The US Army Corps of Engineers has a tough reputation to overcome. Although it has spent more than a century undertaking some of the largest public works and flood control projects in the nation, our ideas of what appropriate projects are have changed over the years. This is especially true in the Everglades, where the Corps once filled in (or “reclaimed”) swamps to create farmland, and is now undoing much of that work, at great expense, and trying to restore the region’s natural hydrology.
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal takes a look at the “then and now” practices of the Corps, specifically with regard to Los Angeles’s waterways. Eighty years ago, the Corps lined much of the Los Angeles River in concrete to create a storm drain and reduce flooding—not an unusual practice for the era. It destroyed a great deal of habitat in the process. Now, it is helping to restore parts of the river and reclaim its reputation in the process. Not only environmental groups but also developers have a stake in the outcome, hoping that a more attractive, less industrial-looking, and less trash-strewn river—one with adjacent green space and bike paths—will encourage more investment and private development.
Still, there have been glitches. Last month, the Corps cleared 40 acres of vegetation near the river, prompting protests from a local environmental group and references to “the old Corps, the Corps that overruns everytyhing.” (In response, the Corps says the cleared vegetation consisted of mostly nonnative species, which were removed, after an appropriate public comment period, so that native habitat could be restored.)
Are there projects in your area—originally done by the Corps of Engineers or some other organization—that are being reconsidered and redone?
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Foundation Flood Vent Technology—Weathering the Storm and Improving Building Sustainability, Durability, and Performance
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President, GHH Engineering Inc.
Wed., Jan. 23th @ 2 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. PST
Protect your buildings and homes from flood damage! Join Gary H. Hall, PE to explore the importance and key installation elements of foundation flood vents complying with the Building Codes and FEMA Regulations, and how they can effectively prevent major damage to buildings due to flooding improving building sustainability, durability, and performance long-term.
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Voodoo Hydrology—Pitfalls of Urban Hydrology Methods & What You Need to Know
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