Revisions being sought for flood maps of Saline Watershed
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Saline County and the entire Saline Watershed will have detailed maps to show flooding and elevations.
A meeting Tuesday between numerous municipalities, agencies and companies with Illinois State Water Survey, Federal Emergency Management Agency, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Management Agency should result in more accurate maps. The maps are Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps that are a part of FEMA's new Risk Mapping Assessment and Planning program that also involves risk assessment tools and outreach support.
The major goal Tuesday was for the various entities to examine flood maps and point out issues, mark them on a map and fill out comment cards.
"We want to find better information on where your flood areas are," Sally McConkey of the ISWS said.
The maps eventually will show contour lines every two feet to better pinpoint base flood elevations -- the high water line of 100 year floods.
McConkey asked for those involved to point out things like inaccurate flood plain boundaries, areas of development, frequently closed roads due to high water, new bridges and culverts or channel realignment due to mining.
The City of Eldorado contingent of Mayor Rocky James, Street and Alley Superintendent J.B. James and Ordinance Officer Billy Bradley were adamant though the maps of the Army Corps of Engineers show sections of the city in the flood plain no part of the city has flooded in 400 years. James said he lives in the lowest part of town and there has never been floodwater near his home.
He said some house sales have been complicated by the maps showing them in flood plains when even in the 2008 flood that significantly submerged portions of Harrisburg and the flood this spring that swamped portions of Saline and Gallatin counties had no effect in Eldorado. James said the notion the city floods hurts possibilities for new business and new homeowners if their loans require them to buy flood insurance.
"If you are going to do a true study, go to the people that have been there 60, 70 or 80 years. They laugh when we talk about flood insurance," James said.
He said the only flooding concern is the city ditch that could be completely cleared at a cost of $30,000 to $40,000 if the city could get temporary Man-Tra-Con workers as Harrisburg has done. James said the ditch clearing is not the city's responsibility, but district in charge of the ditch drainage receives no money to clear it. He said 15 years ago the city cleared it at a cost of $15,000.
Suzanne Vermeer of FEMA Region 5 asked James to acquire any study done on the ditch -- possibly one by Illinois Department of Transportation -- that supports his assertion there has been no flooding.
Saline County Emergency Services Disaster Agency Coordinator Allan Ninness asked IEMA State Mitigation Planner Jared Owen if there is money available to put online a gauge for the Saline River Middle Fork the county has already purchased. Saline County Board Member Joe Jackson said he understands to connect the gauge to the U.S. Geological Survey's Web site and make it available to the public may cost many thousands of dollars per year to operate.
Owen said since the gauge might be considered a flood mitigation expense there may be a funding source and he would investigate the possibility.
Representatives of the City of Harrisburg were marking on maps a plans to raise Missouri Street for emergency access to Harrisburg Medical Center and the creation of an impoundment area that would alter the flood map.
Saline County Engineer Jeff Jones said he commented on the effects of longwall mining in the Harco Road and Netty Green Road area that may have effects on the channel of the drainage ditch in that area.
Another meeting will be set at a future date.
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DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.</li>
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