Apparently the Four Horseman could be riding in on the Big Sioux Creek, but don’t expect them to be on bikes.
Sam Trebilcock, a city transportation planner, said the trail will close from 49th Street to the dam just north of where the river and creek meet northeast of 26th Street for a city flood control project to raise the levees by 5 feet and build a dam.
“You know very well what happens in the news if we don’t do that,” Trebilcock said. “Grand Forks happens. What happened in huge catastrophic (quantities) in New Orleans happens if you don’t have a good levee system.”
First off, Sammy, Sioux Falls isn’t a soup bowl sitting below sea level. In fact you and I both know the real reason why the levees are getting built; an overly paranoid FEMA after Katrina started running around the country like a chicken with their heads cut off. Secondly, several studies have shown Sioux Falls is experiencing a moderate drought, and everyone knows we have low water tables here. I find it ironic that the same city that is begging the Feds for money to build the Lewis and Clark water pipeline (That we have borrowed millions to build, well because, we don’t have much water in Sioux Falls) would be going to the same Feds to ask for money for our levees.
Does Sioux Falls have the potential to flood? Sure, and precautions should be taken, but don’t act like it is the end of the world and cut the crap.
How about we just build/dig a reservoir North of town and call it Falls Lake. It could store enough water to be used during droughts and as an added bonus they could sell land around it for “lakeside homes”.
By controlling the amount of water let out of the lake, they could control the height of the river throughout town. Sort of like a natural catch basin and retention pond, but on a much larger scale.
That would rock – it works for Mitchell.
As long as we could build a totally nude strip club by it! Vavoom!
Funny you bring up Lake Mitchell, my mom used to work for the guy who was mayor of Mitchell when they dug the lake, Charlie, he told my mom once, he got first dibs on lots and only bought three becuase he didn’t want to seem ‘greedy’ He made a mint when he sold them.
I think the idea is great, you could tie it in with my Sioux Falls central park idea I came up with. I am all for building a road thru 26th street but make the golf courses into a gigantic state park with hiking trails, campsites, and now a lake.
I know, the idea is almost too good to be true. I would think now would be the best time to pursue it with all of Obama’s projects.
It would make more sense and be less expensive to just move out of the floodplain. There is no reason to socialize the costs of foolish homeowners who chose to live in any floodplain – yes, this includes floodplain homeowners in Sioux Falls, Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, etc. Floodplain homeowners should receive the bill and be the exclusive payers of the costs of their flood prevention, mitigation, rescue, etc.
“Life is tough; but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.” -John Wayne
I couldn’t agree more. It’s like all the people in Galveston complaining about Hurricanes . . .HELLO!!!
Or people in New Orleans complaining about flooding after choosing to live below sea level next to… *wait for it*… the SEA.
Friggin morons.
Hate to sound cold – but if people are too stupid to have flood insurance and/or build their homes on piers so they aren’t flooded out when (not if) the levees are breached… well I’m not giving them much sympathy.
Or at least finding a way to GTFO when the Weather Service tells you a hurricane is coming.
I sent for ARK plans. What’s a cubit? Before the flood, can I float it in the Cliff & 10th city employees swimming pool? No, years and maze to get a permit. Send fifth graders, two by two is to much math for 10 assistant city finance directors. Had olive branches but council smoked them. I got doves (the only soap that floats).
“Had olive branches but council smoked them.”
Did they know what side to light?
I sent for ARK plans. What’s a cubit?
Somebody’s been listening to my favorite Bill Cosby bit.
While smoking Olive Branches and eating Jello Pudding pops (and working on their Picture Pages) Hey, Hey, Hey!