Levee director makes the rounds in West Memphis

Levee director makes the rounds in West Memphis

Rash offers updates since historic 2011 high water

news@theeveningtimes.com

St. Francis Levee Board District CEO and Chief Engineer, Rob Rash, made the rounds in West Memphis city government meetings last week. After giving the Advertising and Promotions Commission a thumbs up for some welcome signs on the levee, Rash recapped 2011 flood events and pointed to improvement projects to the group. The next day city council heard a full presentations complete with maps and a hard back book documenting the flood.

“The last time I was here, it was actually during the 2011 flood,” said Rash.

“Since then a lot has transpired and I want to fill you in on what is going on.”

“The flood crested at 48.03 feet by volume it was a record flood,” said Rash.

“The previous record was in 1937 it had 2.02 million cubic feet per second. In 2011 we had 200,000 more cubic feet per second that came by our house, a huge flood.”

Rash indicated that the New Madrid flood way was opened by explosives and took 20 percent off the flood’s crest.

“It made a three and a half foot differential to us,” said Rash.

With levees in place the river has formed deeper channels over time. The proof is in the math.

“The 1937 flood came through at 48.7 feet, seven tenths of a foot higher than in 2011, yet the volume was 200,00 cubic feet greater,” said Rash.

The council heard about improvements the levee district made since then.

The Gammon area showed seepage during the last flood.

“Historically it is a seepage are during flooded times,” said Rash. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the St. Francis Levee District have built numerous land berms to insure safety in that area.

Since 2011 we now have added 49 relief wells, similar to a rice well with a fine encasement that filters out sediment but allows water in during flooded times to flow. It relieves pressure and also strengthens the levee system.”

Flood insurance concerns mounted after hurricane Katrina.

“We were successful with friends in the Congress to make certain we weren’t required to buy mandatory flood insurance,” said Rash. “Because of levees are certified under current FEMA standards every year.

After the flood the St.

Francis District took over another 176 miles of levee in three counties to preempt flood insurance requirements in the county.

“We took on some levees that had not met inspec- tions and also took on damage during the flood,” said Rash. “We’ve been maintaining them for five years.

We took it on for one very important reason. If those levees don’t meet standards then all our homes here in Crittenden County would be subject to mandatory flood insurance.”

“The St. Francis Levee District is still working quite hard to make sure we are protected and to certain our levees are certified under the standards,” concluded

Rash.

By John Rech