Missouri River Association of States and Tribes

Missouri River Association of States and Tribes
Name	Missouri River Association of States and Tribes
Formation	1988
Type	Interstate compact / tribal association
Headquarters	Bismarck, North Dakota
Region served	Missouri River Basin
Membership	States and Tribal Nations
Leader title	Executive Director

Missouri River Association of States and Tribes is an intergovernmental coalition that coordinates Basin-wide positions on river management, water resources, flood control, and tribal interests among riparian states and tribal nations. The Association convenes representatives from multiple United States Department of the Interior bureaus, federal agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, and regional entities including the Missouri River Basin Association and the Upper Missouri River Basin Commission. It serves as a forum linking state executives, tribal leaders, and federal officials to address issues stemming from multi-jurisdictional projects such as the Garrison Dam and policies like the Flood Control Act of 1944.

History

The Association was organized in the late 20th century amid disputes over reservoir operations tied to projects like Fort Peck Dam, Garrison Dam and Gavins Point Dam, and in response to litigation including cases before the United States Supreme Court and proceedings involving the Environmental Protection Agency. Early meetings included representatives from North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri alongside sovereign Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Tribal Nations. Its development intersected with national initiatives such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the implementation of the Endangered Species Act where disputes over species like the Pallid sturgeon and issues like salinity influenced policy. Over subsequent decades the Association engaged with interstate compacts like the Missouri River Basin Compact and participated in negotiations involving the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and regional planning by the Midwest Governors Association.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises appointed representatives from Basin states and federally recognized Tribal Nations that abut the Missouri River and its tributaries, including delegations from Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri plus Tribal Nations such as the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Santee Sioux Nation, and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Governance follows bylaws modeled after interstate compacts and incorporates procedures found in instruments like the Compact Clause-related agreements; leadership rotates among state and tribal chairs with an executive committee and standing technical committees that echo structures in the Western Governors' Association and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. Meetings often include liaison representation from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to integrate federal regulatory perspectives.

Mission and Objectives

The Association's mission emphasizes coordinated stewardship of the Missouri River Basin to promote sustainable water operations, cultural preservation for Tribal Nations, and balanced economic outcomes for riparian states. Objectives include safeguarding tribal water rights recognized under precedents such as the Winters Doctrine and adjudications like the Fort Belknap Compact, advancing flood risk reduction consistent with the National Flood Insurance Program, and supporting habitat restoration for species listed under the Endangered Species Act such as the Pallid sturgeon and migratory birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Association advocates for integration of scientific assessments from institutions like the United States Geological Survey, National Academy of Sciences, and university research centers such as Colorado State University and University of Missouri.

Programs and Activities

Programs include technical working groups on reservoir operations tied to projects like Fort Randall Dam and Oahe Dam, cultural resources coordination with Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and entities such as the National Register of Historic Places, and collaborative modeling efforts using hydrologic data from the USGS National Water Information System. Activities extend to convening policy summits with stakeholders from the American Water Works Association, agricultural interests represented by the American Farm Bureau Federation, and conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy and Trout Unlimited. The Association sponsors training on sovereign consultation protocols influenced by Executive Order 13175 and supports cross-jurisdictional emergency response planning with partners such as the National Weather Service and FEMA Region VIII.

Policy Influence and Partnerships

The Association submits coordinated comments on federal rulemakings from agencies like the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, provides testimony to congressional committees including the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Natural Resources, and negotiates memoranda of understanding with interstate entities such as the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee and the Missouri River Recovery Program. It partners with academic consortia like the Big Sky Institute and policy organizations such as the Brookings Institution for analysis, and interfaces with international frameworks when basin issues implicate treaties like the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 for cross-border water diplomacy. The Association’s advocacy has influenced federal appropriations processes administered through the United States Congress and program guidance for the Corps of Engineers.

Funding and Administration

Funding is a blend of state appropriations from member states, Tribal contributions, grants from federal agencies including discretionary funding streams at the Department of the Interior and project grants from the Economic Development Administration, and cooperative agreements with foundations like the Kresge Foundation. Administrative operations are headquartered near regional federal offices and staffed by program managers, technical analysts, and legal counsel who coordinate procurement and compliance with statutes such as the Administrative Procedure Act and labor standards congruent with the Department of Labor. Financial oversight includes audited budgets presented at annual meetings and cooperative funding mechanisms comparable to those used by the Missouri River Basin Association.

Category:Missouri River Basin Category:Interstate organizations of the United States Category:Native American tribal organizations