[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 168 (Thursday, November 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LITTLE RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 1, 2007

  Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Little River 
Drainage District on its 100th anniversary. This district oversees and 
maintains critical drainage facilities which keep low-lying Southeast 
Missouri free from flooding and swamp-like conditions. It is the 
largest drainage district in the United States, covering 540,000 acres, 
which protects 1.2 million acres from unwanted water. This complicated 
system of drainage outlets, levees, and water detention basins is 
crucial to the safety and livability of communities along the 
Mississippi River, the St. Francois River and their tributaries.
  Before this land was cleared and construction commenced, less than 10 
percent of Missouri's Bootheel was clear of water. Today, 96 percent of 
the land is free from water year-round. This enormous change has 
enabled Southeast Missouri to grow and to expand. Agricultural and 
industrial businesses that predominate the region's economy are 
possible today because of the work of the Little River Drainage 
District over the past 100 years. Even more important, the Little River 
Drainage District is committed to the future protection of this 
beautiful region of the country and the people who live there.
  If not for the Little River Drainage District, children would go to 
school on tractor trailers, homes would fill with water after every 
heavy rain, and a surge in the Mississippi River would be a devastating 
event to whole communities. Without the men and women who work through 
the Little River Drainage District to advocate and maintain flood 
protection measures, life in Southeast Missouri would be very 
different.
  The individuals of the Little River Drainage District are responsible 
for keeping the ground dry beneath countless businesses, farms, 
factories and families. They do an outstanding job as advocates for 
every citizen of Southeast Missouri. I commend them for their work and 
congratulate them on 100 years of service to our district, State and 
Nation.

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