November 2010 Newsletter Text Version

Howard Paul Reflects on MSAC's 9+ years
Howard Paul has served as MSAC’s Executive Director since the group was incorporated on June 8, 2001. On October 4, he resigned as Executive Director, and, at his request the Board of Directors named Paul, Technical Coordinator. Directors appointed Sandy Korkow, Executive Director. She has served the organization as Public Information Officer for 8 years.

Howard, tell us about your professional background. I graduated from North Dakota Agricultural College (now N.D. State University) in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. I then worked for a consulting engineering firm in Watertown until November 1957, when I was employed as an assistant city engineer for the City of Bismarck, N. D. until May of 1961, when I was appointed by the City of Huron as City Engineer. In November of 1962, I became a partner in the firm of Schmucker, Shaffer and Paul in Mitchell, which later became Schmucker, Paul, Nohr and Associates. I retired from that firm in 2000, and became Executive Director of MSAC until October 2010. I hold licenses (Retired) as a Professional Engineer in South Dakota, North Dakota and Colorado, and as a Professional Land Surveyor in South Dakota and Colorado.

How did you become involved with MSAC? In my engineering career, I was very aware of the importance of a good quality water supply necessary for the benefit of people and the agricultural industry, and how difficult it is to find that water in South Dakota and surrounding states. As a consulting engineer for the Mni Wiconi water project in South Dakota, I confirmed the importance of the Missouri River system as a major water source for domestic water supplies. Shortly before retiring from SPN, the City of Pierre asked my firm to assist them in negotiations with the Corps of Engineers (COE) relative to problems caused by the accumulation of sediment in the Big Bend Dam reservoir, Lake Sharpe. When I retired from SPN, I was asked to assume the position of Executive Director for the newly formed non-profit corporation, MSAC. I gladly accepted.

List some MSAC milestones: Prior to MSAC becoming involved in the sediment issue, the COE stated in public meetings that they did not consider sediment a problem, that it was a "situation" they had predicted when the dams were built. I believe that MSAC taking a strong public stand that sediment was causing major problems in the reservoirs and affecting the benefits produced by the dams and their reservoirs enabled the COE to review that position, and in 2002, they stated that they agreed that sediment accumulation is a problem that needs to be addressed. Other milestones include the beginning and completion of the first two phases of the NRCS study, with MSAC successfully getting federal funding for those phases. The work plan for the next two phases is done, and MSAC will again work to obtain federal funding. MSAC has also completed a DVD on the importance of the reservoirs and the dangers of sediment, narrated by Tony Dean, for public presentation. There have been many other milestones, but these are, in my opinion, the major ones.

Have there been any surprises along the way? There have been many, but I think the biggest one has been public apathy to this issue. I have heard many times the statement, "Why worry, I will be dead before they fill up with mud." While we have been able to change this attitude in most people, it still exists.

What do you hope is the public’s perception of MSAC? I hope that MSAC is perceived as an organization dedicated to saving the many benefits provided by the dams and reservoirs, and that the effort and dedication of those working to achieve that goal are successful. Public perception is of major importance, but the public must ultimately realize that they must become involved if Congress is to act properly to save these national resources.

What are your goals and roles as Technical Coordinator? My goal, and my role, are the same, to assist the Executive Director and the Board of Directors in whatever way I can to achieve the goal of reducing the problems caused by sediment accumulation, and preserving the benefits provided by the dams and reservoirs.

A note from US Army Corps of Engineers
... From Paul M. Boyd, P.E. - Hydrologic Engineering Branch CENWO-ED-HF Dept. of the Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District
Howard, I hope I speak for all of us here at USACE Omaha when I say thank you for your energy, knowledge, and dedication to the issues that confront the Missouri River and its residents. Under your guidance, MSAC has made great strides in bringing sediment issues to the forefront of the local consciousness. We are excited about the opportunities in the future to continue our collaboration with MSAC. As we move towards an eventual goal of Sediment Management Plans throughout (the) basin, the stakeholder groups provide the needed push to move forward in a collaborative way. We are all glad to have worked with you, and hope that the energy and focus will continue under Ms. Korkow’s guidance. You have certainly earned this break, but don’t stray too far from the Missouri!

MSAC to urge continued funding for sediment assessment
With MSAC’s urging, Congress funded a thorough sediment assessment on the Upper Missouri River Basin in FY 2008. Completing the first two phases, which analyzed existing sedimentation data, were the Natural Resources Conservation Service offices in four states - Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota in consultation with the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Bureau of Reclamation and US Geological Survey. MSAC will once again look to Congress to fund the next two phases to be led by the NRCS and USGS. Completion of Phases III and IV is estimated at 4 years. Findings indicate several limitations in some existing sediment data, which the additional phases will address.

It is encouraging for MSAC and its members to cooperate with all these federal agencies, which are recognizing the sedimentation problem in the reservoirs as being one of “national importance.” A portion of the assessment will provide detailed information about sedimentation within the reservoirs, rates of sediment transport, and erosion/sediment transport processes. The USGS points out that this data will be important for future management decisions.

Obtaining federal funding is never easy, however, findings like the National Academy of Sciences’ call for centralized sediment data led by the USGS should help do some convincing.