Resolution A: Missouri River Sedimentation Resolution

WHEREAS: The Missouri River main stem dams and reservoirs, built and maintained by the federal government under the Flood Control Act of 1944, commonly referred to as the Pick-Sloan Plan, provide approximately one billion dollars per year in benefits to the states adjacent to the Missouri River and to the people of the United States of America, and;

WHEREAS: These benefits include flood control, hydropower, navigation, municipal and industrial water supply, irrigation, recreation, improved water quality and fish and wildlife benefits, and;

WHEREAS: These benefits are being adversely affected and endangered by the continued flow of sediment into the reservoirs, and the accumulation of that sediment in the reservoirs, and;

WHEREAS: That sediment accumulation has already damaged public and private properties, and has reduced water storage capabilities of the reservoirs for flood control and water supplies, and;

WHEREAS: The agency designated by Congress to manage the dams and reservoirs on behalf of the American people is the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and;

WHEREAS: The continued accumulation of sediment in the reservoirs will ultimately destroy the reservoirs and their associated benefits if the sediment problem is not addressed;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: The Democratic Party of South Dakota does fully support efforts to reduce the amount of sediment entering the reservoirs, and does fully support a plan for, and implementation of removal of sediment that does enter the reservoirs in order to protect and retain the many benefits these dams and reservoirs provide, and;

FURTHER: The Democratic Party of South Dakota hereby requests the federal government immediately provide to the managing agency funding necessary to develop a plan or plans to control the amount of sediment entering the reservoirs and steps necessary to remove sediment that accumulates in the reservoirs, and provide, on a continuing basis, the funding necessary to accomplish said control and removal in order to preserve and enhance the many benefits provide by these dams and reservoirs to the people of South Dakota and the citizens of the United States of America.