Potential Flood Buyout Program

[Uffda]

Due to a high water table resulting from the Missouri River flooding, the City has received a number of requests from property owners to render assistance or purchase their property. While the City does not budget for this type of expenditure, we have recently been made aware of some state and federal funding sources for which certain properties may be eligible. https://www.councilbluffs-ia.gov/CivicA ... r0d6qpR4kk

[GrandpaaSmucker]

Is this not a form of admission by the government that control of the Missouri River as we once knew it is lost?

[bigredmed1]

Is this not a form of admission by the government that control of the Missouri River as we once knew it is lost?

Probably. The Mo was formed by flooding. The river valley in any area has moved miles at a time to the east and west. DeSoto bend was not a thing when the Bertrand sunk (the river was straight there). The first 3-4 blocks Omaha were plotted out, and then a flood came and maps were drawn showing the river flowing through them.

The land in CB is maybe 4 feet above the waterline if it’s not flooding, with the added mass of water, the ground water level gets near the surface. This causes the water to ooze up from the ground like giant sheets of springs. Cheaper to bulldoze the area and move the people once than to keep bailing them out.

[Taco]

This is a really interesting idea, though I am skeptical of the federal funds coming through. However if they were to and assuming the flood risk will continue - what happens to people that do not want to move? Do they end up the only house standing on their block like in Detroit or does the city eventually try to eminent domain them? And what would happen to the land once cleared?

[bigredmed1]

This is a really interesting idea, though I am skeptical of the federal funds coming through. However if they were to and assuming the flood risk will continue - what happens to people that do not want to move? Do they end up the only house standing on their block like in Detroit or does the city eventually try to eminent domain them? And what would happen to the land once cleared?

1. Its now move or lose your ability to get help in the future. If you stay, its on you.
2. I would imagine they could turn that land into a park or nature preserve like NP Dodge was back in the day.

[Brad]

2. I would imagine they could turn that land into a park or nature preserve like NP Dodge was back in the day.

They told people in Pacific Junction/Mills County it would become green space.

[bigredmed1]

Green space alternating with muddy brown space. When I was a kid Dodge Park was a tiny “marina” and a police shooting range. You could see the swamp from the river most years from the road. Apparently, this was what it looked like for many years. The thing about that was that places like that could take a flood with little or no expensive repairs.

[Taco]

The midwest in general has a severe lack of public lands. Even if it is just marsh/flooded most years it will be nice to have as a resource in the area.

[Omahacritic]

In the long run, water will always win.

I’m not a birder, but I suspect allowing the river to reclaim these lands will be good for the migratory flyway. But someone will complain about that.

[Busguy2010]

It will be a bit odd to have the brand spanking new Playland Park development neighbored by a swamp, no?

But I'm all for this. Let the river have its land back. To be honest, I'm surprised the entire flatland area of C.B. has been able to exist.

[hav4]

I do wonder if this land would be bought up and raised as part of Rivers Edge expansion.

[Coyote]

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[Cermak]

I was at one of these homes in this area for work back in the summer of 2011 and the flat back yard had standing water in it probably an inch deep covering most of the yard. Not a good situation. I remember seeing this thinking wow what a mess. This particular house backed up to the levee.