Published: June 28, 2009 12:21 am      

Feds propose buyout of land in flood plain

If successful, plan could cost an estimated $14 million

MOUNT HOPE — Before the next harsh floods wash down through the mountainsides and turn Dunloup Creek into a virtual ocean, a sizable pocket of Fayette County could turn into a string of ghost villages.

And if the federal government’s proposed buyout plan succeeds in this vulnerable flood plain, it could run up a bill estimated at $14 million.

The plan was hammered out between the Natural Resources Conservation Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Dunloup Creek Watershed Association.

“There has been research on doing different things to the channel, such as stabilization or water control dams, but nothing, not one of those practices, will work, they just wouldn’t work in this setting,” says Gary Redden, district conservationist for the NRCS in Beckley.

“The next option was a buyout. Basically, that’s where we’re going to work. It’s completely voluntary. There won’t be any condemnation at all.”

Apparently, the idea has caught on already in the affected areas — Kilsyth, Harvey, Red Star, Glen Jean and parts of Mount Hope.

Redden’s agency has distributed nearly 170 applications and 40 of them have been completed. If all landowners fill them out, the NRCS would be dealing with 290 applications.

“I’m really optimistic about this program,” Redden said.

“It’s kind of a groundbreaking project. It’s the only one of this magnitude in the nation. We’re kind of breaking new ground here.”

The federal agency looked at maps sketched on the 100-year flood plain to see what, if anything, could be done to alleviate the constant deluge of water washing into the homes, but the only viable approach was to see if the region could be abandoned, Redden explained.

“We’re going to solve the flooding issue,” he said.

“The land will be turned back into a flood plain. No other structures will be allowed to be built back on it. It can be used for recreation, but there are to be no permanent structures or buildings.”

Residents began signing up for the buyout June 10 and will have until Sept. 1 to file applications with the NRCS.

“Everything will be done off appraisals,” Redden pointed out.

“Once we get the applications, we do appraisals. Residents have the option of accepting or rejecting the offer. If they don’t like the offer, they can walk away and do nothing. Everything is off the fair market value. If the don’t like the value, they don’t have to sell.”

Redden said the agency has been given $1.146 million through federal funds acquired by Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., but there is no guarantee the rest of the $14 million is forthcoming.

“We’ll go as far as we can,” he said.

The Dunloup Creek Watershed Association enlisted the support of several entities in getting the program on line, including the town of Mount Hope, Fayette County Commission, West Virginia State Conservation Committee and the Southern Conservation District as sponsors.

It was in 1995 that the Dunloup Creek Watershed Association resurfaced in response to constant flooding in the affected communities.

“As we have already seen in other parts of West Virginia this past month, flooding can cause terrible damage to homes and property and disrupt many people’s lives,” Byrd said recently.

“The families living along Dunloup Creek know only too well the devastation flooding can cause. So I encourage all those who live in the affected areas to begin applying for federal funding as it becomes available.”

Interested landowners may apply at the Beckley Service Center, 465 Ragland Road, or call the NRCS for additional information at 304-255-9225, extension 136.

“Our main focus is just to get them out of the flood plain,” Redden added.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com