Letter to the Hon. R.D. James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works - Help Strengthen Pocahontas Levee

Letter

Dear Assistant Secretary James,

Congratulations on your confirmation and thank you for your commitment to working with state and local governments to modernize our nation's outmoded waterways infrastructure. We would like to bring your attention to challenges with flooding on the Black River in Pocahontas, Arkansas, where the Pocahontas Levee gave way to flooding, leading to devastating property loss across thousands of acres.

The Pocahontas Levee is critical infrastructure that the county of Randolph relies on. Last May, the river flooded and water levels rose well above the structure's intended retention capacity. The levee sustained nine overtop breaches, resulting in an estimated $100 million of property loss.

We ask that the Corps of Engineers (the Corps) take action to study the deficiencies in the Levee which have made it vulnerable to overtop flooding. In doing so, we ask that the Corps work closely with Arkansas state and municipal agencies.

Since the event, local entities have sought to repair the levee and enter into a Section 205 agreement with the Corps under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP 205), which would allow for a cost-sharing agreement between the parties for a study of the Levee. This study will allow the Corps and Arkansas to address the problem and ensure that this level of flooding does not take place again. Local and state entities, including Governor Hutchinson, have extended the offer to act as the necessary "non-federal" sponsor for the study, but still await the appropriate pledge in response from the Corps of Engineers.

We are concerned that the surrounding areas remain vulnerable to flooding while the levee is incapable of protecting these communities. We strongly urge the Corps to make resources available to enter into an appropriate CAP 205 agreement for the study of the Pocahontas Levee.

Sincerely,

Source