WSP05631

• File Number: 8407.500
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications - Missouri River
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 1/14/1988
• Author: MBSA
• Title: A Review of the Missouri River Main Stem System Operation
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

We are also fortunate in having Dr. James Laue of
The Conllict Clinic to serve as moderator of the after-
noon session. Jim has worked with the Association in
the past on several water resource issues of concern
to the Basin States, and also worked with many of the
people who are presently Directors of the MBSA when
we were attempting to negot.iate a statement. of prin-
ciples for basin water management.

Before we begin our program, I would like to set
ground rules for the conduct of the symposium. The
word "symposium" is defined in your programs as "a
meeting at which several speakers deliver short ad-
dresses on 8 topic or on related topics; a collect.ion of
opinions on a subject." It goes without saying that each
speaker is free to express his or her opinion. I hope
this can be done in a positive manner that will be
productive and will help meet all of the objeetives of
this symposium.

We are here today to explore five topics. First, how
was the Missouri River main stem system developed?
Second, what laws, policies, and regulations affect the

river system operation? Third, how do main stem sys-
tem operators discharge their responsibilities? Fourth.
we want to learn of the concerns of various interests
and customers of the system. Last, we would like to
consider various views on how the system might be
operated differently.

A key to accomplishing the purpose of this sym-
posium is a panel discussion that will take place this
afternoon. At. that time each of you will have the op-
portunity to direct questions to panel members or to
other speakers. Because of the time limitations, I
would ask that you hold your questions until the panel
discussion. Cards were distributed this morning with
the registration. please write your questions on the
cards so t.hat you don't forget them. We will collect
the cards or you can give them to any of the MBSA
staff or deliver them to the front of the room. and we
will make sure that your questions get asked.

At this time I would like to introduce Jim Brown
who serves as the Iowa member on the MBSA Board
of Directors.

J. Edward Brown, MBSA Director
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Thank you Larry. As I walked from my seat to t.his
podium an int.eresting thought crossed my mind. I can
walk from there to here in the space of about t.hirty
seconds with maybe a few people waving at me. Did
you see the Congressman walk from the front door up
here? It takes a long time. Many people want to talk
to you. One of the things I would suggest to you is
that there is a certain parallel between General Ryan's
position with the Corps and the Congressman. I think
you can see some parallels if you look at the situation
with t.he audienee that is here. There are some very
simple facts you can come to conclusions on. First of
all, everybody wants something. It's a given faet. Sec-
ondly, they all have an easy plan for get.ting it. Thirdly,
the price it eosts may be in incomprehensible numbers.
We can all deal with a dollar or ten dollars or fifty
dollars. How many of us can deal with acre-feet? Even
though I can deal with acre-feet, millions of acre-feet
becomes incomprehensible to me.

I think an advantage that Congress has is that even
though both they and the General have little total
control over a resource, at least Congress has the abil.
ity to tax so they can raise their resource. The General
has a difficult time because weather modification is
probably not a near term reality. On the other hand,

2

there is a stark cont.rast in that when Congress has a
problem with deficits, as the Basin has with the lack
of water, there is no real parallel in Congress for the
fact that too much water is a problem for the Basin,
but too much money is usually not a problem to Con.
gress.

I think in the case of managing the Missouri River
system there are certainly a lot of people and a lot of
issues. I believe today is going to be a good opport.unity
for us to get a chance to deal with those issues, or at
least get them on the table. I don't think we should,
as we leave here today and rellect upon what's hap-
pened, looked upon it with any disappointment if we
don't feel that all the answers were provided. I don't
believe that's a real prospect. I think the key point is
that we came here to talk, to get to know each other.
but probably most importantly to listen. I think if we
keep our ears open and we keep our minds open, we
are going to gain a lot today.

In introducing t.he Congressman, I can think of no
better thing to tell you today than that Congressman
Lightfoot was a catalyst in fostering this symposium.
It was, in fact, probably a spinoff from his visits in
the spring to deal with questions about Ilooding in
certain areas of Iowa. It resulted from his thought that
we needed to give people an opportunity to talk wit.h
the Corps about the management of the river system.