<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616784790531.jpeg" alt="2019 flooding in northwest Missouri/File photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>2019 flooding in northwest Missouri/File photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri state officials hope to convince the Army Corps of
Engineers to make changes to the Missouri River levee system.Deputy Director Dru Buntin of the Department of Natural
Resources says Missouri is working with Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa state
officials to propose changes to the levee system in an effort to avoid the
problems which made the 2019 flood so devastating.“It’s the states’ intention working together to take a
regional approach to looking at where are the areas where targeted investment
and focus about our approach to flood risk management is going to reap the most
benefit,” Buntin tells St. Joseph Post.Of particular interest is the Missouri River L-536 levee in
Atchison and Holt Counties, which breached in five locations in 2019. The
Atchison County Levee District has suggested moving the levee back to allow
more room for floodwaters. The district also suggests upgrading the levee with
a more modern design.A study commissioned by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson focused on
pinch points along the Missouri River, segments which restrict the flow of
water creating a greater potential for flooding. The study suggested the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers could alter not just the levees, but where they are
built, using setbacks and other moves to restore a more natural floodplain.Buntin says the federal government has got to change how it
approaches levee repair, ditching the requirement that levees be restored only
to their pre-flood condition.“If you’re only looking at the least cost alternative to build
exactly back and not considering if you might be able to invest a little more
on the front end that’s going to save a lot of money and damage and impacts to
people’s property and, potentially, lives at risk,” Buntin says.Corps of Engineers officials say federal rules restrict them
to restoring levees to pre-flood conditions. It might take action by Congress
to authorize some of the changes advocated by the four states.Still, federal officials are listening, according to Buntin.“I think in some of the areas, we’re going to be getting together
and having some local discussions as well about what can we do and how can the
state be of support in that effort as we were able to do in the Atchison County
project,” Buntin says.Buntin says the four states believe they have a better chance
for success if they unite behind proposed changes.Buntin says a broader floodplain not only would help avoid the
widespread, devasting flooding seen in 2019, but would improve water quality by
retaining nutrients and sediment as well as provide better habitat for fish and
wildlife.

Missouri hopes to work with neighbors to improve Missouri River levees