OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the City of Missouri Valley, will hold a public meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at the Rand Community Center, 100 S. 4th Street, Missouri Valley, Iowa. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input on the recently initiated Willow Creek/Boyer River feasibility study.
The public meeting will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. with a brief formal presentation at 5:30 p.m. describing the study followed by an open house. “During the open house, the cooperating agencies will provide the public with a study overview and then gather their input on flooding problems along Willow Creek and Boyer River,” said Gwyn Jarrett, project manager with the Corps of Engineers. “The Corps and the City will also discuss and seek public input on environmental considerations and available structural and nonstructural flood risk management measures that may be considered during the progress of the study.”
Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, public input is an essential part of the study process in that the public is given the opportunity to learn why the study is important, what will be done during the study process, provide specific concerns, and learn about the possible benefits. Input may be submitted at the public meeting, emailed to cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil or mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PM-AC; ATTN: Rebecca Bozarth; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901.
BACKGROUND: Levees along the study reach of Willow Creek and Boyer River are non-engineered spoil banks that have been evaluated by the Corps but not certified and only provide a 10-year level of flood risk reduction. In recent high flow events along Willow Creek and Boyer River, the spoil bank levees have failed and caused widespread flooding in the study area. The feasibility study will identify the potential for developing cost-effective flood risk management solutions along the study reach.
Release no. 20150826-001