Rounds Statement on Meeting with Army Corps

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today issued the following statement after meeting with R.D. James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ management of the Missouri River. The meeting comes more than two months after Rounds requested an in-person briefing.

“I appreciate the opportunity to meet with Assistant Secretary James today to share my concerns about the Army Corps’ management of the Missouri River. We had a good exchange and I found his interest in working with us refreshing. We have agreed to continue work to address our concerns about the high water levels along the river, as well as make certain an appropriate monitoring system is in place. Flood control is priority number one. We also discussed issues in South Dakota regarding access to water in Corps-controlled land, so we can better use our water along the river system. We will continue to keep a close watch on the Corps’ management practices along the river to help avoid another flood and make certain South Dakotans concerns’ are adequately addressed.”