FLOOD-CONTROL FUNDS LOOM; $29 MILLIOKN PROPOSED FOR REGION

Recent legislation passed in Congress could bring more than $29 million to Southeast Missouri for water and flood-control projects.

Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have approved versions of the Energy and Water Appropriations Act to provide the Corps of Engineers with a general construction budget of $3.97 billion during fiscal year 1999. Upon reconciliation of the two bills, the final version will be sent to President Clinton for his signature.

The bill includes funding for ongoing construction projects aimed at flood control and prevention, navigation and water resource projects throughout the region.

Lester Goodin of Cape Girardeau is a board member of Levee District No. 3, which is responsible for a significant portion of the Commerce-Birds Point levee. He said one of the most critical regional projects included in the legislation is a $1.010 million allocation for a grade raise on portions of the Levee.

This marks the first time funding has been approved to raise and widen the levee, which stretches 35 miles from Commerce in Scott County to the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers south of Charleston in Mississippi County.

Improvements to the mainline levee are important because it is considered one of "the most efficient and threatening sections of the entire levee system in the Mississippi Valley" and protects some 5,300 square miles of Southeast Missouri and eastern Arkansas, he said.

"Many of these people have no idea of the very real threat they live under," he said. "If this levee should break it would be a catastrophe of incredible proportions."

Goodin said if the levee failed, all communication, transportation and commerce in its protected area would be disabled. All east-west communication from Cape Girardeau to south of Memphis would be affected, and all north-south communication on the west bank of the Mississippi River "would cease indefinitely," he said.

"The levee affects people in a profound and serious way," said Goodin. "If that levee broke, about the only thing that would be sticking out of the water in Southeast Missouri would be the Sikeston ridge."

Buck Katt, director of the State Emergency Management Agency, agreed that the Commerce-Birds Point project is an important factor in flood control in the region. "If there's any funding in the Corp budget for that, we definitely support it," he said. "We think that's a very important project, and it ought to be done as soon as it can."

Besides the obvious benefit of strengthening levees to improve flood-control efforts, the region could also benefit economically from funding used to improve Mississippi River harbors in Caruthersville, New Madrid and Scott City.

Bob Anderson of the Corps' Memphis District said harbors that are more navigable improve economic development potential. Increased access to national and international markets means more products can move through a region, which in turn could attract more industry, he said.

"It has a number of positive economic impacts," said Anderson. "The river is becoming a conduit for world trade because it gives better access through local economy to the world markets."

Awaiting funding

Regional projects slated to receive continued funding under the Energy and Water Appropriations measure:

-- Commerce to Birds Point Levee grade raise, $1.010 million.

-- Maintenance to remove channel blockage in St. Francis River, $12.5 million.

-- Continued construction funding for St. Johns Bayou-New Madrid Floodway project, $4.734 million.

-- Continued funding for flood control and recreational projects at Wappapello Lake, $6.883 million.

-- Continued channel improvements and structure relocations along Cape-LaCroix Creek project, $2.2 million

-- Continued funding for flood control and recreational projects at Clearwater Lake, $2.067 million.

-- Continued operations and maintenance funding for harbors in Caruthersville, New Madrid and the Southeast Missouri Port Authority in Scott City, Unspecified amount.