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Arlington spending $1M to reduce flooding
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The Arlington County board has approved new culverts to protect homes from the Little Pimmit stream, which has had flooding problems in recent years.
Arlington (Map, News) - A score of homes near a small stream in northwestern Arlington should be better protected against flooding after the county board authorized spending just more than $1 million on a new culvert.
The Arlington county board on Tuesday voted to spend the funds to increase the size of the culvert, or pipe, that directs the stream under Old Dominion Drive between N. George Mason Drive and N. Dickerson St.
During the June 2006 flooding, many of the homes surrounding the stream flooded, some with as much as 4 feet of water, said Michael Collins, chief of engineering for Arlington’s environmental services department.
The culvert that directs Little Pimmit Run stream under Old Dominion Drive was too narrow to handle the amount of rain that fell last June. Instead of directing the water down stream, the pipe acted as a dam, Collins said. A pond as much as 15 feet deep formed, causing the flooding.
Building the larger culvert should reduce the depth of any pond formed by as much as seven feet, Collins said. The current culvert is about 8 feet across, Collins said, while the new arched culvert will be 16 feet wide and 9 feet high.
This will protect 12 of the 29 affected homes from a flood of such magnitude it should only occur once per century, according to county documents. An additional 11 homes should be better protected.
Collins said it isn't possible to protect all the homes by building a bigger culvert. This would likely cause more backups downstream, he said.
“This development occurred in a way not permitted with today’s knowledge of watersheds,” Collins said.
The homes Little Pimmit has flooded over the past 40 years were built in the 1950s and ‘60s, before developers and planners were aware of watershed and runoff issues. Parks surround most of the county’s streams, so the flooding doesn't go into Arlingtonians' homes, Collins said. Sagres Construction should begin work on the new culvert in late May.
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:52 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 8, 2007 re: "Flooded Midwest, Plains Try Recover"
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5:34 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007
re: "Oil Plus Floods Turn Kansas Town Slimy"
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6:23 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 2, 2007
re: "Flooding Forces Kansas Town's Evacuation"
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11:33 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 2, 2007
re: "Hundreds Evacuate As Plains Rivers Bulge"
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10:47 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 2, 2007
re: "Hundreds Evacuate As Plains Rivers Bulge"
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Examiner Reader said:
Is there anywhere that I can search for information concerning two Rushford, MN relatives (Lyle & Gladys Meyers) who have not been heard from since the town was evacuated during the flooding? Appreciate your help. Denny Engle d-n-d-2@peoplepc.com
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Examiner Reader said:
is there anyone who is looking to locate to maine for a safe environment - l have a large home on the river and am looking for someone who is family oriented with children to share this magnificant home with me. please respond if yo are interested
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Examiner Reader said:
There aren't any ariel photos of the flooded towns in southeast Kansas. Photos would give everyone a better idea of how massive the flooding is.
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Mike H. said:
You have my sympathies Pearlie Mae Cain. I hope that your brother and sister are alright.
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Pearlie Mae Cain said:
I Pearlie Was Bron and rised in Coffeyville ; And it saded me Because it is one Town you could be happy it was a historyical ; And ever Four year's we would have Home coming I will miss going home God Bless every one there ; I have not heard from my Brother are sister ; Herman scott 409 east 4th street And Lydia that live in th third street apartments Love you
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