River Commission to meet Aug. 14 in Cape

The presidentially appointed Mississippi River Commission will hold a public meeting aboard the Motor Vessel Mississippi diesel towboat Aug. 14 at the Cape Girardeau riverfront.

The commission holds two meetings each year in the region as it tours the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District. At the meetings, commission members hear comments on water resources and environmental, recreational and flood control issues from local organizations and members of the public, which in turn the commission uses in decision-making for flood control and navigation projects, according to a news release from the Corps.

The commission consists of Corps officers, a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and three civilians, including two civil engineers.

Mississippi Valley commanding general for the Corps, Maj. Gen. Michael Wehr, is president of the commission. Wehr was reappointed by President Barack Obama to the commission post Wednesday, the Corps announced in a separate news release.

During the upcoming tour, known as the low-water inspection trip, the Cape Girardeau meeting agenda will include the public presentations to the commission; a summary report by Wehr on national and regional issues affecting the Corps and commission programs and projects on the Mississippi River and tributaries; and an overview from Wehr on current project issues in the district, according to the release.

The second stop in the district will be Aug. 17 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Pertinent address:

Water Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.