January 18, 2008
KMBC, Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The state of Missouri is launching a war of words over water with North Dakota.
Gov. Matt Blunt wants state officials to take legal action over a federal plan that would divert water that flows into the Missouri River and use it to create a new water supply for Grand Forks and Fargo, N.D. The water would be carried to the Red River through canals.
Blunt has ordered the state's attorney general to fight the plan any way he can because it could lower the water level in Missouri, even though it is hundreds of miles away.
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And any drop in the river level is of concern to the Kansas City Water Works plant.
"We're very concerned about this diversion because it's just one more impact on the river," said Ron Goold with Kansas City Water Operations. "All of the facilities that take the water out of the river are built upon the assumption of the level."
The river drop will cost Kansas City a lot of money.
"These intakes cost millions and millions of dollars -- not something you can up and move to another one," Goold said.
KMBC's Dan Weinbaum reported that the Missouri River has already been lowered by drought, population growth, irrigation and industry.
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