uTime to stand tall and together in fight against sediment
by Howard Paul, executive director

What is the real danger to the Missouri River dams and reservoirs?  Is it the drought, or the Corps of Engineers Master Manual?  Or is it the fight over navigation or recreation being the most important in operation of the reservoirs?   MSAC believes that the long term danger is sediment.  However, all of those pale in the face of the true and ultimate danger,  APATHY!!!

Webster’s Dictionary defines apathy as a “want of feeling; indifference”, and apathetic as “void of feeling; indifferent; insensible”. So, who is indifferent?  Is it the Corps of Engineers, or is it Congress, or our Governors?  No!  It is us.  You and I, the general public.  We all, or at least most of us, recognize the value these dams and reservoirs bring to us.  Flood control, hydro-power, a dependable water source of good quality for drinking,  industry, livestock water and irrigation, recreation, navigation, and other uses are all major benefits which can be lost through improper management of the dams and reservoirs.  Improper management includes sediment accumulation, which will ultimately choke the reservoirs and destroy most of the benefits. But all too often I have heard people say about sediment, “Nothing can be done.”  That is not true.  The technology exists today to correct the problem of sediment.  It is not a technical problem that results in no action, it is a political problem, enhanced by public indifference. Many of the uses of the reservoirs are already being adversely affected, and this will only get worse unless we act now to begin corrective action.  It is true that there is a part of the public that believe the dams should be breached and the reservoirs drained, but theirs is a minority position. But you have to give them credit.  They are very vocal in their position, not apathetic, and are not afraid to put forth their ideas.  And they do win converts.

So, if we are apathetic we let the dam broachers win, and if we are apathetic we let the reservoirs fill with sediment.  We have to say no to apathy, and yes to resolving the issue of sediment.  The dam broachers will not be successful if there is no support for their agenda.  And Congress will support the MSAC position on resolving the sediment problem if we, the public, you and I, insist Congress recognize the benefits of these dams and reservoirs.  Congress must provide the funds and the leadership to deal with the problem.  As far as the Corps of Engineers goes, they will do what Congress tells them to do, and what Congress provides funds for.  It is up to us.  Apathy is the problem only if we let it become a problem.  We must not lose these reservoirs. Contact your congressional delegation.  Tell them we refuse to lose these most important reservoirs to sediment.  We must act now if we are to control sediment and save the reservoirs.

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