The City of Valdosta initiated planning discussions recently that
brought together representatives from key local, state and federal
agencies to seek solutions to a regional flood issue.
The 50-year flood event that occurred in late
February,
early
March
2013 was a vivid reminder of the 2009 flood event that significantly
impacted south Georgia. Since 2009, the city has worked to help
identify potential causes and the scope and area of the regional
flooding that occurred. This information has been shared with
various state and federal officials and agencies in the hopes of
gaining their interest and support to work together to address the
regional flooding. Since Valdosta is located
at the bottom of a
1,500 square mile drainage basin, the flooding is an issue that
cannot be solved locally, but must be addressed by multiple
agencies, jurisdictions and stakeholders. As a result, city
officials are proactively seeking discussions with representatives
of other impacted communities along the Withlacoochee River and
Little River, as well as those across the state who may provide the
necessary resources to address a solution.
“While the city’s efforts have raised awareness, these
reoccurring events demonstrate the need for an appropriate agency to
take the lead in conducting a comprehensive study of the drainage
basin that literally extends to the Gulf of Mexico,” said City
Manager Larry Hanson. “Once developed, this study will
identify causes, alternative analysis, and the roles of federal,
state and local governments and agencies to implement solutions to
the regional flooding.”
In
a letter dated March 11, the City of Valdosta requested a meeting
with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to discuss flood risk
management problems and opportunities in the Suwannee-Satilla
basins, which impacts multiple cities and counties. Within days, the
USACE agreed to an April 11 meeting at Valdosta City Hall with the
Georgia Silver Jackets Program—a state-led interagency team
with the mission of reducing flood risks. Also attending the meeting
were
representatives invited from City of Valdosta, Lowndes County,
City of Tifton, Tift County, Southern Georgia Regional Commission,
Suwannee — Satilla Water Planning Council, Georgia Emergency
Management Agency (GEMA), Georgia Department of Natural Resources
(DNR), Georgia Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS), as well as representatives from the offices of
Congressman Jack Kingston, Congressman Austin Scott, Congressman
Sanford Bishop, Senator Johnny Isakson and Senator Saxby Chambliss.
“It was most encouraging to see the interest, concern, and
support from so many entities. We always stand ready to serve the
people in the Suwannee-Satilla basins in reducing flood
risks,” said USACE Georgia Silver Jackets Coordinator Jeff
Morris.
As a result of the meeting, the City of Valdosta and Lowndes County
sent a letter of intent to the USACE to show our interest in
participating in their
Planning Assistance to States (PAS)
program—a 50/50 cost share program which is designed for
planning purposes, such as to complete a reconnaissance level flood
risk management study. Further discussions with city, county and
USACE staff led to the agreement to focus the funding on the most
concentrated area impacted by flooding, which is where Two Mile
Branch and Sugar Creek join the Withlacoochee River. The city is
currently finalizing the scope and timeframe with the USACE and
plans to have it prepared by the May 9 Valdosta City Council meeting
to approve the application and to commit the $75,000 in matching
funds.
Several short-term and long-term goals also resulted from the
meeting, which include seeking coordination with FEMA and GEMA to
update flood maps as part of the
Risk Map program, requesting a
watershed study, and meeting with USGS and the National Weather
Service (NWS) to discuss the flood warning and response process and
the application of other potential funding sources. A preliminary
meeting was held on May 1 with USGS and the NWS, along with staff
from Valdosta, Lowndes County Emergency Management, DNR, USACE, and
the Suwannee River Water Management District in preparation for a
second regional meeting in June to begin more specific work.
“This initial meeting was very productive, and we will be
requesting consideration of the Silver Jackets and/or state to serve
as the lead agency on this regional effort,” said Valdosta
Mayor John Gayle. “This is the first of many steps that must
be taken to address the regional flooding that has impacted much of
south Georgia and north Florida. The city is committed to work
alongside each of the communities and agency partners involved to
make sure that we work collaboratively to address the regional
flooding without negatively impacting those downstream and the
natural environment.”
The 50-year flood event that occurred in late February, early March 2013 was a vivid reminder of the 2009 flood event that significantly impacted south Georgia. Since 2009, the city has worked to help identify potential causes and the scope and area of the regional flooding that occurred. This information has been shared with various state and federal officials and agencies in the hopes of gaining their interest and support to work together to address the regional flooding. Since Valdosta is located
1,500 square mile drainage basin, the flooding is an issue that cannot be solved locally, but must be addressed by multiple agencies, jurisdictions and stakeholders. As a result, city officials are proactively seeking discussions with representatives of other impacted communities along the Withlacoochee River and Little River, as well as those across the state who may provide the necessary resources to address a solution.
In a letter dated March 11, the City of Valdosta requested a meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to discuss flood risk management problems and opportunities in the Suwannee-Satilla basins, which impacts multiple cities and counties. Within days, the USACE agreed to an April 11 meeting at Valdosta City Hall with the Georgia Silver Jackets Program—a state-led interagency team with the mission of reducing flood risks. Also attending the meeting were representatives invited from City of Valdosta, Lowndes County, City of Tifton, Tift County, Southern Georgia Regional Commission, Suwannee — Satilla Water Planning Council, Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Georgia Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as well as representatives from the offices of Congressman Jack Kingston, Congressman Austin Scott, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Senator Johnny Isakson and Senator Saxby Chambliss.
Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program—a 50/50 cost share program which is designed for planning purposes, such as to complete a reconnaissance level flood risk management study. Further discussions with city, county and USACE staff led to the agreement to focus the funding on the most concentrated area impacted by flooding, which is where Two Mile Branch and Sugar Creek join the Withlacoochee River. The city is currently finalizing the scope and timeframe with the USACE and plans to have it prepared by the May 9 Valdosta City Council meeting to approve the application and to commit the $75,000 in matching funds.
Several short-term and long-term goals also resulted from the meeting, which include seeking coordination with FEMA and GEMA to update flood maps as part of the Risk Map program, requesting a watershed study, and meeting with USGS and the National Weather Service (NWS) to discuss the flood warning and response process and the application of other potential funding sources. A preliminary meeting was held on May 1 with USGS and the NWS, along with staff from Valdosta, Lowndes County Emergency Management, DNR, USACE, and the Suwannee River Water Management District in preparation for a second regional meeting in June to begin more specific work.
“This initial meeting was very productive, and we will be requesting consideration of the Silver Jackets and/or state to serve as the lead agency on this regional effort,” said Valdosta Mayor John Gayle. “This is the first of many steps that must be taken to address the regional flooding that has impacted much of south Georgia and north Florida. The city is committed to work alongside each of the communities and agency partners involved to make sure that we work collaboratively to address the regional flooding without negatively impacting those downstream and the natural environment.”
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