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Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee holds Spring 2019 plenary session

Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee
Published May 24, 2019
MRRIC meets in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for Spring 2019 Plenary Meeting May 23, 2019. (Photo by Dr. Michael Izard-Carroll, USACE Omaha District)

MRRIC meets in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for Spring 2019 Plenary Meeting May 23, 2019. (Photo by Dr. Michael Izard-Carroll, USACE Omaha District)

The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee held its first plenary session of the year May 21-23 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Major accomplishments from the meeting included consensus recommendations from the Committee on management actions for the endangered pallid sturgeon and the threatened piping plover and strategic input on the future of Integrated Science Program.

“The Committee appreciated a special session led by Brig. Gen. D. Peter Helmlinger, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division, updating members on impacts of this spring’s severe flooding in the basin and planned recovery efforts,” said Gail Bingham, Committee Chair.

“I am extremely impressed by the professionalism, passion, and collaboration of committee members representing so many different interest groups,” said Brig. Gen. Helmlinger. “The committee is a model of how communication and cooperation can be used to address complex issues and find solutions palatable to all. Over the past decade, the committee has provided solid recommendations to restore the Missouri River ecosystem, while sustaining agriculture, navigation, hydropower, commercial dredging, recreation, and other industries, and reducing flood risk. With the committees continued efforts, the environment will be restored, endangered species will be delisted, and industries will flourish for future generations.”

The meeting was held at the Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel and Convention Center beginning at 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 21, and concluded at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23. The MRRIC meeting agenda can be found online at https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/mrrp/mrric/. The MRRIC meets 2-3 times each year.

Most of the plenary sessions were open to members of the public, in which they could address the committee and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directly.

Congress authorized MRRIC in Section 5018 of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act. In July 2008, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, John Paul Woodley, signed the Implementation Guidance for Section 5018 of WRDA 2007, thus approving the Charter for MRRIC and establishing the committee.

MRRIC is a 70-member committee comprised of stakeholders and representatives of tribal, state and federal governments throughout the Missouri River Basin. The committee provides recommendations to federal agencies on the current and future activities of the MRRP. The committee makes its substantive recommendations by consensus. The committee meets regularly at various locations throughout the Missouri River Basin.

For additional information regarding the MRRIC, please contact Ms. Gail Bingham, committee chair, by e-mail at gbingham@resolv.org. Information about the Missouri River Recovery Program is available online at https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/mrrp/.

IMAGERY: https://www.facebook.com/160260947323251/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2755611841121469


Contact
Ms. Gail Bingham
gbingham@resolv.org (cell)

Release no. 19-078