From Deseret News archives:
Flood-control work is in limbo awaiting funds
"We still have a great potential for flooding with such a high snowpack in the mountains," said Washington County Commissioner Jim Eardley. "We're most concerned about the Virgin River. We keep getting more snow in the mountains up there."
January's floods caused more than $180 million in damage to private and public property. Most of the 34 homes destroyed or structurally compromised were in the Green Valley area of St. George along the Santa Clara River. Much of the federal funds received to date were used to build rock berms and riprap riverbanks in the newly widened channel of that river.
A request by Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, for an additional $66 million to help stabilize riverbanks and protect watersheds in southern Utah will provide critical funds, said Eardley.
The House is expected to vote on the issue this week. The Senate will vote on the emergency funding request next week and then send it to President Bush for his signature.
Ron Whitehead, the county's public works director, said more money is needed before work can even be started on several mitigating projects along the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers.
Santa Clara's main sewer line was destroyed during January's floods, and the city is just now able to begin laying new pipelines. For the past few months, Santa Clara has been pumping its sewage out of several main manholes and transporting it to a wastewater treatment plant.
A main irrigation line maintained by the Washington County Water Conservancy District was also destroyed during January's floods. In order to provide water this summer to irrigation users, that pipeline also must be replaced as quickly as possible.
Comments
- BYU prof chosen for state board 6:55 p.m.
- Developer looking to buy RSL share 6:36 p.m.
- FLDS man sentenced to 10 years 6:20 p.m.
- Charter helps kids discover talents 6:17 p.m.
- Herbert talks land issues in D.C. 6:15 p.m.
- Good Samaritans help make arrest 6:05 p.m.
- Get a little culture: Probiotics 5:45 p.m.
- What exactly are probiotics? 5:45 p.m.
- Emeril's success? 'Great people' 5:45 p.m.
- Limeade Pie is a quick, easy dessert 5:42 p.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utes get extra motivation
- Senators want food tax restored
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- U. hopes to keep clicking
- House passes health care bill
259 - TCU showdown has big implications
187 - Lobo suspended
184 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
146 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
104 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
95
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
That's not true - and if you'd called them you'd know that. The health...
Point 1 - wrong - there are anti-discrimination laws that prevent people from...
Here's a name for you... Kevin Durant. By seasons end he'll definitly be a...
Why are these mormons more important than other people since they are...
HA HA Thats a joke right? Sorry to say but i dont even know how he made it to...
Let's first get a new coach, but since Mr. Miller loves him so much Jerry...
oh yay we have another JD Books...
Must be an uneducated Ute fan!
There were no FLDS people on the jury.
wow all of these comments sound like the south sevier team before they played...



You can be the first to comment on this story.