An official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says a study is needed to consider changes to flood-control measures along the Missouri River south of Sioux City.
A U.S. Senate field hearing took place in North Sioux City yesterday.
The commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division talked after the meeting.
Gen. Peter Helminger says a study could call for actions such as changing the
Missouri River channel in the Sioux City area to letting the river spread out and carry more water.
He says, the Corps needs to increase the volume of water that can be carried safely down the river.
Levees could be also be rebuilt farther from the river to give the waterway more room.
Helmlinger said such a study would take three years and be delivered to Congress, which would decide how the proposals could be implemented.
He adds something needs to be done differently, than simply rebuilding the system as it is now.
The hearing was headed by Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota.
Congressman Steve King is in the Iowa Great Lakes Area today. He’s holding a town hall this hour at the American Legion in Milford. The Associated Press reports King will not be taking questions from reporters during his visit.
New information from the state of Iowa explores a range of issues such as population, income, education and housing.
The new Iowa Profile website funded by the Iowa Finance Authority shows home ownership peaked in the state almost 20-years ago. More than 75% of homes were owned by someone who lived there. In 2018 that number fell to below 69%.
The Iowa Finance Authority reports about 25% of households in the state spend almost a third of their income on housing, including mortgages or rent.