Midwest states seek to fix Missouri River flood bottlenecks

(AP) – Several Midwestern states are joining together to try to identify bottlenecks along the Missouri River that can cause waters to back up and worsen flooding in certain areas.

Dru Buntin, the deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, says the state is joining with Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska to submit a study proposal Tuesday to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The proposal comes after two rounds of devastating flooding this year caused billions of dollars of damage in Midwestern states.

A Corps commander cautioned Missouri officials during a meeting Tuesday that relieving pinch points at one spot in the river might result in new problems elsewhere.

The states also are hoping for long-term changes in the way the Corps manages dams in the Missouri River basin.