River will run where river wants to run

The flood of 2008 will happen again, probably within 10 years. The Cedar River starts just south of Hayfield, Minn. The Winnebago River, Shell Rock River, West Fork of the Cedar River and many creeks contribute to the watershed of the Cedar River.

The Gazette, the Cedar Rapids mayor and state Sen. Rob Hogg all think that there should be a plan for farmers to plant more grass and build more ponds. Instead, it is all the development in the area that has caused the problem. The soils in the valley will only hold about 2 inches of water. This means that in a 2-inch rain, about one-half inch of water will go into the ground, while the rest will run off. Farm tiles do not cause floods, nor do they make water.

One inch of rain on a hard surface of 1,000 square feet will produce about 600 gallons of water. Has anyone noticed the extra water that comes from Interstate 380? The Avenue of the Saints has four lanes of concrete. From Albert Lea, Minn., to Cedar Rapids, the distance is 200 miles. You do the math.

The Cedar River does not flood on a regular schedule. For the past 18,000 years, it has run whenever and wherever it wanted, even while the land was covered in high grass.

Clarence Beyer

Tipton