The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Wyoming Report

November 12, 2009

Flood control study funded

U.S. Army Corps to work projects

By Mary Catherine Brooks

A feasibility study to assess flood control options on the upper Guyandotte River was recently approved by the U.S. Senate.

The $269,000 will come from the 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, which provides approximately $111 million in funding for several flood control and prevention projects and studies in West Virginia.

“The flood of July 2001 resulted in two deaths and millions of dollars in flood damage,” according to U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.

“A flood control project could potentially reduce loss of life and millions of dollars worth of property damage.”

Most of the $111 million in federal funding for the projects will be directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Huntington, Byrd said.

“The funding for these flood control and prevention projects will reap dividends countless times over in saving lives, reducing property damages, and keeping communities intact,” Byrd said.

“To paraphrase Ben Franklin, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth pounds of protection.’

“I am particularly pleased that this final bill included almost $82 million for the Bluestone Dam Safety project in Hinton, which will help to address the critically-needed stabilization of this half century old structure.”

Also included in the $111 million funding is $2.75 million for the McDowell County Tug Fork Flood Control Project, to continue work associated with the flood proofing or relocation of residential or commercial structures in McDowell County which are located within the 100-year floodplain or were impacted by the devastating floods of 1977, 2001, and 2002.

Additionally, $1.5 million for a statewide flood warning system, to continue the installation of stream gauges and the upgrading of existing gauges throughout the state, is included in the bill.

The gauges make up an integrated statewide flood warning system that would provide real-time rainfall and stream flow data transmitted by satellite directly to the National Weather Service and the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services.

The project will reduce loss of life and property damages throughout the entire state of West Virginia by providing more time for evacuations and protection of moveable property.

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