Byron Dorgan

I have been critical from time to time, but, I've also said, 'If you're involved in a big flood fight, I'll tell you, I know who you want on your side and that's the Corps of Engineers.'

It's collaboration, and it's a way to get at collaboration. The worst thing you can have is a disaster of some sort, and people coming together for the first time to figure out what to do.

Yes. I guess one of the questions with respect to this flooding, in Emmons County--and perhaps the Colonel and Dale Frink have a notion, and the mayor, as well--was this sort of a one-time, freakish flooding event that is very unlikely to…

Why would there not have been the same feasible alternatives in 1985 that there were in 1967?

If you're involved in a big flood fight, I'll tell you, I know who you want on your side and that's the Corps of Engineers.

The water in the Missouri River system is being managed in a way that makes no sense at all.

My understanding is, from the discussion, there's a substantial problem with bank erosion. Where is that problem most acute?

Let me ask you--the Knife River, Spring and Antelope Creeks, all three were a problem and a contributor.

I have explained to the folks in the region that I understand that the people of Fargo and Moorhead, given what they faced this spring, believe that its most significant priority at the moment is flood control.

In smaller communities, very often the current value of a home is substantially less than the replacement cost.

So, if that was the case back then, the question in my mind is, is there a desire among local folks to evaluate that again?

So, regarding the section 22 study, is that a study that is designed to lead to a conclusion of saying, 'Here are devices or protection approaches that might be used to give that region better protection?'

Now, you have a Flood Recovery Task Force, which I know is describing a series of things for recovery.

When I drafted that and put that in the bill it was very controversial, as you can imagine.

I want to be helpful. I mean I'm chairman of the committee that funds the Corps of Engineers.

But again, as far as even the debris removal, there was discussion of even in the Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant as a 75/25 that the 25 percent cost share needed to come up with.

The question is how do we get that done.

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

We need guidance from experts that, you know, who claim they have models that can predict, you know, scenarios that would be greater flooding than we had in 2009.

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

There clearly needs to be more monitoring.

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

We've still got a problem with debris and siltation that ought to be taken care of.

Let me suggest something to you, ma'am.

That additional water has come in, and because the reservoirs have been so depleted they have not wanted to maximize the releases.