A $25 million study to reevaluate how the Missouri River is managed will begin with a pair of meeting in early October.

The meetings are scheduled for Fort Pierre, S.D., Oct 1 and Kansas City, Kan., Oct 8.

The study is the result of legislation passed at the urging of Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

The study calls for the Corps of Engineers to review the original purposes of the 1944 Flood Control Act that has dictated how the river has been managed for more than six decades.

The eight authorized purposes are flood control, hydropower, water supply, irrigation, navigation, recreation, water quality and fish and wildlife.

In the past, Dorgan has said contemporary uses of the river have changed dramatically and recreation now plays a more important economic role than does downstream navigation.

Don Canton of Gov. John Hoeven's office said the governor has been pressing the corps to review management of the river for years.

He said he expects there will be other meetings scheduled in the basin states in the future.

Canton said the initial meetings will outline how the study will be performed, what will be included and which stakeholders will be included.

"This is a vitally important issue for North Dakota," Canton said.

He said the meetings are the first step in describing the study and how it will be conducted.

Todd Sando of the State Water Commission said staff members from his department will attend the Fort Pierre meeting.

He said it's vital that those involved in Missouri River issues become involved with the study.

"There is a lot at stake," Sando said.

"We could lose ground, or we could gain ground."

Dorgan said he expects the initial meetings to describe how the study will be conducted and that other meetings will be scheduled up and down the river.

"The Missouri River and the two reservoirs represent 94 percent of the surface water in North Dakota," Dorgan said.

"I'm pleased the meetings are starting." He said it's been a long process, "But it's an important process."

Dorgan noted a lot has changed along the river since 1944 when the flood control act was adopted.

The goal for this study, he said, should be to determine the how best to manage the river for everyone involved.

(Reach reporter Brian Gehring 250-8254 or brian.gehring@bismarcktribune.com.)