Flood wall would protect city

A week ago, a fine man from the west side said that because we had a flood in 2008, we will not have another in many years. Therefore, the flood wall on the west side is not needed. That sounds right.

However, I had a sabbatical with the Army Corps of Engineers back in the 1970s as a social analyst. What I discovered is that 500- or 100-year flood plains are estimates based on topography near the river and water hydrology of the depth and speed of the water during the flood. Further, if I am not in a flood plain, all statistical probabilities are not necessary. There will not be a flood.

If I am in a 100-year flood plain, that means that at any one time there may be at least one flood in the next 100 years or more than one flood. It does not say when this will happen. Therefore, the next flood could be in 2015 or next year or in many years. We don't know.

However, if a flood arrives within the next few years, would it not be more cautious to have the wall? One's property values would increase, and parks and commercial property would prosper. I hope that I am wrong. Perhaps, a math scholar from a local college could help us out.

Additionally, there may be other reasons that west siders are opposed to the wall. They may be very legitimate.

Joel C. Snell

Cedar Rapids