What mechanisms exist to try to detect the formation of an ice jam?

Just give us a thumbnail of those two. I'm generally familiar with them.

I just put the money in the appropriations bill. The President just signed my legislation the Energy and Water Appropriations bill just days ago.

The issue of dredging is important. I mean, that's not a new issue for any of us.

You see that the dilemma here is that, I think, there's general understanding in this room that debris is a problem.

But in order for you to move to the next phase you need a local sponsor?

I'm sure it was not lost on everybody in North Dakota that we came very close to having a significant, significant devastation of the largest population center as a result of a record flood.

It's the right thing to do and an important thing to do.

Is there a strategy the Corps has inevitably in the spring or the late winter and spring to release water to break up or in order to prevent jams from forming?

I don't know if there are people in the room who are old enough to have been here, in Bismarck and Mandan, when there was chronic flooding with a rather wild Missouri River.

one of the problems that we have is things don't move forward unless there is a local sponsor.

Let me suggest something to you, ma'am.

Is there a Federal interest? Does it meet the cost benefit and so on?

We have waited for longer than I have patience to, and finally we're going to drive through this and get it done.

We have been through a lengthy drought in which the main stem reservoirs have been largely depleted.

It will be advisable at some moment for the Corps of Engineers to decide to hold a hearing here in North Dakota.

There clearly needs to be more monitoring.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to discuss this spring 2009 flood event in the Bismarck area.