Flood-prevention forum draws all kinds of ideas

Panelists at a forum Wednesday said the Hannibal region must be more aggressive in reducing the risk of floods.
That means securing more government money, avoiding economic barriers, improving environmental conditions and raising public awareness.
The forum was held at Quincy, Ill., University and focused upon reducing the flood risk and its impact on the economy and livelihoods.
All agreed flood protection should be a top priority, but didn’t reach a consensus on how to do it.
“If history has taught us anything, it’s shown us that another flood will happen sooner rather than later,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.
“We have to look at this as a national issue,” said Chuck Scholz, panel moderator and former Quincy mayor. “It certainly has national implications.”
Quincy University biology professor Dr. Al Pogge raised eyebrows when he suggested doing away with levees and letting the Mississippi River do what it’s done historically and inundate the floodplain when it rises.
“With our levee system, we’ve taken the floodplain away from our rivers and streams,” Pogge said. “My feeling is we can eliminate these (disaster) costs by taking out all the levees.”
Mike Klingner of the Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association said such a notion is impractical and that removing levees would have an “insignificant” impact on reducing damage during a major flood.
Klingner’s group supports a plan to raise most levees and take other steps to prevent floods.
“Any plan may not be perfect, but we can always refine it,” Klingner said.
Quincy University professor Dr. George Schneider and retired professor Father John Ostdiek said higher levees aren’t the answer. They urged greater attention to silting in the river.
“We have this problem and I don’t know how you’re going to get out of it,” Schneider said. “You can build the levees higher, but eventually you’re going to have a problem.”
Quincy Mayor John Spring and Jim Mentesti of the Great River Economic Development Foundation said levee improvements since the flood of 1993 have led to increased regional development, and that a failure to continue the effort would hurt the economy.
Spring said better flood protection is vital to a $200 million plan to build hydroelectric plants at Lock and Dam 20 in Canton, 21 in Quincy and 22 at Saverton.
“A flood isn’t good for hydroelectric production,” Spring said. “We have to be prepared.”
Roger Sutter, president of the Fabius River Drainage District that protects West Quincy and part of Marion County, said the forum helped renew the focus on flood prevention.
“Somehow, you have to accomplish something,” Sutter said. “We hope to move forward. We’d like for it to happen quickly.”
Durbin promised to continue his support of funding for the Water Resource Development Act, which authorized flood-control, navigation and environmental projects.
Klingner agreed with Sutter that prompt action is needed, but doesn’t expect it.
“These things don’t move too quickly, but you have to look with a large vision,” Klingner said.
Father Ostdiek urged the formation of what he called an “Upper Mississippi Institute” to hammer out the issues, and the sooner the better.
“You can’t predict (flooding), but all the flags are waving,” Ostdiek said. “There are more on the way.”