We were updated at the end of August about the Army Corps studies to remedy our flooding situation:
• Squeaky wheels oiled? Magically those pesky induced flood areas are no longer in danger, outside the city, anyway. The Corps reminded us federal dollars may not be available to finance this project. Read: more taxes. Executive Order 13690. Google it.
• Blame game: Farmers fertilize the soil to encourage greater crop yield. We urban dwellers treat our grass with chemicals for greener lawns. Farm fields are tiled as are newer city homes with basements. Chemicals undoubtedly travel to waterways by much the same route.
• Dredging: The EPA forbids dredging our river, though it would be the simplest, least expensive and most effective action in the minds of many.
• Endangered species: Mussels can be moved. Indiana bats can move themselves. We’re the endangered species.
The July 6 issue of The New American magazine looked at the Army Corps’ handling of New Orleans. Hurricane Betsy inundated the city in 1965 because of inadequate levees previously built by the Corps. They had 40 years to fortify the city when Katrina hit in 2005. The author cites why their plan was flawed from the start and resulted in 80 percent of the city under water and the loss of 4,081 lives.
Are these the agencies we want to solve our problem? Levees along the river here and in Ottawa can be aesthetically pleasing and protect us if only we look at other cities who have been flood-free for nearly 100 years.
Maintenance is key — something we tend to ignore. Believe it.
— Sondra Bixby, Findlay
