Environmental organization explores flood solutions

Flooding along Highway 94 near Mokane is shown in July.
Flooding along Highway 94 near Mokane is shown in July.

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment is in favor of a study along the Missouri River according to Maisah Khan, MCE's water policy director.

But, it shouldn't just focus on flood control, Khan said.

Khan spoke at the Thursday evening meeting of the Concerned Citizens of Callaway County at the Callaway County Public Library. Created in 2017, the group focuses on environmental activism in Callaway County.

Group leader Margot McMillin wanted to know what they could learn and do about the flooding along the Missouri River and the impact it's had in the county and the rest of Missouri.

"(Maisah) is brilliant, so knowledgeable and great with explaining information," McMillen said after the discussion.

The MCE is an independent citizens' environmental organization for clean water, clean air, clean energy and a healthy environment. Khan's role in the organization involves defending the clean water act and working to reduce flooding.

Khan explained what the MCE pushes for in regards to rivers and how the environment ties into the Missouri River and its tributaries. She said due to climate change and development along the Missouri River, there needs to be a change in how flooding is managed.

"Flood control usually focuses on making levees higher and repairing levees, and I think there's a lot more we can do outside of continuing to rebuild that infrastructure," Khan said.

She cited various examples of solutions being explored along the Mississippi River by organizations such as the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association, which regularly meets with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to devise new systems and strategies.

"The runoff into the Missouri River basin has been record high, and we can't continue to keep doing the same things we've been doing," Khan said.

One potential solution: turning some areas along the Missouri River into wetlands. Khan cited benefits, such as the new ecosystem it would create while providing storage space for excess river water.

According to Khan, the MCE takes issue with legislation in Missouri it sees as prioritizing people and property at the expense of fish and wildlife. The MCE recently sent a letter on behalf of 14 organizations to U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt to oppose a bill presented by Missouri Rep. Sam Graves. The bill proposes removing fish and wildlife as the primary purpose of the Missouri River to prioritize flood control. Under Missouri law, fish and wildlife have taken priority over industry.

"We've created a recipe for disaster considering climate change impacts, considering the increase in impervious surfaces, considering the intense management of the river and also by creating this managed river system we've created a lot of development in floodplains with high-risk properties behind the levees," Khan said