Will to act needed for flood response

Thank you to Todd Dorman for his June 6 column (“Protecting us from floodwaters requires a global response”) and to The Gazette Editorial Board for the June 9 editorial (“It's the watershed”), both regarding flood protection.

Dorman observed that we acclaim the importance of science, technology, engineering and math for students, but ignore science “when it comes to making big decisions on protecting Iowans and our valuable resources from floodwaters.” Citing Kamyar Enshayan of the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education, “the science is clear, yet there is very little action.”

As Dorman pointed out, the city (Cedar Rapids) had a chance to create a stormwater fee structure that would have encouraged property owners to stop runoff. What I heard in the various council deliberations was that this was too controversial for big property owners, and too complicated to implement. Aren't flood responses also complicated, disruptive and financially burdensome?

The editorial reminded us that we need to pay more attention to flood reduction, not just prevention. Again referencing Enshayan's science, the board opined that political will is too often lacking. They acknowledged the progress at the state level with watershed management authorities that cross political boundaries, and with strategies aimed at curbing fertilizer runoff that pollutes our waterways and contributes heavily to the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico.

But our city can do more. The editorial provided a wish list for action during the next five years, which I support and will work to encourage.

JoAnn McNiel

Cedar Rapids