Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9507030074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SHEBA WHEELER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed the flood control plan for Buena Vista, which has suffered major damage in past floods. It includes a concrete flood wall, an earthen levee - both incomplete - and a proposed interior drainage canal for diverting mountain runoff.
The most innovative part of the project is the "rechannelization," or widening of the river. Though only 80 percent complete, the rechannelization will deepen and expand the shape of the river's banks so excess water from heavy rains can continue to flow into the larger area instead of backing up, cresting and eventually overflowing.
James Bradford, chairman of the Buena Vista chapter of the American Red Cross, was thankful for the flood control project. "Our downtown was basically spared this time," he said. "Just a whole lot of damage has been prevented in the first phase of the engineering project."
"They say that it saved the downtown of Buena Vista from the flooding," Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, said. "The partial work done already has been well worth the effort."
Three businesses along the Maury - Modine Manufacturers, Mundet Hermetite Inc. and Fitzgerald Lumber and Log Co. - have been damaged by past floods, but were untouched last week.
City Manager Richard Flora agreed that the plan minimized flood damage by reducing the the water level in the river. However, Flora said the project is not addressing the problems caused by heavy rains and interior stream flooding, which destroyed residential property in Buena Vista.
"The main damage was caused by the debris and the velocity of the three small streams ... when they came down the mountains," Flora said. "The flood plan lowered the level of the river water and eliminated some of the damage that could have occurred, but it did not affect those interior streams."
Buena Vista has applied for a separate contract with the National Resource Conservation Service that would prevent interior streams and creeks from flooding, City Engineer Stephen King said. The contract has not yet been granted, he said.
The project would include the construction of several large culverts under streets that would allow excess runoff from the streams to funnel safely through.
The city already has culverts in some places. Last week, though, when the high-speed stream water came down the mountains, it carried with it debris and stones that blocked flow through the culverts. Water then flooded the streets.
"The simplest way to explain it would be like to take a glass already filled with water and then add ice to it," King said. "The water can do nothing else but continue to rise until it runs over the glass."
More than 100 homes were damaged in Buena Vista last week, and the Red Cross said 50 people were unable to return to their homes. Flood damage was estimated at $4.6 million.
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