By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A lot is at stake as the Missouri River continues to rise at St. Joseph.

The river is expected to crest today at just over 29 feet, approaching the crest at the height of the 2011 flood. The highest crest was reached earlier this year in March, just over 32 feet, slightly higher than the previous crest reached during the 1993 flood.

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville, who recently toured the levees protecting St. Joseph with Gov. Mike Parson, says those levees are protecting valuable assets.

“I think the levees are protecting about $2 billion worth of assets,” Luetkemeyer tells St. Joseph Post. “It really goes to show you how important flood control is for the river and one of the things I’ve been very vocal on, both myself and Sen. (Dan) Hegeman, is that the Army Corps of Engineers needs to reprioritize its Master Plan for the river, to make sure that flood control is the number one priority.”

Luetkemeyer says the widespread flooding this year and the devastation it is leaving in its wake, should help the Corps listen perhaps more than it has in the past.

“To me, it’s common sense. Sometimes common sense doesn’t get through in Washington, D.C.,” Luetkemeyer says. “But, I think if enough people speak loud enough with enough voices in unison I’m hopeful that we’re going to get some movement.”

Both in March and in 1993, the Missouri River rose above 32 feet at St. Joseph.

Click here for the National Weather Service website on the Missouri River level at St. Joseph.