditions and problems germane to the matter of flood control within the area of its jurisdiction; and on such trips of inspection ample opportunity for hearings and suggestions shall be afforded persons affected by or interested in such problems.” The hearings, engagements and dialogue help maintain a consistent connection —an exchange of viewpoints and ideas among the public, partners, stakeholders, elected officials, the Mississippi River Commission, the Corps of Engineers and agencies from the private, state and federal sectors. This process provides a greater voice for those who live and work in the region in shaping federal management and policy on the river. Approximately 275 members of the public attended the public meetings and listened to the testimony presented by 60 individual speakers. What follows are the proceedings of the 398th Session with summaries of each testimony and hyperlinks to all transcripts, audio, presentations, photographs, and formal written testimonies, all of which are held at the office of the President of the Mississippi River Commission. ____________________________ ____________________________ Charles A. Camillo Colonel Richard Pannell Executive Director Secretary Mississippi River Commission Mississippi River Commission 4 Mississippi River Commission Proceedings of the 398th Session The members of the Mississippi River Commission present during the 398th session were: • Maj. Gen. Michael Wehr, appointed as president on August 5, 2015. • Hon. Sam E. Angel, reappointed as member on December 30, 2010. • Hon. R. D. James, civil engineer, reappointed as member on April 6, 2003. • Hon. Norma Jean Mattei, PhD, civil engineer, appointed as member on December 3, 2012. • Rear Adm. Shepard Smith, appointed as member on January 3, 2017. • Col. Paul Ownen, Designated as a member on July 27, 2017. • Brig. Gen. Mark Toy, appointed as member on December 13, 2016. • Col. Richard Pannell served as secretary of the commission, a non- voting position. 5 Wa1th!Dgton, n., o. 1 No-vembel" J4, 1928 Dea1pilt.• d P.tm,ction1 and .lgene1e11 for the becution of the Mississippi Ri"nr·F.~ &m~ol P.roject Adopted tv' tM Ac't Approwd Jte.7 15, 192$. ---o-Oocie-- l. Se~ion. tt of the Flood Control Act approved ..,. 15, l.928; rea(\le aa f'ollow.as 11The pr.ojec1i he.rein. au:thor:ise.,:i shall be. prosecuted· by the ·Jitasirr­ aipp1 lH.""!'r · ~ssion under th-. dbection of the· Secretar7 of W~ and ~rvision .0£. the Chief of Engin•ers m.id .,ub,je~ to the provisions ot :thilif act. It shall perform wch functions SJ,1.d through such qen­ cies as· tb.BY. .. shall designate atter consu1ta'.t1on 'and discusdon with the president. of ·the comirdsdon. For· all other purposes the ~xisting laws goverm.ng the constitution. and activities of the cemmisslon shall rema:hi unchanged., ·The commission shall-~ inspection trips o't ·such tr..~c7 and duratioi1 as will enabl.9 it to aeq'lli're first•hand infor­ .ation as_to conditions and probleins_germane to the matter of :f'l.Ood control wit~ the area of its j'lll."i'9ditiQn; and on such trips of in• spect-ion 8Dlple oppe>r.tun:tt7 for hearings. and sugpstions shall ·m, afforded persons affected by or interested in ~eh problems. The president e>f: the commisSion shall 'bEt ·the executive officer· thereof*** 2. After consu1tation and discussion with the, President of the Mi•sis- sippi River Commission; in accordance with the law set. forth above, the follolting tunctions and agencies of the Mississippi R1wr Commission, in eon­ nectiOn wJ.t-h the eDcution of flood control work in the Misdssij)pi Valle7, are hereby designated .by the ·Secretat7 of War and the Chief of Engiheerst (a) ·)laking the inapection. t:rips and holding the public hearings .described under Section S of the Act approved May 15, 1928. (b) R•comm.en(lation of the polie1 for the dev.elo~ent of the details of the proj·ect adopted· by law. (o) Re~ndation of the policy f9r carrying out ·the wol'.*k under th~. adop~ed project. · . (d) Consideration and recommendation of the genera1 cbaractexi &X!.d tJPee of work to be used in oonst:ruction under the adopted proje()t. (e) :aecommendatli,>n annually of tJ:ie pt.'ogam of work to be under­ taken dur~ the. follQ'Wing fisQa1 year. (f') Recommendations upon 8,Jl7 ma.tt~;r.'