In a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the senators detailed the record flooding that occurred this summer. “There are varying viewpoints surrounding the recent flooding of the Missouri River. Various parties have suggested that more water than necessary was being held back in the upstream reservoirs. Corps officials, on the other hand, contend that the unprecedented amount of rain changed their picture completely, forcing them to release record levels of water through the system. Given the varying viewpoints on this issue, we are requesting that GAO examine key issues related to the Missouri River Flood of 2011,” the letter says.
The senators signing the letter, which was initiated by Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, asked the GAO to examine specific actions leading up to the flooding, including:
• Did the Corps fully adhere to the Master Manual?
• Did the timing of Corps’ reservoir releases (as directed by the Manual) contribute to the severity of the flood’s impact?
• What role did assessment of on-the-ground and meteorological conditions and forecasts play in the 2011 flooding events?
The senators also asked the GAO to make recommendations for improving flood control operations along the Missouri River system, particularly in the years the basin is in a wet cycle.
In addition to Conrad and Grassley, Senators John Hoeven of North Dakota, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran of Kansas, Tim Johnson and John Thune of South Dakota, and Jon Tester of Montana signed the letter.
The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress and investigates how the federal government spends tax dollars.
Click here to read the letter.
