Mississippi River flood control, navigation issues focus of Feb. 12-13 meeting in Burlington, Iowa

BURLINGTON, Iowa — The Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association (UMIMRA) along with the Corn Belt Ports and Mid-America Port Commission (MAPC) will hold the organizations’ annual meeting Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 12-13, at the Catfish Bend Conference and Event Center, 3001 Winegard Drive in Burlington, Iowa.

People attending will hear presentations focused on flood control, inland ports, navigation and common-sense environmental stewardship for the future of the Upper Mississippi River Valley.

In a press release, Bob Sinkler, executive director of the Corn Belt Ports, said, “Maintaining and improving the inland ports, navigation and flood control of the Upper Mississippi River Basin is important to America’s long-term economic growth and our national security. The annual meeting gives attendees an opportunity to network and learn from others to find solutions that will improve multi-modal transportation infrastructure, navigation, reduce flood damages, protect property and support local economies and communities.”

The Upper Mississippi River levee systems are an infrastructure system protecting some of the most productive farmland in the world, along with people’s homes, multi-generational businesses, transportation infrastructure such as highways, railroads, the Corn Belt Ports and the navigation channel of the Mississippi River itself. Upper Mississippi Valley levee systems also protect dozens of conservation areas, protected wetlands and wildlife — all of which are significantly negatively impacted if flooded.

“Proper flood control for the Upper Mississippi River has long been ignored to the detriment of the Midwest and country,” UMIMRA chairman Mike Klingner said. “Flooding in the Upper Mississippi River Valley has been a repeated occurrence for many years. At a time when the Upper Mississippi is dealing with more runoff and more flooding probabilities, government bureaucratic red tape is limiting the ability of people to protect their families, homes, livelihoods and businesses. We will be discussing this looming disaster at our annual meeting.”

Highlights for this year’s meeting include:

Wednesday, Feb. 12

• “Unlocking Port Investment” – Corn Belt Ports/Mid-America Port Commission Meeting starting at 10:30 a.m. with a networking lunch at noon
• Joint UMIMRA/Corn Belt Ports/Mid America Port Commission Reception starting at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 13

• “Improving Flood Control” – UMIMRA educational sessions on current topics and issues starting at 8 a.m.
• Luncheon and UMIMRA member meeting at noon
• Keynote speaker – Bob Maltsbarger, Senior Research Economist from the University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute/Water Center, will be discussing their group’s work on “Measuring Crop Losses and the Potential Benefits of Flood Mitigation Projects”

Feb. 13 UMIMRA educational sessions on current topics and issues are:

• Mapping Drainage and Levee Districts Across the U.S. – Patrick McPartlan, Agrowhere, LLC
• Climate Changes and Challenges in the Upper Mississippi Basin – Madelynn Wuestenberg, Ag Climatology Extension Specialist, Iowa State University
• Impact of New Flood Flow Frequency Profiles – David Human, Husch Blackwell
• 408 Nightmares – Examples of Why Changes are Needed – Mike Klingner, Klingner and Associates, and Joe Zumwalt, Hunt-Lima Levee District
• Iowa’s Office of Levee Safety (the first of its kind in the nation) –  Jeff Jackson, Iowa Department of Homeland Security
• USACE District Updates – Col. Aaron Williams, USACE Rock Island District and Lt. Col. Andrew James, USACE St. Louis District
• Having Success on Flood Control Issues with the New Congress and Trump Administration – Christian Morgan, Husch Blackwell

For more information or to register, visit www.umimra.org.