[RP TownTalk] Flood Control and Levee Conditions

[Lisa Grob]

I understand that sediment is big part of this problem and not as easy to
solve as the trees & roots. The sediment is actually filling up the river –
and it comes from the run off of gunk from businesses, parking lots etc.
What can we do about that? Improve stormwater management?

 

 

   _____  

From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Rob Oppenheim
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 2:28 PM
To: TownTalk
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Flood Control and Levee Conditions

 

The main topic at the recent Flood Control Forum (Thursday, April 5, 2007), 

was the status of the flood control levees along the Anacostia River. 

These levees protect our town from flooding when the Anacostia River 

overflows its banks.

 

The Corp of Engineers inspects our levees each year. Recently

added criteria (due to lessons learned from Katrina) resulted in our 

levees receiving an unsatisfactory rating. The county quickly began 

an aggressive program to fix these issues while assuring us that the 

levees are currently in good shape and pose no imminent danger.

  

The biggest problem is trees growing on or near the levee. If these

trees are blown over, their root ball can tear a hole in the levee. 

 

As a result, the county is cutting down trees whose drip line is within 

15 feet of a levee. They will later remove the stumps and roots of these 

trees and repair the holes left by removing the roots. 

 

County Council members requested a report on how to replace the lost 

trees in nearby areas that pose no risk to the levee.

 

Other areas of concern for our levees include footpaths and erosion,

rutting at the top of the levee, and sediment raising the river floor.

 

I discussed with the county and with the Army Corp representative, 

the footpath that is eroding the side of the levee at Oglethorpe and

Riverside drive. I will follow up with them about this and ask that it 

be repaired. A paved ramp would allow access without damaging

the levee.

 

You can read more about the threat of floods in our town, and see a

FEMA map of our flood areas and read about the importance of flood

insurance in an article I wrote for the October 2005 Town Crier (page 5), at


HYPERLINK
"http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us/rptc/2005/C3408-Oct05-FloodMap.pdf"http:
//www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us/rptc/2005/C3408-Oct05-FloodMap.pdf

 

(Or go to www.rptc.us then click on "2005 Town Crier Archives", then click 

on C3408-Oct05-FloodMap.pdf )

 

Also read the short follow up article in the November 2005 Crier (also on
page 5)

HYPERLINK
"http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us/rptc/2005/C3409-Nov05-Resignations.pdf"h
ttp://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us/rptc/2005/C3409-Nov05-Resignations.pdf

 

Rob Oppenheim

 

Ward One Councilman, Riverdale Park

5902 Cleveland Ave

Riverdale Park, Md 20737-1930

 

Home Office: 301 779 1745

 


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