Letter: Stop blaming farms for flooding

Regarding the Oct. 7 letter 'Farms are the cause of flooding” by Mark DeMeulenaere:

Mark DeMeulenaere, I would like to see the scientific study that proves farms cause flooding.

I do feel there is some responsibility that rest on the shoulders of the farmers, but there is blame to the cities also. Have you ever gone down to the river during a heavy rainstorm and witnessed the amount of water coming from the storm sewers and run off from the sidewalks, streets and parking lots of all of the stores and global warming caused by us all?

Please look at the overall picture. Flooding is a problem caused by society and not one part of society. It is a problem that we all caused and one that will take us all to solve. As far as the billions of dollars given to farmers - how much is given to municipalities for wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment, streets, sidewalks and downtown beautification along with countless other projects? Don't point the finger as there are three pointing back.

Roger Bauman

Grinnell