ongress has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a review of the original purposes of the Missouri River established by the 1944 Flood Control Act. In compliance, the corps has engaged an independent facilitator to conduct a series of meetings in several states. The first meeting took place in November in Kansas City, KS.

A meeting on this subject is scheduled in Omaha on Thursday, January 14th at the Benson Library, 2918 N 60th St.. A focus group session begins at 5:30 p.m. with questions being accepted from invited participants representing interests such as utilities, agriculture, navigation, development, recreation, Tribes, state and local government. Other members of the public are encouraged to attend and will be invited to comment following the session. The meeting will give Missouri River interest groups an opportunity to identify what's important to them.

The goal of the study is to determine if changes in the eight purposes: flood control, hydropower, water supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation, water quality and fish and wildlife are warranted.

The Omaha meeting is the fourth of nine planned through February. Formal scoping meetings that will define the size and shape of the study will be conducted later this summer.

A final report documenting findings and making recommendations to Congress is due at the end of 2014. Changes to the management of the Missouri River would only come if Congress changes the guidelines it set 65 years ago.

Additional information on the authorized purposes study is available at www.mraps.org