South Dakota’s Washington, DC delegation waits to see what agencies decide on Missouri River water regulation. Downstream Missouri River states want the President to declare an emergency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release water upstream to support barge traffic to the south.
The Corps has eight federally-approved reasons to regulate Missouri River water. During devastating flooding and drought in South Dakota, Army Corps officials say they must balance the interests all along the river. That’s why U.S. Senator John Thune says a southern plea to sustain barge traffic wouldn’t be legal.
"The Corps ought to, based upon law and based upon the Master Manual and everything that we have that provides guidance and direction with regard to the management of the Missouri, come to the conclusion that the request that’s being made has to be rejected," Thune says. "They would be hard-pressed to agree to what the downstream states are asking them to do. So I’m hoping that us providing the necessary political support and laying out the statutory argument will give them what’s necessary to be able to follow the law."
Thune says upstream states have to be prepared for legal action to preserve South Dakota’s interests. The Republican lawmaker says he would support Governor Dennis Daugaard if the case winds up in court.