What is the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan?
The Comprehensive Plan for the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers looked at ways to address water resource and related land resource issues and opportunities in the Upper Mississippi Basin in the interest of systemic flood damage reduction.
Top of pageWhy is a plan necessary?
The Great Flood of 1993 resulted in catastrophic damages throughout much of the Upper Mississippi River basin. Forty-seven deaths were attributed to the flood and flood damages exceeded $15 billion. About half of the flood damages were related to agricultural losses. Approximately 74,000 people were evacuated and flooding damaged 72,000 homes. In-place flood damage reduction facilities such as levees, built by the Corps of Engineers prevented an estimated $19 billion in additional damages.
While the Great Flood of 1993 could not be prevented, an integrated system of flood damage reduction and floodplain management measures could have further reduced the amount of damages it caused.
In short, a plan is necessary to allow for Federal, State, and non-government agencies and organizations to engage in the development of a comprehensive watershed plan. The plan will allow for these other agencies and organizations to leverage the plan through their own programs. One outcome of these watershed studies will be interagency collaboration and partnerships that will continue indefinitely after completion of the initial studies. Such efforts will facilitate the efficient use of resources toward flood risk reduction and other purposes.
What are the objectives of the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan?
The objectives of the UMRCP are:
- Minimize the threat to health and safety resulting from flooding by using structural and non-structural flood damage reduction measures.
- Reduce damages and costs associated with flooding.
- Identify opportunities to support environmental sustainability/restoration goals of the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois River floodplain as part of any systemic flood damage reduction plan.
- Seek opportunities to address, in concert with flood damage reduction measures, other floodplain specific problems, needs and opportunities.
Who developed the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan?
The Comprehensive Plan is a Federal initiative with collaborative support among three Corps Districts, other Federal agencies, the states of IA, IL, MN, MO, and WI, and non-governmental stakeholders.
When was Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan developed?
The plan was authorized by Section 459 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, and modified by Section 404 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. Congress provided the initial appropriation for the Upper Mississippi River plan in FY 2002. A draft report was distributed for public review in May 2006; public meetings were held in June 2006; and substantial public input and comments were received and addressed. The final report was submitted to Congress in January 2009.
Top of pageWhat did the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan take into consideration/future considerations?
The Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan formulated and investigated systemic flood risk management plans for the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers floodplains. Eight alternative plans were investigated. A follow up study is now underway on recommendations from the report for reconstruction of flood damage reduction systems, critical transportation infrastructure, and tributary watersheds.
Top of pageHow was the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan funded?
The Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan study was authorized at 100% federal funding by the Water Resources Development Act of 1999. The total study effort had a cost of about $6 million to date.
Top of pageWhat is the current status of the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan?
The Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan Report was finalized in August 2008. The chief of the Army Corps of Engineers sent the plan to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works on September 11, 2008. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works forwarded the report to congress on January 15, 2009.
Top of pageWhat area was studied?
The study area of the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan is the Upper Mississippi River Basin drainage area above the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, at Cairo, Illinois. It covers approximately 185,000 square miles. The study does not include the Missouri River Basin below Cairo, Illinois.
The primary impact area of the study lies within the 78 counties bordering the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway. Together, these counties contain nearly 5 percent of the nation’s population, with total population in 2000 of nearly 13.4 million.
What did the Corps recommend?
The Corps determined none of the plans evaluated were feasible based on the cost-benefit analysis. The Corps was unable to recommend any of the systematic plans to Congress. While a specific plan was not recommended for implementation, the planning efforts led to a number of recommendations regarding additional studies and refinements in relation to reconstruction, critical transportation, PL 84-99 recommendations, and placement of dredge material.
Top of pageWhat is the Mississippi River Commission?
The Mississippi River Commission was established by Congress in 1879. The commission is composed of seven members, each nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. Three of the organization's members are officers of the Corps of Engineers; one member is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and three members are from the public, two of whom are civil engineers.
Its mission is to develop plans to improve the condition of the Mississippi River, foster navigation, promote commerce, and prevent destructive floods.
It covers the entire length of the Mississippi River from its headwaters at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to Head of Passes in Louisiana where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
The commission is headquartered in Vicksburg, Mississippi and provides water resources engineering direction and policy advice to the Administration, Congress, and the Army Corps of Engineers in a drainage basin that covers 41 percent of the United States and parts of two Canadian provinces.
Its duties include recommending policy and work programs, the study of and reporting upon the necessity for modifications or additions to the flood control and navigation project, recommendation upon any matters authorized by law, and making semi-annual inspection trips.
What did the Mississippi River Commission recommend?
In August 2008, the Mississippi River Commission held a public meeting during their annual Mississippi River inspection trip, and submitted their report on the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan to the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Engineers for consideration.
The commission had a number of recommendations for implementation which included the implementation of Plan H, a system-wide plan for flood risk management. They recommended Plan H because they considered it the best plan of those studied.
One of the reasons the MRC recommended Plan H is because Congress asked for a Plan, and it saw Plan H as a way to help begin the conversation and development for the long-term comprehensive approach to flood damage reduction.
Top of pageWhy did the MRC recommend something different than USACE?
Federal policy prohibits the Corps of Engineers from recommending any plan for which the cost to the nation is greater than the benefits. Due to this cost/benefit relationship, the Corps was unable to recommend any of the plans studied.
The MRC is not bound by the cost/benefit restrictions. The commission had a number of recommendations for implementation which included the implementation of Plan H, a system-wide plan for flood risk management. They recommended Plan H because they considered it the best plan of those studied at the reconnaissance level.
One of the reasons the MRC recommended Plan H is because Congress asked for a Plan, and it saw Plan H as a way to help begin the conversation and development for the long-term comprehensive approach to flood damage reduction.
Top of pageWhat is the Corps next step?
At this time, Congress has not provided funding support for any of the systematic alternatives in the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan. Congress has provided funding and the Corps will continue further analysis on certain aspects of comprehensive flood risk management. These aspects include reconstruction, transportation and tributary studies. The Corps is prepared to do the next level of study and analysis on a comprehensive plan when funding becomes available.
Top of pageWhat can the public do to influence the plan?
It is important to remember that at this time, Congress has not provided funding support for any of the alternatives in the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan, and a comprehensive approach will require further study and analysis. Members of the public should continue to stay informed regarding the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan and flood risk management and contact their state, federal or local representatives if they are concerned.
Where can I get the latest information on the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan?
You can receive the latest information on the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan by visiting the St. Louis District Corps of Engineers web site, www.mvs.usace.army.mil
Top of pageWhat is Plan H?
Plan H is only one alternative studied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan. Plan H calls for a 500-year level of protection in areas with existing levees and floodwalls, using either improvements or acquisitions, depending of which is the most cost effective alternative in a particular area. Plan H was not recommended by the Corps and has not been funded by Congress.
Top of pageIs it true that Plan H uses forced buy-outs?
No. Levee districts will only be acquired from willing sellers. Plan H compensates willing sellers who accept higher flood risk. There are no forced buy-outs with Plan H. Levee districts can choose to stay "as is" or find other resources to improve the existing level of protection. It is important to remember however, that further analysis and studies must be completed before any plan is adopted or it is determined which levee districts would be raised or acquired.
How many levee districts will be acquired?
At this time, further analysis and studies must be completed before any plan is adopted or it is determined which and how many levee districts would be raised or acquired.