~ .authorizeq by la"1. (g) The executive officer of the Commission and the Etigineer Districts· ot the Mississippi Valley are. designated as the agencies fo~ ca~ out ·the ppoject. · (SGl>) Edgar Jadwin Maj.or General, Ohiet of Engineers (SGJ)) ' Dwight F. Dans Secretarzr of War Executive Summary Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting MV Mississippi – Cape Girardeau, Mo. Monday, August 7, 2017, 9:00 a.m. Approximately 80 members of the public attended the meeting. Mississippi River Commission members present: MG Michael Wehr, BG Mark Toy, Col. Paul Owen, RADM Shepard Smith, R.D. James, Sam Angel, Dr. Norma Jean Mattei and Col. Richard Pannell (Secretary). MG Richard Kaiser incoming commander of MVD present Congressional and elected officials in attendance: U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (MO-8), Donna Hickman, Office of Jason Smith (MO-8), Darren Lingle Office of Senator Roy Blunt (MO), Christy Mercer, Office of Sen. McCaskill (MO), Nick Rafael and Carol Klaine, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12), Harry Rediger, Mayor of Cape Girardeau, Denny Johnson, Mayor of Lake County, Tennessee. 9:04 MG Wehr called the meeting to order Introductions Audio Transcript 9:09 MG Wehr provided introductory comments and MRC’s strategic messages. Audio Transcript 9:22 Col. Mike Ellicott, Memphis District Commander, provided an overview of MR&T projects and Corps of Engineers activities within the district. Audio Transcript 9:33 Col. Bryan Sizemore, St. Louis District Commander, provided an overview of MR&T projects and Corps of Engineers activities within the district. Audio Transcript 9:42 Jason Smith U.S. Rep. (MO-8) – Discussed the Trump administration’s position infrastructure, especially investment in waterways; WOTUS definition; value of MR&T system; May flooding and all the areas protected by MR&T levees; St. John’s Bayou Project; Corps should consider overtopping of BPNM floodway instead of activation because of how long it takes to repair levees; O&M needs for St. Francis Project; need to repair Bois Brule levees. Testimony – Audio Formal Statement on Record Testimony – Transcript 9:53 Darren Lingle Office of Senator Roy Blunt (MO) –Discussed the significance of the river and the need to invest in infrastructure; spring 2017 flood in Missouri; Ste. Genevieve levees are not federal levees but they should be a concern be a concern to the MRC because of the potential impact on navigation. 1 Executive Summary Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting MV Mississippi – Cape Girardeau, Mo. Monday, August 7, 2017, 9:00 a.m. Testimony – Audio Formal Statement on Record Testimony – Transcript 9:58 Dustin Boatwright, Chief Engineer of Little River Drainage District – Discussed how the lands were converted from worthless swamp lands to valuable farm lands and challenged Corps and stakeholders to work together to solve problems facing the valley. Testimony – Audio Formal Statement on Record Presentation Testimony – Transcript 10:04 Harry Stephens, Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association– Discussed the MVFCA going to Washington D.C. to request funding to complete MR&T and consistent funds for maintenance; criticized National Levee Safety Commission and FEMA for imposing unrealistic standards on levees and also criticized WOTUS definition and EPA overreach. Testimony – Audio Formal Statement on Record Testimony – Transcript 10:13 Mike Reed, Superintendent of Sny Island Levee District– Discussed flood control on upper Mississippi and the need for a comprehensive master plan; discussed Sny Island levee heights and criticized the Rock Island District’s conclusion that the Sny is raising its levees and flooding others; asked that we use existing conditions and not the hypothetical conditions to determine flow profiles. He also criticized the 208-10 and 408 process. Testimony – Audio Formal Statement on Record Testimony – Transcript 10:30 Charles Earnest, President of Elk Chute Drainage District – Discussed south levee rollback project and sloughing at the current levee and how MVM expects to fix this issue in 2018; sand bar issue at Belle Fountaine West Connector Ditch; the need for spoil removal at the north end of the levee district that causes a choke point. Testimony – Audio Formal Statement on Record Testimony – Transcript 10:37 Jeff Denny, County Engineer for Alexander County – discussed damage at Len Small levee after 2016 flood; Corps doesn’t have authority to rebuild levee, but MVS is working to develop a solution to address the issue because it is a major issue that needs to be addressed. Testimony – Audio Formal Statement on Record Testimony – Transcript 2 Executive Summary Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting MV Mississippi – Cape Girardeau, Mo. Monday, August 7, 2017, 9:00 a.m. 10:48 Break 11:08 Lester Goodin, Vice President, Levee District No. 3, MO – Discussed BPNM Floodway activation in 2011 and the impacts of activation on the lands within the floodway, including explosive materials from the levee being scattered across the floodway; leadership in the post- operation of the floodway was inadequate and we need a more efficient post-operation plan to ensure the floodway is repaired and levees rebuilt post-operation.
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