The Valley Park levee has been a tense and bitter debate since historic flooding hit the area twice in 18 months during 2015 and 2017. With any major forecasted rain or storm event, the threat of flooding is always on the minds of local residents.
This weekend, heavy rain is predicted as the last of tropical storm Gordon pushes its way into the Midwest. (September 2018)
Environmental Echo has posted several stories and updates about the local flooding situations related to the Valley Park levee issue in the past and we wanted to share a comprehensive piece of investigative journalism we ran across from ProPublica.
The article takes a look at the important issues surrounding the Valley Park levee, such as the local resident’s personal stories and viewpoints, the decisions the government made based on their studies and data models, the history of the river control planning efforts, and the role continued development has played in the affected areas.
Anyone who wishes to understand the issues surrounding the Valley Park levee and the local flooding issues should take a look at this comprehensive article. It’s a longer piece, but worth the time.
Click on the title to read the article, “Flood Thy Neighbor: Who Stays Dry and Who Decides? One Missouri town’s levee saga captures what’s wrong with America’s approach to controlling rivers.” By Lisa Song, ProPublica, Patrick Michels, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, and Al Shaw, ProPublica.
Or you can also CLICK HERE to read the article.
If you have time, please visit the ProPublica website. The team at ProPublica is doing the important work of investigative journalism that many local newspapers no longer have the resources to do. CLICK HERE to visit their “About” page.
ProPublica describes itself as …
“ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism with moral force. We dig deep into important issues, shining a light on abuses of power and betrayals of public trust — and we stick with those issues as long as it takes to hold power to account.”
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