N E W S
| October 21, 2004 |
|
|
| WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman Denny Rehberg continued to stress the importance of Montana’s agricultural and recreational interests to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the Corps released its plan to mitigate the effects of a pro-longed drought in the Missouri River Basin. “Some areas of Montana are under the stress of seven years of drought, and it’s time for the Corps to take an even more active approach,” said Rehberg. A member of the U.S. House Agriculture, Resources, and Transportation Committees, Rehberg has been critical of the Corps’ Missouri River management plan for favoring the barge shipping industry of downstream states over the needs of Montana. “The drought is having wide-ranging effects on a number of Montana’s key industries - farming, ranching, forestry, tourism and recreation. These industries are the heart and soul of our Montana communities, and I’ll continue to push the Corps to implement measures that will have a more meaningful impact,” Rehberg said. Rehberg’s statement came in response to specific measures the Corps recently announced it was taking to control the conditions related to declining water levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Those measures include:
For more information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan, call Tom O’Hara in the Omaha District Public Affairs Office at 402-221-3917. # # # |
