FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 36

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

2245L.01I

         Whereas, the Great Flood of 1993 resulted in catastrophic damages throughout much of the Upper Mississippi River basin, including Missouri. Forty-seven deaths were attributed to the flood and flood damages exceeded $15 billion. About one-half of the flood damages were related to agricultural losses. Approximately 74,000 people were evacuated and flooding damaged 72,000 homes. In-place flood damage reduction facilities (e.g. levees, etc.) built by the Corps of Engineers (Corps) prevented an estimated $19 billion in potential additional damages. While the Great Flood of 1993 could not be prevented, an integrated system of flood management measures could have further reduced the amount of damages incurred; and

 

            Whereas, the flood and several studies, reports, and ongoing initiatives prompted citizens to push for a comprehensive plan to integrate existing and needed projects into a coordinated system for flood damage reduction and floodplain management and previous studies found that a systemic, integrated approach to flood management is necessary to reduce flood damages; and

 

            Whereas, similarly, floodplain economic and environmental values can be maximized by systemically identifying opportunities for floodplain-compatible economic development and ecosystem restoration, preservation, and enhancement; and

 

            Whereas, the State of Missouri benefits from the revenues and economic activity of countless businesses and public utilities that rely on flood control structures to protect individuals and property from the ravages of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers; and

 

            Whereas, the State of Missouri benefits from improved public health and quality of life for its citizens due to well-drained land and to access to marinas that offer waterborne recreational activities; and

 

            Whereas, flood control structures are integral for maintaining navigational channels on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers:

 

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby:

 

            (1) Support strengthening flood control structures to a common level of protection to improve the safety and well-being of the state's citizens, wildlife sanctuaries, and economic assets; and

 

            (2) Endorse the federally-funded Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan which will develop recommendations for systemic flood protection and for coordinating the varied uses of the river through an integrated strategy and implementation plan for:

 

            (a) Systemic flood management and flood damage reduction;

 

            (b) Continued maintenance and improvement of the navigation project;

 

            (c) Improving management of nutrients and sediment, including bank erosion;

 

            (d) Enhancing environmental stewardship; and

 

            (e) Meeting river-related recreation needs and expectations.

 

            The plan will be a collaborative effort among three Corps Districts (St. Paul, Rock Island, and St. Louis), other federal agencies (including the Federal Emergency Management Agency), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin, and appropriate non-federal organizations. A task force will be created to guide and coordinate development of the plan which will identify future management actions and make recommendations for systemic improvements that provide multiple benefits. The comprehensive plan will include recommendations for:

 

            (1) Construction of a systemic flood management/damage reduction project;

 

            (2) Floodplain management alternatives; and

 

            (3) Follow-on design and construction requirements.

 

            The comprehensive plan will include overall system recommendations, not optimized recommendations for specific sites, which would include identification of required levels of protection and detailed consideration of the impacts of the Standard Project Flood (SPF). The plan would be used to seek congressional authorization for a systemic flood damage reduction project and other floodplain management needs. Follow-on implementation studies will be necessary at specific sites where additional analysis is required to develop the National Economic Development (NED) plan. The costs of these follow-on implementation studies, preconstruction engineering and design (PED), and construction will require appropriate cost sharing between federal agents and local sponsors, including states, counties, municipalities, and levee districts; and

 

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.